from THE BEVERLY HILLS OUTLOOK

A COPIOUS, CLASSICAL CHAPMAN-BENJAMIN CABARET SPECIAL
BY DORIAN

Spent a delicious evening listening to Golden Oldies - no, not elevator Muzak - true gold! - from Alan Chapman and Karen Benjamin at the Bel Age Hotel mid-December.  The evening's theme was "The Memory of All That" and even if you're under 40 (ahem!), you've got to melt - yes, melt - with the classics of Berlin, Gershwin, Kern, Rodgers and Hart, and Oscar Hammerstein.  This is stuff that will never go out of style...they don't write 'em like that anymore!

Starting off with a snappy "We're A Couple Of Swells" by Irving Berlin, they segued into an achingly lovely "The Song Is You" by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein.  And let me tell you, the chandeliers were tinkling and swaying with the power of Karen's voice.  A jazzed up version of Gershwin's "S'Wonderful" was next with a behind-the-scenes story of how George Gershwin applied for the job of musical secretary to Berlin (who could not read music nor play the piano save for specially installed black keys that had a lever to change keys for him automatically) but was rejected as being "too talented - go write your own songs!" he was told.  (Imagine our loss if he'd gotten the job!)

Balancing the program with a gorgeous Gershwin tune, "They Can't Take That Away From Me," a heartfelt Kern and Hammerstein "Can't Help Lovin' That Man Of Mine" from Showboat followed - and the looks that passed between this husband and wife made me blush.  Here was a lesson in true love.  More joy, more love with "My Romance" by Rodgers and Hart, followed by an adorable "To Keep My Love Alive" from A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court, also by Rodgers and Hart.  Then back to the purely romantic with "The Way You Look Tonight" with Alan singing and Karen on the piano to switch roles.  It worked.  He talks, plays, composes and now we find Alan also can sing (oh, heck, I already knew that!)  Honestly, I wanted everyone to leave the room so they could be alone.  Oh, what love they convey - it's exciting to hear and watch, voyeur that I am!

Next came a couple of Gershwin tunes: "Somebody Loves Me," "Embraceable You" and, to keep us off balance, an early humorous Berlin ditty, "I Can Die With A Smile Upon My Face."  A hugely poignant "Summertime" from Porgy and Bess and then another Gershwin, the sprightly "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off," followed by a bunch from Berlin to close the show: the enormously moving "How Deep Is The Ocean," "I Wonder Why" and "I Fall Asleep Counting My Blessings."  We were graced with an encore and what a finish!  Gershwin's "Our Love Is Here To Stay" - and you'd better believe it.

This award-winning couple (see our last issue) were singing to each other.  With Karen's soaring soprano ricocheting off the rafters and Alan's flying fingers, they sing of love.  They are in love.  They convey their love to us.  Her voice is simply amazing and Alan's playing is so smooth that the music just flowed.  We left lighthearted and happy.  What a perfectly wonderful program for a perfectly wonderful evening.

Alan and Karen are a multi-talented dynamic duo who are at the top of the cabaret heap oozing flair and professionally attuned to each other.  Even a glitch in the performance (watch the water, Karen!) was treated so smoothly and cutely, we thought it was scripted.  If you hear or read that they are presenting a program, run, don't walk, to the nearest ticket office!  They are never to be missed.
 

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