from THE BEVERLY HILLS OUTLOOK - May, 2004
KAREN AND ALAN LIGHT UP THE GARDENIA
BY DORIAN
Like
comfortable shoes, Alan Chapman and Karen Benjamin slipped into the Gardenia
and blew us away with a combination of old songs, which they performed
so freshly we were hearing them with as much joy as the first time, and
new ones which concretely confirmed how very talented is this duo.
The new material was artfully woven into the familiar so deftly you hardly
realized you were caught up in a musical whirlwind. But then never
become complacent with a Chapman/Benjamin explosion. There is always
something new, always a little off kilter, and tons of the unexpected.
This night was no different...
Some songs were old,
Some songs were new,
Nothing was borrowed
And lots of it was blue!
"Baseball Widow," a brand new composition, showcased Alan's two loves:
music and the game of baseball - is there anything else? - "...baseball diamonds
are not a girl's best friend..." he intones truthfully. The gorgeous
standard "They Say It's Spring" was hauntingly sung by Karen.
Her voice is like no other - totally exquisite, totally unique. Alan
then gave Karen a chance to cool down while he warbled "Christmas in July"
("Santa likes little boys; Santa likes little girls...that's why Santa's
in jail") - brings a tear to your eye.
Karen immortalizes her family's medical background and her own musical
departure from such expectations with "I'd rather sing a song than...(conduct
various unpleasant medical procedures). And my personal favorite,
a paean to the housing industry: "A Salute To Real Estate (in 90210)."
The funniest lyrics are the ones based on truth and this offering fully
expresses the snobbery inherent in location, location, location...
Karen's "Phantom of the Opera" reprise mesmerized everyone within earshot
as her voice soared out of the rooftop and kept on going.
Another perennial favorite is Alan's signature brilliant and original
creation "Everybody Wants To Be Sondheim But Me" with its rollicking lyrics
and his fingers working the piano keys at the speed of light, yet so seemingly
without effort. The other gem in his standard repertoire is the flamboyant
song written for flamboyant comic Jim J. Bullock, whose lyrics cannot be
reprinted here. A new gem was "Making it in Cabaret...But I'm Not Gay"
- you had to love it! Other new material included an ode to Dr. Atkins'
diet and, in very sweet harmony, Alan and Karen then sang "True Love" with
the ring of reality because they surely mean it, and it shows. And,
for a topper, no one on this planet dazzles on "Summertime" the way Karen
catapults those phenomenal pipes of hers several octaves; it sends shivers
up the arms and is quite unbelievable.
The excitement and pure enjoyment generated by this royal couple - he
with his background of classical music, opera, and naughty songs; and she
with her light opera background, cabaret and glass-shattering soprano -
is indescribable. Accompanying them impressively this night was Richard
Simon on bass. They appear at the Gardenia every few months so do
yourselves a favor and don't miss their next appearance - if you can get
in!
