BWW Reviews: Kritzerland Seriously Entertaining - No Pranking - with The April Fools

The April Fools/produced & hosted by Bruce Kimmel/musical direction by Alby Potts/Kritzerland at Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal

On Easter Sunday April 5, Kritzerland At Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal presented its 56th edition of their successful monthly themed cabarets, this one titled The April Fools. The always reliable and very informative host Bruce Kimmel unfailingly surprised his captured audience with the most interesting tidbits of Broadway trivia. Songs of this evening were chosen as to their fit in this, to quote Kimmel, "potpourri of pleasant and perverse." The eighteen tunes were delivered, some hilariously, some gloriously, by the collective ringing voices of Brittney Bertier, Dana Meller, Hadley Belle Miller, Jenna Lea Rosen, Sami Staitman, Robert Yacko, and special guest JoAnne Worley. Kimmel himself also ever-so-pleasantly performed his composition "Simply," which just last month surprisingly (to him) won the MAC Award as Best Song. A couple of hysterically rewritten gems (of the perverse nature) included: a parody of Company's "Marry Me a Little" wonderfully sung by multi-ranged Yacko as "Bury Me a Little" and A Chorus Line's "Dance Ten, Looks Three" with much, much tamer lyrics for the very, very young Miller to uproariously sing. (Just impolite to ask a lady her age!) Yacko later returned with a side-splitting interpretation of "Pink Fish."

Meller easily exhibited her vocal versatility with her three song choices; a torchy "What Did I Have That I Don't Have" from On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, a solid delivery of ballad "Stop Time" from Big, and a first-rate "I'm the Greatest Star" from Funny Girl in Russian. Da!

Bertier comically nailed Judy Holliday's phone operator from Bells Are Ringing in "It's a Perfect Relationship." Her wide vocal range nicely showcased in Sister Act's "The Life I Never Led."

Rosen's youthful exuberance well-served her vivacious, bubbly version of "Blue Hair" from Black Suits.

Staitman with her crystal clear voice charmingly previewed two Kimmel songs from his soon-to-be-produced musical Welcome to My World- "Prom" and "He Was Grandpa."

Worley showed all why she's still a comedy force to be reckoned with in "Vodka," ending with her signature long necklace twirling.

The superb musical director Alby Potts consistently complemented his vocalists, never competing with them. In "Bury Me a Little," Potts' flowing piano chording made the perfect serious counterpoint to Yacko's delicious comic stylings.

The 57th edition of Kritzerland Presents Berlin to Rome will be on Sunday May 3, featuring music of the May birthday boys Irving Berlin and Harold Rome.

www.msapr.net/Sterling-s-at-The-Federal.html