BWW Reviews: Red Hot Mama Barbara Van Orden Returns to Cabaret @ Sterling's

On Sunday November 7 Barbara Van Orden made a splashy return to the world of cabaret @ Sterling's Upstairs @ Vitello's after a three year absence in a new show directed by the ever resourceful Joe Giamalva. Van Orden belongs to the cabaret world of days gone by, when Sinatra was king and when tasteful music reigned supreme. Promising her audience at the top nostalgia and one exciting ride, she proceeded to captivate with a genuine warmth, fine voice and campy style of humor, all of which will grow even stronger as she continues to perform on a regular basis.

As is, the show's shining moments lie in Van Orden's ability to tell a little parody or anecdote in her deliciously risque way and in engrossing her audience - her roosters and chickies, as she nicknames them - in her delightful little game play. For example, she has great fun with the gentlemen sitting up front by asking them to crow like a rooster: cock-a-doodle-doo! "Your doodle is fine, sir, but you could use more - - - -!" This is one hilarious bit!

Yes, she can be very funny, but should allow herself the freedom to be even wilder more often. The Mae West segment at the end with two boys covering her with feathery fans to the strains of "You've Got to See Mama Every Night, or You Can't See Mama At All" and her strutting around in a white fox fur stole is a campy sendup of old Hollywood. It's outrageously theatrical! Her opener "Everything's Coming Up Roses" from Gypsy would benefit from the chorus boys backing her up, singing and dancing. Perhaps naked to the waist? Then her claim "When did I ever do little?" would click in and get huge laughs. Her warm personality is fine but she needs to pepper her ragu.

One lovely highlight is the story about her friend Kathy whose saga of love becomes a three act play with "50%", "Guess Who I Saw Today" and finally "I'm Crazy" followed by "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered". Such are the ups and downs of love, where "Men are such Goddamn liars!" Other standouts include "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend", her little parody of Fiddler on the Roof combined with The Exorcist, where she begs the spirit to put the spark back into her man's lovemaking. Also, there'as a lovingly heartfelt tribute to her real life husband with the medley: "It Had to Be You", "Where or When" and "The Nearness of You". Another cute parody tells of sexpot Sally who knows how to make her stocks rise in "Stock Market Song". Musical director Ron Snyder's always dependably sterling sounds back her nicely throughout . Van Orden has a tendency to talk through many of the numbers, which is AOK, but when she cuts loose, her vocal instrument still sounds pretty terrific.

Overall, the hour set is very entertaining with Van Orden winning us over with her sheer magnetism and over-the-top style. With increased touches of humor laced in and out, here and there - and I mean bizarre, wild touches - I can tell, she knows what I mean! - the show will sizzle. And I promise the next time around to offer the best cock-a-doodle-doo!