Review: JERRY'S GIRLS

 Broadway composer/lyricist Jerry Herman has given us so many standards that a revue of just his hits is guaranteed crowd-pleaser. The Civic Light Opera Company's production of Jerry Girls at the Fairview Library Theatre is certainly that, but also an insightful profile of the man who has been dubbed The Poet of the Show tune.

 Joe Cascone's elegant and simple staging, strikes a near-perfect balance between the serious ballads and the comedic shtick. A great example of the latter is Julie Lennick's hilariously blowsy stripper in "Take it all off." Later, she joins Susan Sanders for the deliciously bitchy "Bosom Buddies" from Mame.

Sanders also does a neat Marlene Dietrich impersonation for the title song from La Cage Aux Folles. In another song from that musical, Caroline Moro-Dalicandro offers a touching rendition of "Song on the Sand" as well as a beautiful rendering of "Time Heals Everything" from Mack and Mabel, the composer's personal favourite of all his scores.

Jerry's Girls includes six songs from Mack and Mabel, notably "Tap Your Troubles Away," choreographed by Larry Westlake, and sung and danced by Joanna Megraw in a performance that enlivens the second half.  In the first half, Megraw offers a mesmerizing performance of "If He Walked into My Life" from Mame.  The Mame score provides a comic interlude for Ashley Gibson who scores every laugh with "Gooch's Song."

 "Kiss Her Now" comes from the score of one of Herman's most famous flops, Dear World. Stephanie Douglas offers a memorable rendition of this touching ballad, well supported by Elizabeth Morriss and others.

On the lighter side we Sandi Horowitz who offers an amusing take on "So Long Dearie" from Hello Dolly.

Finally Carol Kugler delivers a powerful "I Am What I Am" from La Cage Aux Folles that drew roars of appreciation from the crowd.

These ladies provide nine of the top ten reasons to see Jerry's Girls at Fairview Library Theatre. The tenth reason is to hear this collection of toe-tapping melodies. To quote one of his songs "There is no tune like a show tune" to which I may add, there are no show tunes like Jerry Herman's!

JERRY'S GIRLS continues at Fairview Library Theatre until March 3. Performances are at 7 PM Wednesdays, and 8PM Thursdays through Saturdays with 2 PM matinees on Sunday February 25 and Saturday March 3.  Visit www.civiclightoperacompany.com or call (416) 755-1717.