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Bebe Neuwirth
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Multitalented dancer, singer, and actor Bebe Neuwirth arrived at the Strathmore Music Center last night (4/2) before a full house to perform "Stories with Piano," a program featuring songs by Kurt Weill, John Kander and Fred Ebb, Edith Piaf, and Tom Waits. She was more than ably accompanied by Scott Cady, a piano stylist of high order. Ms. Neuwirth, who took a few numbers to hit her stride, delivered her own unique interpretations of Weill tunes "Bilbao" and "Surabaya Johnny," with plenty of recitative, interspersed with showstoppers like "Saga of Jenny" and "Ring Them Bells," the last by Kander and Ebb, where she exercised her considerable comedic and interpretive skills.  She can really put over a song, effortlessly shifting arms, hips, and facial expression, sometimes suggesting Bob Fosse and Ann Reinking choreography, but always drawing on her vast repertoire of Broadway musicals. Ms. Neuwirth engaged the audience between numbers with descriptions of the songs and with humorous vignettes from her own life.  It was a pure pleasure to hear the lyrics clearly enunciated.    The program ran about 90 minutes without an intermission and included a quick encore.


Sound check: Excellent acoustics at just the right level
Program notes: Standard promotional
Applause meter: 4 hands