“New Rep’s Darling Divas Deck the Holidays” is a light, enjoyable night of Christmas cheer. In choosing to turn away from the traditional production of “A Christmas Carol,” Kate Warner has instead produced a show that has all that and more of Christmas spirit given off by Scrooge and Tiny Tim. This cabaret-style show includes traditional Christmas songs (and a number of lesser-known Chanukah songs), as well as readings from beloved holiday tales such as “The Gift of the Magi” and “The Night Before Christmas.”
The Divas themselves are a talented bunch, and all are good company for the duration of the show. The star, though, is Bobbie Steinbach, the oldest Diva, and the one who seems most at home in the cabaret setting. Ms. Steinbach’s delivery is both hilarious and touching; her renditions of “The Eight Days of Chanukah” and “Santa Baby” both brought down the house, and her reading of a story of a forbidden Chanukah celebration in the midst of persecution is quite moving.
This balance of funny and touching is nicely held throughout the show. Each Diva shares a childhood memory, and there are those readings of holiday stories; on the comic side, Michele DeLuca has a great performance of “Baby It’s Cold Outside” with the pianist and musical director, Todd C Gordon (Mr. Gordon doesn’t sing, he just speaks loudly), and Miss Steinbach is consistently funny.
Aimee Doherty and Kami Rushell Smith don’t stand out as much among the foursome, but both are appealing ladies with lovely voices, and they do quite a serviceable job.
The “Darling Divas” is well-paced, and leaves you feeling cheerful. And that, I suppose, is the point.
No comments:
Post a Comment