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Regional Reviews: Florida - West Coast Secrets and Sequins Also see Bill's review of The Hound of the Baskervilles
All good cabaret shows should have an arc, a connecting line that moves us from song to song. The conceit of Ms. Parks' evening is to share diary entries with us, to show the young girl she was and the woman she is today. Her song choices, the familiar and the less familiar, make for a pleasantly evening. She opens the first half with "Life Upon the Wicked Stage" in a nicely characterized performance. Other highlights of the first act include "The Girl in 14G," two numbers from The Apple Tree ("Feelings" and "Gorgeous"), "Secret of Happiness" (from Daddy Long Legs), and the act-closing "Look at Me," a sample from her sensational performance in Violet. The second half includes a medley of song hits from many of the shows she has starred in at various community theaters and a full out acting/singing tour de force of "On the Steps of the Palace." Ms. Parks speaks of a family filled with music, and she shares the stage with her father, David Ohrenstein, playing Paderewski's Minuet in the first half of the show, and in the second half with her mother Sharon Lesley, singing "Fable" from The Light in the Piazza, a show they dream of doing together at some point. freeFall will be mounting this show next year, but I have reason to believe that the role of Margaret, her mother's obvious role, is already cast. Kathryn told me after the performance that she is intending to audition for this production and to keep my fingers crossed. Secrets and Sequins closes with a moving rendition of the show's haunting title song. Ms. Parks commands a stage as the local star that she is. She wears four stunning gowns, looking smashing in each ("Lovely to look at, Delightful to Know..."). My only thought might be to stretch out the act two show medley, singing more than 1/2 chorus of such wonderful and well loved songs. One more performance of this wonderful evening is scheduled for Thursday July 16. Peter A. Madpak, on staff at Venice Theatre, is ably at the keyboard offering solid accompaniment for the evening's star. The Venice Theatre Cabaret series continues through August with other local artists sharing their talents in an intimate setting. Venice Theatre presents Secrets and Sequins July 11 and 16, 2015. 140 West Tampa Ave., Venice, FL Box Office (941) 488-1115 www.venicestage.com.
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