Rena Strober: True Story

Rena Strober

True Story

E Spot Lounge, Studio City, CA, March 14, 2017

Reviewed by Les Traub for Cabaret Scenes

Flashing on the screen at the back of the E Spot stage were a number of inane, naïve, funny, and other assorted comments taken from the internet about getting pregnant, not getting pregnant, all with the word ‘pregnant’ misspelled in every possible way. Then in the corner of the stage, her back to the audience, in a short, body-hugging, sparkling blue dress, Reba Strober launched into a slow, sexy “Love for Sale.” Strolling to center stage and slowly turning around as the light came up, a very pregnant Strober was revealed. The story of turning 40, getting pregnant (“oops”), being pregnant, and being unprepared for motherhood was the basis of the show. With a hilarious seemingly stream-of-consciousness patter, frequently graphic, and an enchanting voice, Strober offered up a delicious evening.

With moods and emotions stretching from touching to irreverent and everything in between, Strober, in her 34th week of pregnancy, kept the show moving at an energetic pace. Her song selection explored the many facets of her condition and the contemplation of imminent parenthood. Her range was demonstrated with the fun she was having with “I ‘Should’ Have Danced All Night” to her poignant delivery of Sara Bareilles’s “She Used to be Mine” from Waitress.

A teacher at The Academy of Music for the Blind, Strober had three of her students guest at the show. Gavin Stevens, wise beyond his eight years, chided Strober for her sprinkling of what he considered inappropriate words during the show, but touchingly let her know that “I’ll Be There for You.” After a rousing duet with him on “Suddenly Seymour,” Strober dueted with nine-year-old Allie Elliott in a moving version of Sondheim’s “Not While I’m Around.” A beautiful solo by Danielle Thompson, 16, on “Children Will Listen” ended with her absolutely gorgeous tone at the final line.

The dynamo that is Rena Strober was at center stage, but, in the corner, quietly supplying perfect accompaniment, was Musical Director Ron Snyder.

Tags: Allie Elliott, American Songbook, Broadway, Broadway Musicals, CA, Cabaret, Cabaret Reviews, Cabaret Scenes, CD, Children Will Listen, Clubs, Composers, Danielle Thompson, E Spot Lounge, Gavin Stevens, Great American Songbook, I ‘Should’ Have Danced All Night, I'll Be There for You, Jazz, Jazz Singers, Jazz Vocalists, Les Traub, Love for Sale, lyricists, Musicals, Musicians, Nightclubs, Not While I’m Around, Popular Song, Rena Strober, Revues, Ron Snyder, Sara Bareilles, She Used to Be Mine, Show Tunes, Singers, Sondheim, Songbook, Standards, Studio City, Suddenly Seymour, Supper Clubs, The Academy of Music for the Blind, True Story, Venues, Vocalists, Waitress

Category: Cabaret Reviews, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Cabaret Reviews, Regional