Anna Besserud: I Want I All

Carla Gordon | September 30, 2014

Anna Besserud

I Want It All

Davenport’s, Chicago, IL, September 19, 2014

Reviewed by Carla Gordon for Cabaret Scenes

Anna Besserud brings a powerful soprano and frequent big money notes to I Want It All. This serves her well in the soaring melodies of Cole Porter’s “So in Love” and in “My Ship,” but diminishes the fun in Hans Lang/Bert Reisfeld’s “It’s Oh, So Quiet.” Relative to the conversational art of cabaret, leading with voice rather than story, is risky. This choice is challenging in Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich’s “There’s Nothing That I Wouldn’t Do,” about a woman so insanely eager to please the guy that she volunteers (among other chores) to help him floss. This wit is better served by building the absurdity and singing less. The Broadway medley is jam packed with songs: we get roughly a line of each, but before we have time to connect, another line from another comes. Less would be more. The strongest moment in the show is actually its encore. Besserud leads with her heart, singing “Dream a Little Dream of Me” simply and as a tender farewell and lasting connection. Heart first is a lovely journey for this songbird. It’s one she should pursue more.