Mary Bogue: Confessions from the Heartbreak Hotel
Mary Bogue
Confessions from the Heartbreak Hotel
Tom Rolla’s Gardenia, West Hollywood, CA, February 7, 2015
Reviewed by Elliot Zwiebach for Cabaret Scenes
Mary Bogue seems incapable of hitting a false note, either vocally or emotionally. She is a solid singer—especially when it comes to the blues—expressing a sincerity and honesty and passion in every word and gesture, with an ability to convey complete truth at all times.
In her latest show—set in a hotel, with testaments from various employees setting up the songs—she went through a wide gamut of feelings, from the soft, romantic tenderness of “Travelin’ Light” (Sidney Clarke/Harri Akst), abetted by a moody bass solo by Lou Schoch, to a swinging, declarative “Love for Sale” (Cole Porter) to a breathy, inviting “Meet Me, Midnight” (Barry Manilow/Bruce Sussman).
Bogue was at her bluesy best in “About Last Night” (Zan Overall), expressing the emotions of the morning after a night of passion, with Steve Rawlins providing spectacular work at the keyboard. She also excelled in a laconic, evocative, romantic ballad, “Under a Blanket of Blue” (Al Neiburg/Jerry Livingston/Marty Symes) and shone on a gentle version of “The Lies of Handsome Men” (Francesca Blumenthal).
Bogue was amusing in an enticing version of “Nice Girls Don’t Stay for Breakfast” (Jerome J. Leshay/Bobby Troup) and absolutely passionate in one of her signature songs, “Blue Champagne” (Grady Watts/Frank Ryerson).
The show also featured two guest singers: Jeffrey Gimble, with a deep, sonorous reading of “Lush Life” (Billy Strayhorn) and an up-tempo take on “All the Things You Are” (Kern/Hammerstein); while Al Timss crooned his way solidly through “Me and Mrs. Jones” (Kenny Gamble/Leon Huff/Carey Gilbert), followed by a smooth version of “Heartbreak Hotel” (Mae Boren Axton/Thomas Durden) in counterpoint to Bogue singing “Black Coffee” (Sonny Burke/Paul Francis Webster) in a brilliant duet arranged by Rawlins.
Category: Cabaret Reviews, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Cabaret Reviews