Joan Curto: Joan Curto Sings Sondheim: Everybody Say Don’t

Carla Gordon | October 2, 2015

Joan Curto

Joan Curto Sings Sondheim: Everybody Say Don’t

Davenport’s, Chicago, IL, 9/12/15

Reviewed by Carla Gordon for Cabaret Scenes

Maybe anyone can whistle. But it’s not so easy to deliver an evening of Sondheim songs with just the right balance of wit, the trademark Sondheim cynicism, and heart. Joan Curto, however, does so with excellence and aplomb. She often embodies the characters from Sondheim’s musicals while never losing herself and her personal connection to her listeners. The early-in-the-show pairing of “Everybody Says Don’t” and “Some People” (Gypsy) honors chest-to-the-wind women who embrace how vision trumps obstacles. She has grand fun with “Can That Boy Foxtrot,” holding on to those “Fs,” but otherwise not overdoing as to kill the wit. The same can be said for “I Never Do Anything Twice.” Curto delivers the sexiness and the funny kinkiness, but never reduces Sondheim’s story to overdone shtick. The marriage medley combines “Marry Me a Little,” The Little Things You Do Together,” “Getting Married Today,” “Sorry/Grateful,” and “Being Alive” (all from Company). The order of these songs creates a powerful build of both lyric and musicality. The medley begins uptempo and sardonic, then travels in to more serious and meaty reflection. As Phyllis from Follies, Curto confronts her “husband,” first with sarcasm and then eventually building to a breath-stopping evisceration. “I’m Still Here” is among Sondheim’s toughest songs to execute. For one thing, it is very long. Curto keeps it moving, yet never races the tempo. She does not deliver à la Stritch—she delivers à la Curto and it captures both the weariness and the triumph of the mature woman’s life. Beckie Menzie on piano and Jim Cox on bass provided supportive, responsive accompaniment. Joan Curto gets smarter with every show. She sings beautifully, but not too much, so her money notes are a joy to experience.