Laura Freeman, Beckie Menzie, Mary Murphy Orland (Girls Like Us): The Evolution of the Girl Groups

Laura Freeman, Beckie Menzie,
Mary Murphy Orland
(Girls Like Us)

The Evolution of the Girl Groups

Davenports, Chicago, IL, November 14, 2015

Reviewed by Carla Gordon for Cabaret Scenes

Please don’t let the serious sounding title fool you: The Evolution of the Girl Groups is a very entertaining show featuring Laura Freeman, Beckie Menzie and Marianne Murphy Orland as today’s girl group Girls Like Us. All three of these ladies are solid vocalists in their own rights, yet they blend together with a silky smoothness. Saluting the Andrews Sisters in garrison caps with a high octane “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” is a most engaging opening. For sure, trouble is brewing because “My Boyfriend’s Back,” made famous by the Angels. We believe the girls when they say their reputations will be saved! The Supremes are honored in an excellent medley, which includes their iconic hits like “My World Is Empty Without You” and “Baby Love.”

Murphy Orland delivers her original parody to the Bangles’ “Manic Monday” with clever, relatable images of one of those completely out of control days. Our “Girls” capture the McGuire Sisters to a “T” with “Something’s Gotta Give,” “Sugartime” and “Sincerely,” capturing not only their remarkable close harmonies but their 1950s sensibilities as well. The stories about Phyllis’ high-profile pals, ranging from the Kennedys to what she claimed was a “strictly platonic” relationship with mobster Sam Giancana, made for some fun dish. The show’s best comedy moments come in “Hungarian Hormonal Rhapsody,” apparently credited to three of the Four Bitchin’ Babes, with an assist from Franz Liszt. Our girls have a great time reflecting on hot flashes, dates with creeps, and adult  kids who come back home. Closing with “Heebie Jeebies” (which had been covered by several girl groups, but is most associated with the Boswell Sisters) ended the show on a high note.

Tags: American Songbook, Andrews Sisters, Angels, Baby Love, Bangles, Beckie Menzie, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Boswell Sisters, Broadway Musicals, Cabaret, Cabaret Reviews, Cabaret Scenes, Carla Gordon, Chicago, Clubs, Composers, Davenports, Four Bitchin’ Babes, Franz Liszt, Girls Like Us, Great American Songbook, Heebie Jeebies, Hungarian Hormonal Rhapsody, Jazz, Jazz Singers, Kennedys, Laura Freeman, lyricists, Manic Monday, Mary Murphy Orland, McGuire Sisters, Musicals, Musicians, My Boyfriend’s Back, My World Is Empty Without You, Nightclubs, Popular Song, Revues, Sam Giancana, Show Tunes, Sincerely, Singers, Something’s Gotta Give, Songbook, Standards, Sugartime, Supper Clubs, The Evolution of the Girl Groups, The Supremes, Venues, Vocalists

Category: Cabaret Reviews, Chicago, Chicago Cabaret Reviews, Regional