Stephanie Adlington
Stephanie Adlington
Iridium, NYC, December 20, 2015
Reviewed by Rob Lester for Cabaret Scenes
Who IS this self-dubbed “Siren of the South”—slim, raven-haired lady with the smile that spreads in slow-motion, in stages, as she lopes across the Iridium stage, long knotted string of pearls gently swinging, in vintage black dress, and high heels? Another performer more persona or “personality” stylist than real deal? West Virginia-born Stephanie Adlington is intriguingly drenched in slinky, Southern-drawling manner, femme fatale features… but that’s not all, y’all. Beneath batting eyelashes she’s batting almost 1000 in captivating chanteuse-ity. And can she ever sing!!! Add that Adlington’s quite disarmingly engaging as a songwriter, too, particularly with “Willow Sway.” I didn’t know her work when I saw the gig listed, so I checked out online videos and I’ll confess—just between me and you and YouTube—“Willow Sway” convinced me to go.
Now Nashville-based, she spoke fondly of her adopted city, but also expressed great pleasure in having this NYC gig and borrowing Manhattan musicians whose faces and dexterous fingers are familiar to the Apple’s cabaret and jazz lovers—pianist Barry Levitt and bassist Tom Hubbard. She loves standards, too. Quite the affecting balladeer, she rendered the classic “The Very Thought of You” with easy grace and style. Patsy Cline is a role model—and a role she’s played in the bio-musical, another side she demonstrated. “Sweet Dreams” indeed. And a winning, wailing take on the oldie “You Belong to Me” made me feel the audience belonged to her. Arms gestured fluidly as if choreographed or ready for embraces.
Category: Cabaret Reviews, New York City, New York City Cabaret Reviews
