The Songs That Got Away: Kritzerland's 4th Anniverary

The four-year mark for the fun-filled cabaret revues produced by veteran performer-impresario Bruce Kimmel of Kritzerland Records, and his stalwart associate producer Adryan Russ, was celebrated with double performances (brunch and supper shows) on Sunday, September 7.

The delectable series was launched in 2010 at the Gardenia supper club in West Hollywood, and was presented at other locales, but quickly found a simpatico regular venue in Michael Sterling's cabaret clubs-briefly at his former venue at Vitello's Restaurant in Studio City, followed by his superb abode of the past few years, the Federal bar-restaurant in North Hollywood.

"The Songs That Got Away: Kritzerland's 4th Anniversary," offered a joyous blend of versatile performers-vets alongside newcomers, performing irresistible show tunes, including classics as well as other outstanding songs that are lesser known. It was fun to attend a Kritzerland show in mid-day on a Sunday, for a change, where a delicious array of brunch entrees was available.

Yet, as always, the pi�ce de r�sistance was the triple-threat talents of the ensemble of performers, backed up on piano by ace musical director John Boswell. Emcee Kimmel offered his usual amusing banter between songs, including his always fascinating tidbits about the songs and shows and the original performers associated with them.

Two guest stars were featured. Beloved performer-writer and perpetual bon vivant Bruce Vilanch was assigned a highly apt number. From the 1964 Buddy Hackett musical "I Had a Ball," he crooned the daffy "Be a Phony," written for Hackett, but cut from the show before it opened. "Hackett couldn't hack it," quipped the ever-sardonic Vilanch.

As expected, Vilanch worked in several hilarious jokes, in his incomparable deadpan style. It was an added treat to have Karen Morrow in the audience, as duly noted by Kimmel. This Broadway vet co-starred with Hackett in "I Had a Ball" and boasts many other notable credits, such as "The Grass Harp" and "The Mystery of Edwin Drood."

The other special guest was Kerry O'Malley, who has starred on television, film, and in such Broadway shows as "Promises, Promises," "White Christmas" and "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever." She offered a knockout rendition of Burt Bacharach's melancholy "Knowing When to Leave" from "Promises Promises" as well as a stellar ballad, "Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me" from "White Christmas."

An interesting novelty in this show was three samples from Kimmel's spoofy 2004 revue "What If," which was somewhat of a clever variation on Gerard Alessandrini's "Forbidden Broadway" series. The simple but hilarious premise was to imagine if one famous Broadway composer, or songwriting team, had written a different well-known show. So, if "A Chorus Line" had been written by Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock (the "Fiddler on the Roof" team) we might have had a hilarious mix of "Audition" and "Tradition." Shtetl meets 42nd Street.

In this same vein, "West Side Story" was viewed through the prism of "Annie Get Your Gun" (bizarre, but uproarious), and there was a zany mash-up of "Phantom of the Opera" and "Disney's Beauty and the Beast." Each of these vignettes was a laugh riot, performed to perfection by Robert Yacko, Kimberly Hessler, Travis Leland, Bruce Merkle, and Adrienne Visnic in various combinations.

Kimmel recently staged an L.A. production of the vintage hillbilly classic "Li'l Abner" (which was a hit, and which he said he hopes to remount). His two attractive and charismatic stars from the production, Madison Claire Parks and Evan Harris reprised a charming duet they had shared in that show, "Namely You." Harris did a terrific solo turn in the title song from Rodgers and Hart's "On Your Toes."

Parks was equally sublime in her interpretation of the gorgeous "My Heart is So Full Of You" from "Most Happy Fella." From the same classic show, Yacko excelled in the soaring romantic ballad, "Joey Joey Joey." He likewise demonstrated his soaring baritone voice to perfection in Stephen Sondheim's "Finishing the Hat" from "Sunday in the Park With George."

One of Kimmel's best anecdotes to date was his description of meeting original "Happy Fella" star Robert Weede many years ago, when Weede was appearing in an LA-area revival of the beloved show. As a young performer with stars in his eyes, Kimmel summoned up the nerve to approach Weede after the show, and the gracious star greatly encouraged him, introduced him to everyone, and invited him to the closing night party. It's easy to understand why Kimmel cites this as a life-changing experience for him.

Kimmel had his moment in the performing spotlight, and it was a beaut. A 10-year-old dynamo, Hadley Miller, shared a killer duet with Kimmel-the delicious "You're Just in Love" from Irving Berlin's "Call Me Madam." Ethel Merman and Russell Nype, eat your hearts out.

In a trip to high-school puppy love, circa, 1960s, vivacious Sami Staitman offered a delightful pairing of two "Bye Bye Birdie" songs-"How Lovely to Be a Woman" and "One Special Boy."

Staitman was once again terrific, alongside an equally fine Jenna Lea Rosen in the sprightly "Pals," the title tune of a 1985 musical written by Kimmel, which he said is perhaps headed for revisions and a return. Rosen had her own triumphant solo turn in the showstopping "You There in the Back Row" from Cy Coleman's little-known "13 Days to Broadway."

It was lovely to have Boswell take the spotlight for an impromptu overture mash-up that he created on the spot. He asked the audience to call out some of their favorite overtures, then he jotted down the titles, and instantly performed the whole suite of them.

"Heart," the one-word title of a beloved song from "Damn Yankees," which closed the show as a singalong, perfectly summed up the joy of one of Kritzerland's finest cabaret offerings to date. Happy 4th-and many, many more to come!

"The Songs That Got Away: Kritzerland's 4th Anniversary" was performed on September 7 at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal, 5303 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. For information on future shows, call 919-754-8700 or visit http://www.msaprnet/Sterling-s-at-The-Federal.html.