SHE'S A ONE-WOMAN BROADWAY.Byline: Julio Martinez Julio Martinez is the weekly host of KPFK Radio’s Arts in Review, is a theatre critic for Daily Variety and Features Editor of Latin Heat Magazine. His articles have appeared in Los Angeles Times Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter, Backstage West, L.A. Correspondent The title of Tony Award winner Lillias White's ``From Brooklyn to Broadway,'' is a bit deceptive. Though she refers to her Crown Heights roots in passing, there is decidedly more emphasis on music than autobiography in her 80-minute sojourn through many of the tunes she's been associated with over the years. What is lacking in story is more than made up for in vocal artistry. Backed by the flawlessly intuitive trio of Herma herm also her·ma n. pl. herms also her·mae A rectangular, often tapering stone post bearing a carved head or bust, usually of Hermes, used as a boundary marker in ancient Greece and for decorative purposes in later periods. Jackson (piano), Ricky Minor (bass) and Lan Richards (drums), White's vibrantly rich sound, emotional depth and multioctave range turns each of her selections into a mini tone poem tone poem: see symphonic poem. . There are no throwaway throwaway See for your information (FYI). songs in this show. White establishes her credentials in the opening medley, segueing from a soulful, introspective in·tro·spect intr.v. in·tro·spect·ed, in·tro·spect·ing, in·tro·spects To engage in introspection. [Latin intr rendering of the Rodgers and Hart classic ``Blue Moon'' to a hard-driving, range-busting ``Old Devil Moon,'' by Burton Lane Burton Lane (February 2, 1912, New York City - January 5, 1997, New York City) was an American composer and lyricist. Lane (real name Burton Levy) was best known for his Broadway musicals, Finian's Rainbow (1947) and On a Clear Day You Can See Forever and E.Y. Harburg. The vocally malleable White than displays her adroit scatting skills on Hoagy Carmichael's ``Ooh, What You Said,'' shows off her Caribbean heritage with a calypso Calypso, in Greek mythology Calypso (kəlĭp`sō), nymph, daughter of Atlas, in Homer's Odyssey. She lived on the island of Ogygia and there entertained Odysseus for seven years. romp through the comical ``Momma Look at Boo Boo'' and simply soars through the tender ballad ``Born for You.'' Twin highlights of the evening are searing sear 1 v. seared, sear·ing, sears v.tr. 1. To char, scorch, or burn the surface of with or as if with a hot instrument. See Synonyms at burn1. 2. indications of love gone bad in Eric Benet's ``When You Think of Me'' and Gordon Chambers' ``Fairy Tales.'' The last 20 minutes of her show is devoted to an extended medley of her songs from such shows as ``Barnum'' (``Thank God I'm Old''), ``Dreamgirl'' (the title song and ``One Night Only''), ``Once on This Island'' (``Mama Will Provide'') and the Matthew Broderick revival of ``How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying'' (``Brotherhood of Man''). The medley portion concludes with a dazzling seven-minute display of emotional and vocal power as she re-creates her Tony Award-winning Sonja persona from the Broadway hit ``The Life.'' White concludes her show with a more positive take on human relationships, moving soulfully through the Michel Legrand/Alan and Marilyn Bergman love song ``The Way He Makes Me Feel.'' The lady is an undeniable star; too bad she's in town for only one more evening. ``LILLIAS WHITE: FROM BROOKLYN TO BROADWAY'' Where: Cinegrill, Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, 7000 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. When: 8 and 10 p.m. Saturday. Tickets: $20 plus two-drink and/or food minimum. Call (213) 365-3500. Our rating: Three and one half stars CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- 2) Lillias White brings her considerable range and eclectic material to the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on Saturday. |
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