That's Entertainment

By John Hoglund

If American cabaret artists aren't careful, they'll be out of work. Australia seems hell-bent on dominating cabaret in New York. Starting with David Campbell's success here a few seasons ago, the takeover continued with Judi Connelli, Combo Fiasco, and, more recently, centered on 17-year-old Tim Draxl. All had smashing debuts and lived up to the hype. So what could be in store with the debut of this latest Aussie import, Toni Lamond? Plenty.

For starters, Lamond is a legendary veteran Down Under, with an immense canon of work that goes back to her vaudevillian parents, her own television show (she gave Peter Allen his first television exposure), and a plethora of theatrical credits that include starring roles in "Gypsy," "Annie Get Your Gun," "Anything Goes," and "Beauty and the Beast." Most recently she played Sally onstage in "Follies," and has appeared in endless touring companies - not to mention on major network series in the U.S. Pretty impressive - and so was this delightful "debut" of another Australian.

Too much gushing can be cliched. However, when it's warranted I make no apologies. In her eclectic show "Still a Gypsy" - recently at FireBird Cafe - Lamond's comic insights are delicious and never too cutesy, as on a parody of "Unexpected Song," which became "Andrew Webber Song," and a spoof of the composer's songs. Here she targeted the ironic punchlines with brio. On "Simply Couldn't Be Happier," her comic and acting skills are tested as she slowly gets soused while confronting a lover who jilted her. A bit buffoonish, yes. But Lamond delivers the goods with a sassy savoir faire that makes her a laugh riot. She is bubbly when it comes to self-effacing, bawdy, good-time belly laughs. Her "defining" "Waltzing Matilda" couldn't have been funnier. Though a bit broad for a cabaret room, she delivers an hour of solid entertainment recalling Dorothy Loudon and Rosalind Russell. She's in their league.

If Lamond was a revelry on the fun stuff, she was shattering when it came to breaking your heart. With her strong mezzo, each song became a story well told, with all the finely textured detail of a rich, engrossing novel. This was most evident on a piercing reading of Harry Chapin's wrenching "Mr. Tanner." Her well-crafted phrasing on this story of yearning and heartbreak about a man who loved to sing warmly spun with musical director Ron Creager tenderly underpinning "O Holy Night" in counterpoint as the pitiful tale unfolded. Too, she tugged at every emotion in a penetrating delivery of "Why Can't I Forget?" that riveted. Hearing her voice cracking, "Why can't I forget, the way he said goodbye," you knew that she's been there.

The act works well on all levels. It is a balanced, funny, and emotionally appealing show - and she communicates brilliantly, creating an evening of magical cabaret at its best. Let's hope Toni Lamond returns soon.

From Back Stage's Cabaret Reviewer, John Hoglund