Imagine, if you will, a cabaret featuring Marlene Dietrich and Rita Hayworth. Or perhaps Greta Garbo and Lucille Ball. It would be an exciting mix of class and sex appeal, of comedy and torch songs, of silliness and genuine beauty. It would be witty and charming, but with a good dose of poignancy thrown in for balance. It would probably be somewhat like For a Good Time Call..., a winsome new revue that recently ended its initial run at the Duplex, starring Melissa Driscol and Hannah Ingram.
For a Good Time Call... is, admittedly, rather aimless as cabarets go. There is no central theme, no featured composer, no story to tie it all together. It is, therefore, a true testament to the charisma and skill of the stars and director Brandon Cutrell that the show manages to remain exciting and enjoyable without any central concept. Two beautiful women belt and emote their hearts out for an hour to some fantastic songs, and that's more than enough for a good time.
The evening's numbers are a lively mix of many kinds of music, from classic jazz to showtunes to modern pop. The songs are strong showcases for the ladies' range as both singers and actresses: Ms. Ingram is poignant and unabashedly emotional when she sings Musical Director Robby Stamper's "As Long as I Can Dream," while Ms. Driscol is snarky and adorable with her energetic rendition of Julie Brown's "Blond."
But while each lady shines individually, they share a wonderful chemistry in their duets that either reveals new layers to the songs, or at the very least makes them twice as fun. (The one exception might be the numerous jealousy/competition-themed numbers, which become a little repetitive after a bit.) Making a counterpoint of Duke Ellington's "Hit Me With a Hot Note" and Jason Robert Brown's "Pretty Music" brings out bright new flavors in each song, while Marilyn Miller and Cheryl Hardwick's "Making Love Alone" takes on a delicious irony when sung by two people. The roller-coaster-esque emotional ride of the evening can likely be attributed to director Brandon Cutrell, a MAC-award winning cabaret artist in his own right who likewise runs a gamut of emotions in one show. Musical director Robby Stamper delightfully conveys a range of emotions through his work on the piano, and also lends his voice as a backup singer for several songs.
Mmes. Driscol and Ingram end their evening with a lovely duet of Stephen Sondheim's hopeful anthem "Our Time." I must admit to getting somewhat teary-eyed as the ladies sang the line "We're the names in tomorrow's papers." With any luck, they will be.
For a Good Time Call... will return to the Duplex on May 8th for one more additional performance. Call (212) 255-5438 for tickets.
