PUBLICITY & REVIEWS
NEW REVIEW FOR "BACK TO BACHARACH"!!!! By Carla Gordon - August, 2007 “Back to Bacharach” Scores a Triple Play for 3Girls3 We should be reasonable in our demands of cabaret. Let’s limit ourselves to three main expectations: 1.) A show should have excellent musicality, 2.) A show should be fun, and, 3.) A show should have heart. “Back to Bacharach,” presented at Davenport’s Cabaret and Piano Bar (1383 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago; Phone 773)278-1830) by 3Girls3 satisfies these expectations in a powerhouse triple play. 3Girls3 consists of vocalists Gail Becker, Heather Moran, and Mary Monica Thomas. When harmonizing, they sound as one. However, their quite different stage personalities make the trio intriguing and fun. Becker comes across as intellectual, Moran as innocent, and Thomas as glamorous. (Thomas’ curly locks are gorgeous but the hair tossings sometimes distract.) The Girls praise the prolific Bacharach’s work yet take us to truthful places by discussing the composer’s challenges, too. Their anecdotes reveal how certain Bacharach hits flopped in early release, “Ill Never Fall in Love” by Ella Fitzgerald and “Alfie” by Cher, are examples. These stories added fun, gossipy layers to Back to Bacharach. Their rendition of the corny theme song from the 1958 film, The Blob, (lyrics by Hal David) was not only a hoot; it showed Bacharach’s versatility. Heather Moran was the last vocalist to solo. The introduction lauded her patient wait for her chance to shine. In an hysterical turn, her cohorts are unable to respect her solo opportunity in “That’s What Friends Are For” (lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager).Thomas, soon followed by Becker jumps in to upstage Moran’s solo, contradicting the tune’s charitable message. When the otherwise kind-natured Moran mutters “Bitches…” we are not only laughing our heads off; we nod heartily in agreement. The Girls wisely recognize that even a lighthearted cabaret needs its serious moments. Gail Becker takes us deep inside “Alfie” (from the 1966 film, Alfie with lyrics by Hal David). Becker understands what its lyrics ask Alfie (and us) to consider: “And if only fools are kind, Alfie, then I guess it is wise to be cruel.” The sex versus love debate continues. Steve Carson brought excellent accompaniment to the evening, responding well to the different singers and their particular interpretations. Impressive arrangements enabled the three vocalists to really strut their stuff. Kudos to arranger John Steinhagen for arrangements that provided rich rhythmic and harmonic texture to Back to Bachrach. A highlight of the show is the three-singer medley combining Moran, finding the desperation in “Anyone Who Had a Heart”, Becker, plumbing the caveat of a not so fluffy “Wives and Lovers”, and Thomas finding tender balance between sorrow and self-deception in “One Less Bell to Answer.” Each vocalist not only honors Hal David’s lyrics, but lands in the musical sweet spot despite the variant tempi of the three tunes. To paraphrase, Beckie Menzie, a cabaret artist whom I admire greatly, when a show is going just right, we find ourselves falling in love with the singer. I found myself wanting to hug all three Girls. I’ll risk enough germs to catch pneumonia.
"Burt Bacharach is back -- and that's a good thing" Trio dips into iconic artist's huge songbook By Howard Reich | Tribune arts critic Television audiences may know Burt Bacharach best for those quirky GEICO auto-insurance commercials, in which the tuxedoed songwriter croons about the perils of car accidents. Seated at the piano, Bacharach seems to be improvising a ditty, while a GEICO customer offers a deadpan testimonial about the insurance firm. The ads may have been lucrative for Bacharach, but they also could lead contemporary viewers to think of Bacharach as some ancient, has-been, third-rate lounge singer. In fact, he ranks among the great classic-pop and jazz songwriters of the latter part of the 20th Century, a point that the Chicago vocal trio 3Girls3 hopes to emphasize in its cabaret show "Back to Bacharach: A Tribute." "Our storyline, and our point, is that Bacharach's music has withstood the test of time," says Heather Moran, one third of a notable group that also features Chicago vocalists MaryMonica Thomas and Gail Becker. "You can go back and hear the Dionne music," continues Moran, referring to Bacharach tunes that Dionne Warwick made famous, "or you can listen to the Broadway material or almost anything he wrote, and it still sounds fresh. "I mean, they're doing his songs on 'American Idol.' Noel Gallagher has covered Bacharach tunes," adds Moran, pointing to the Oasis singer who famously has sung Bacharach and Hal David's "This Guy's In Love With You." But beyond modern-day cache of some of Bacharach's hits, it's worth noting that his enormous songbook contains a remarkable number of exquisitely crafted miniatures. Compositions such as "I'll Never Fall in Love Again," "One Less Bell to Answer," "Alfie," "Walk on By" and others may evoke memories of the 1960s and '70s, but it's the quality of this music -- more than its nostalgic pull -- that distinguishes it. Like precious few pop songwriters of his era, Bacharach brought a jazz musician's harmonic sophistication to his work, as well as an utterly original way of shaping a melody line. The intricate twists and turns of his best musical phrases, in other words, transcended the orthodoxy of both vintage Tin Pan Alley and Broadway songwriting. Though many songwriters have been influenced by his work, in Bacharach's heyday no one wrote songs quite the way he did. The idiosyncrasies of his writing may help explain why this music consistently strike listeners as spontaneous and new. "The melodies are complicated, but they don't sound it," says Moran, eloquently summing up the enduring appeal of this music. Several years ago, an earlier incarnation of 3Girls3 presented a Bacharach homage, but this one is different. For starters, singer Patty Morabito -- who once ranked among this city's most promising cabaret performers -- left Chicago several years ago, giving up her role in 3Girls3. Moran took Morabito's spot, inevitably changing the tone and style of the group. In essence, Moran brings a jazz undercurrent to this music, singer Becker emphasizes a musical-theater sensibility and Thomas exemplifies the intimacy of cabaret. When these seasoned singers re-examine Bacharach's work, listeners likely will encounter familiar music in a new light -- or three. And though "Bach to Bacharach" closes its limited, two-weekend run tonight, chances are good that it will resurface in the fall. Certainly the caliber of the material and the reputation of the trio suggest that a substantial audience will want to revel in this music. Says Moran, "These tunes have legs." CRITICS' PICKS
Almost two years ago, when I began writing for Cabaret Hotline, I was astounded by a trio of young women performing the songs of Burt Bacharach and Hal David. That show, "What the World Needs Now," was a true winner and made me the Bacharach fan I am today. I am happy to report that that same trio, 3Girls3 (Gail Becker, Patty Morabito, and MaryMonica Thomas), has decided to revisit Bacharach's music. Their new show, "Back to Bacharach," retains many of the old favorites from their first show celebrating Bacharach, but also has some new gems that certainly make it worth seeing again. The old favorites include their takes on classic songs like "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head," "Close to You," and the Fosse-inspired "Walk on By" --all performed quite effectively by this fun and talented trio of young women. The new gems include a new arrangement of "Do You Know the Way to San Jose" by Mark Burnell, "The Blob," "Promises, Promises," and an extremely effective "God Give Me Strength" (lyric by Elvis Costello) performed extremely well by Ms. Becker. This was a fun and entertaining evening by a vocal trio that's hard to beat!
3 Girls 3, "We Need a Little Christmas..." Christmas has once again struck the cabaret world, and, quite frankly, by December 3 I was getting tired hearing "Sleigh Ride" and the assorted other songs of the season. Still, off I went to see 3 Girls 3's latest cabaret show knowing that I would not be disappointed. The last time I saw this gloriously talented trio -- Gail Becker, Patty Morabito, and MaryMonica Thomas -- they made me fall in love with the music of Burt Bacharach and Hal David, so I was certain that I would hear those old holiday chestnuts in exciting new arrangements. I was not disappointed--they managed to bring some Christmas joy to this Scrooge... ...I have said it before and I will gladly say it again -- 3 Girls 3 is one of the most talented trio that I have been fortunate to discover here in the Windy City! They are consistently good performers, and I wholeheartedly recommend that everyone see them perform soon. They are fresh, exciting, and their love of their art is contagious." *** ..."Though the evening's indelible moments were too numerous to cite, the high points included...gorgeous harmonizing from 3Girls3 (Heather Moran, MaryMonica Thomas and Gail Becker). -Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune |
