Klea Blackhurst
cabaret
Force me to pick my favorite singer and I won't even hesitate: It's Ethel Merman. Who dares to disagree? Not Cole Porter, George Gershwin or Irving Berlin — they wrote some of America's greatest songs for that clarion voice. If musical theater has a spokesperson (songsperson?), surely she's Ethel, whose straight-shooting style and thrilling fortissimos remain Broadway's gold standard. She's as revivifying as a hot shower and a cold martini. And unique — who else sounds like the Merm?
Klea Blackhurst doesn't, not really. But her show, Everything the Traffic Will Allow, an unabashed fan letter to Merman, is a complete delight. It's subtitled "The Songs and Sass of Ethel Merman"; you'll get plenty of both.
It's actually a plus that Blackhurst has her own distinctive style — more jazz-inflected, with less sheer volume. She manages, through rhythmic verve and vitality, to suggest Merman, while gradually making each song her own. And what a wonderful selection of material! Even knowledgeable fans may be surprised to discover one or two rarities we don't associate with the Merm. And her offbeat take on some Merman standards makes us hear them anew. The "sass" lies also in the stories — anecdotes about both Ethel and Klea herself, all amusing and told with great charm.
Let this be your post-Thanksgiving, ushering-in-the-holidays gift to yourselves!
Everything the Traffic Will Allow, runs Nov. 29-Dec. 10, Prince Music Theater, 1412 Chestnut St., 215-569-9700, www.princemusictheater.org.
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