'World' leaves crowd wanting some more

One actor did an impressive job with his multiple solos.
By L. CROW
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Oakland Center's production of "And the World Goes Round: A Musical Journey Through the World of Kander And Ebb" was an opportunity for an all-star cast to showcase its talents.
The one-weekend-only musical revue closed the Oakland's season.
Directed and created by Liz Rubino, the show was derived from the original revue conceived by Scott Ellis, Susan Stroman and David Thompson. Rubino's version took place in Don't Tell Mama's Open Mic Piano Bar in New York City, and featured singing guests, waiters and Mama herself. The red and black colors set the mood for some seductive and sophisticated music from Kander and Ebb's most well-known musicals, and a couple of lesser-known ones, too. The audience responded with hoots and whistles, and a standing ovation at the end.
After the ensemble opened with "Coffee in a Cardboard Cup," (from "70, Girls, 70") Anna Frabutt wowed the crowd with her provocative performance of "When You're Good to Mama." She and Rubino later did a humorous duet from "Woman of the Year," as each envied the other's life in "The Grass Is Always Greener." Rubino also treated the audience to the bluesy and emotional "Maybe This Time," from "Cabaret."
Wide variety
Ryan Ruth was impressive in a number of solos, from the dark and mysterious "Kiss of the Spider Woman," to the whiny and pathetic "Mister Cellophane," about a person of low esteem who never gets noticed (from "Chicago"). Many folks recently enjoyed Ruth onstage as the sweet and lovable elephant Horton in "Seussical," so it was refreshing to hear him flex his vocal muscles with so many different styles.
A voluptuous Kristen Marinelli titillated the audience with her sexy renditions of "Don't Tell Mama" and "All That Jazz," and then things really heated up with Allison Crawford's "Roxie," from "Chicago." But Crawford also sang a much more innocent song called "Colored Lights," from the more obscure musical of the same name, about a girl who went searching for something but knows not what.
By far, the most comical and fascinating song was "We Both Reached for the Gun," sung by Randall Huffman, with Crawford on his lap as a puppet, lip-syncing the words to Huffman's wonderful falsetto. It was hard to tell what was what and who was whom in this fast-moving tune from "Chicago."
The show ended with two big group numbers, "New York, New York," and "Cabaret," leaving the audience wishing for more. If you missed this delightful and energetic performance, take heart. The cast members all frequent local stages, so hopefully we'll have more opportunities to enjoy their talents.