This is it: Anne Steele’s prize for winning this past summer’s MetroStar competition, which started with a pool of more than one hundred hopefuls. Her show, Strings Attached, was produced by the Metropolitan Room and given a five-day run.  Since but few days remain to the run, it seemed more important to post this review quickly than ruminate about what should be said about this unusual and striking show.

To put it succinctly, go see and hear Anne Steele! The show makes quite obvious why Anne was the winner of MetroStar.

With her powerful but pure voice, her clear enunciation of lyrics, her sensitive phrasing and intelligent interpretation of the songs, she also displayed a versatility that, in her words, encompassed Stephen Sondheim and Britney Spears.  Sometimes the show seemed to suggest country meets rock.  At others, oldies such as “Tennessee Waltz” and “Smile” were delivered with great tenderness.  For Anne, standards refer to Bob Dylan and The Beatles, not the Great American Songbook, but even an older audience will accept Anne’s choices into the traditional repertoire.  A startling medley of “Toxic” and “Mercy” was at first jolting, but it soon became clear that all that was necessary for listeners unused to such numbers was that they relax their controlling superegos and allow their ids to guide their responses to the primitive sounds, rhythms, and words.

Anne came on to the stage at the Metropolitan Room like a dynamo with her opening, fittingly entitled “Don’t Stop Me Now,” which immediately stirred her audience to near (but polite) frenzy.  A counterpoint was offered by the band that was made up (with the exception of piano and back-up singer) entirely of stringed instruments, adding what Anne called their lush sounds to her arrangements.

Stearn Matthews, who was top runner-up in the MetroStar competition, opened for Anne with three songs, among them an amusing celebration of that ubiquitous bathtub pet, “Rubber Duckie.”  Music Director Kenny Davidsen led the string quartet. Lennie Watts, who had added so much humor and spice during the MetroStar competition as its host and M.C., directed.  J.P. Perreaux handled lights and sound with elegance.

In short, the evening was—to use the epithet of my guest for that evening—outstanding!  Strings Attached will play at the Metropolitan Room again on February 19th, 20th, and 21st at 7:30 pm, and February 22nd at 7:00 pm. Don’t miss it.

Barbara Leavy
Cabaret Scenes
February 18, 2009