Run Away with Me! is a high energy, fun-filled hour of amazing singing! Terri Allen, Emily Leatha Everson, Justin Ritchie, and Lonny Smith razzle and dazzle the audience in this engaging and highly enjoyable cabaret show in the Baldacchino Gypsy Bar Tent. If you love pop, jazz, country and Broadway show tunes, this show is a must see!
The ensemble opens with a full-voiced, fun rendition of “Crayola Doesn’t Make a Color.” I was instantly blown away by the energy and the quality of their voices. Everson follows with a powerful solo of Lyle Lovett’s “If I had a Boat.” Her facial expressions and eye-contact with the audience make the tune a fun and intimate experience. She returns later in the show with the hilarious “Toll” and the evening’s stand-out performance of “Defying Gravity” from the smash Broadway musical, Wicked. This is a personal favorite song of mine and I got chills listening to her belt out this high-flying and vocally challenging number.
Smith’s clear, deep voice was perfect for the very humorous “I Wanna Talk About Me.” His energetic delivery and comedic acting made the audience roll with laughter. He was also enjoyable in his later song “Run Away with Me.” In “Larger than Life,” his final solo song, Smith delivers an outstanding, emotional performance. It was his best solo of the show.
Both Allen and Ritchie also deliver superb vocal performances throughout the eighteen-song show. Allen’s “Song of Bernadette” showed off her vocal range as a DC rainstorm began to pour down onto the tent. “May I Suggest” was particularly lovely, allowing Allen to showcase her amazing emotional delivery. Ritchie’s clear, expressive voice was a stand-out in his humorous “Billions of Beautiful Boys” and the poignant “Hold On.” But his amazing vocals in Marc Cohen’s classic “Walking in Memphis” had the audience swaying and singing along .
The ensemble songs were also a lot of fun, especially the Muppet classic “Rainbow Connection.” Although I love the original, simple version sung by Kermit the Frog, this arrangement was lovely and sung beautifully. I found I could not stop myself from joining in. The cast all seemed to be having a great time together, which only further added to the enjoyment of the audience.
Run Away with Me! is a truly enjoyable evening of great songs sung by great singers. What more could an audience ask for?
Run Away with Me!: A Contemporary Cabaret
Music Direction by Justin Ritchie and Mary Sugar
Accompanist: Mary Sugar
Produced by Terri Allen and Lyros Productions
Reviewed by Sabrina C. Daly
Running time: 60 minutes
Read all the reviews and check out the full Capital Fringe schedule here.
Did you see the show? What did you think?
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