CABARET review - Lisa Stanley

Lisa Stanley is most gratefully a cabaret artist of the old school, who brings everything she has to her performance: good singing, a little dancing, a gigantic sense of humor and enough charisma and warmth to make everyone feel good. Never letting her high enegy fail her for a split second, Stanley presented her Life on the Double D List at Sterling's Upstairs @ Vitello's on Sunday, October 25 to a thoroughly receptive SRO audience.
Stanley kept her hour-long set in motion by mingling frequently with the audience and bringing folks onstage to participate. There was never a dull moment. Highlights included: "Come On-A My House", where she carried a basket into the audience and handed out candy, "I Got Rhythm", an evocative "The Lady Is a Tramp" and even juicier calypso number "The Big Bamboo" - "I bet Harry Belafonte never sang this song!" She did a hilarious version of "Fever" with 3 chorus boys hand-picked from the crowd, that, of course, could not coordinate finger snapping and foot movements to save their lives. Stanley did a soulful "My Heart Belongs to Daddy", whilst cuddling a bald-headed friend from the front row and a cute "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf" with fairy tale book in hand. Then there was a total reverse in style, the ballad "You're Still You", beautifully interpreted and dedicated to her husband. Stanley ended with the frenetic "Minute Waltz" and then slowed down once more encoring with the crowd-pleasing "One For My Baby".
There was still more. The whole room crooned "Happy Birthday" as she brought all October-November birthday guys and gals from the audience onstage for candle-lit cupcakes.
This was a completely enjoyable evening from a perky, loving songbird that I want to see perform a lot more in the future, the very comedically talented Miss Lisa Stanley.