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ON THE RECORD: Sondheim's "Evening Primrose" and Kelli O'Hara's "Wonder in the World"
By Steven Suskin
12 May 2008
Kelli O'Hara: WONDER IN THE WORLD [Ghostlight 8-3309]
Kelli O'Hara is presently singing her heart, and washing that man, right outa her hair every night at Lincoln Center. After four increasingly prominent roles over five seasons, she is now more or less near the top of the world, Broadway-style. This would be the pinnacle of pinnacles for someone who grew up on show tunes in Brooklyn or Scarsdale, yes; but Ms. O'Hara is a country gal from Oklahoma. Country and pop were her native genres, so when the time came to make her solo debut album she did not turn to Rodgers & Hart, Lloyd Webber or Kander, Strouse and Coleman. Harry Connick Jr., with whom she cavorted so profitably two years back in The Pajama Game, came along for the ride as arranger and orchestrator. Rob Berman serves as conductor.
"Wonder in the World" is a collection of 14 songs, most of which fall under the heading of unfamiliar territory for people whose listening repertory consists of show tunes, show tunes and show tunes. Ms. O'Hara and Mr. Connick are not in a lively mood in this "Wonder in the World," it must be said; if it's upbeat, peppy tracks you want, they'll not be found here. Three of the songs, as it happens, are by Connick, two by O'Hara. Connick's "Wonder in the World" — on which he duets with O'Hara — is the best of the non-show material, matched by a winning song called "Spooky" (a 1968 pop hit by a group out of Atlanta called Classics IV). There's also one by Billy Joel and one by James Taylor.
The collection includes a few titles from the Broadway songbook, although Connick gives them to us in a different guise then usual. Most striking is a jazzy rendition of "Fable," the closing number from Adam Guettel's Light in the Piazza. Let me say that again: "Fable," Victoria Clark's showpiece which you might not have suspected had a jazzy rendition hidden within. A surprise entry, especially in terms of the rest of the CD, but it turns out to be a fine idea. The album ends with a leisurely version of Rodgers & Hammerstein's "I Have Dreamed" followed by an especially introspective setting of Styne, Comden & Green's "Make Someone Happy."
(Steven Suskin is author of "Second Act Trouble," "Show Tunes" and the "Opening Night on Broadway" books. Past On the Record columns are archived in the Features section of Playbill.com. Suskin can be reached at Ssuskin@aol.com)
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