Initiating what is to be a continuing program of Cabaret By the Bay, Laura Benanti proved an audience charmer at Sarasota Opera House. Fittingly, her often soaring soprano was the prevalent source of her charm. Her accompanying narrative mainly brought her life up to date as a Broadway star and as a happy wife and mother of a little girl beginning to toddle. Benanti’s introduction had her supplying context for three songs she sang in the lead role of Amalia Balash in She Loves Me, for which she was nominated for Tony and Drama Desk awards. She then harked back to her late teens and her first Broadway roles as Liesl von Trapp in The Sound of Music and understudy for Maria, the lead role she next acquired. In her mixed format of life off and on Broadway, Benanti sang from the aforesaid roles plus a few nursery songs, “Our Love Is Here to Stay”, and—from her “dream role” of Eliza in the upcoming production of My Fair Lady—“I Could Have Danced All Night.” One of her songs for children featured a bit of spoken word and a great deal of full-body animation. Backstage memories included a funny drinking episode with co-star Patti LuPone. Benanti also found comedy in an odd experience while she and her husband were getting their marriage license. Pianist Steven Freeman not only provided spirited accompaniment but also a few bits of well placed banter. Benanti’s cabaret costume was a pinkish-red, haltered one piece pants-dress. It allowed no distractions from her speech and singing but much freedom of motion, especially in a kids’ playful number. The one negative in the show was over-miking that hindered understanding of Benanti’s less known songs.
