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Show Reviews
The Jane Froman Songbook: “A Song in My Heart”
“Valerie Lemon arrives on stage looking eerily like Froman, and she’s gifted with a similar supple and lyrical mezzo. Outfitted in a ball gown of lace and tulle, the illusion is remarkable, as is much of the show. Lemon captures the bubbly essence of Froman’s reassuring voice with evergreens like the Gershwin’s "Embraceable You" and plaintive reading of "I believe". "I’ll Walk Alone" gives Lemon her finest moment. The show has potential for a life outside cabaret.”
— John Hoglund, Backstage
“Valerie Lemon has created a veritable time machine. With her sophisticated look, elegant garb, command of the stage and her nostalgic songs, she transports her audience to the heyday of the New York’s ’forties and ’fifties nightclub scene. Offering many of the most memorable numbers from the Jane Froman Songbook (Somebody Loves Me, I’ll Walk Alone, That Old Feeling, Blue Moon), she effectively sweeps the room back to the era of the Empire Room, the Persian Room, La Chansonette, Cafi Society, the nights of shows at 10, 12 and 2, and the heyday of American songwriters. Just glancing at Valerie’s song list starts a cabaret aficionado’s blood surging. The tunes of Harold Arlen, Richard Rodgers, Arthur Schwartz, George Gershwin and Sammy Cahn, lyrics by Lorenz Hart, Buddy DeSylva, Peggy Lee, Jule Styne, Frank Loesser and others.
With the aid of her accompanist, Don Rebic, arrangements by Christopher Denny and Phil Hall, and Eric Michael Gillett as director and co-writer of the script - it was more than just patter - Valerie Lemon’s show is a touching overview of Froman’s life, a reminder of her importance to the popular music scene for a score of years, and a perfect showcase for Valerie’s honey-sweet voice. Chalk up this one as a ‘don’t miss.’”
— Peter Leavy, Cabaret Scenes
