LIVING IT UP IN HER LIVING ROOM
In the shimmering galaxy of cabaret, few stars sparkle with the vivacity and brilliance of Jessica Vosk, who, at 40, is the real deal. You’re talking about a woman who sells out Carnegie Hall. On September 19, a raucous and appreciative audience — mainly students at Pepperdine University’s Malibu campus — was treated to an intimate cabaret that could easily have been presented at a grand hall like Carnegie, where Vosk performed songs of Judy Garland. At the Smothers Theatre, we got an eclectic program spanning Vosk’s amazing career. This was not merely a concert but a rich tapestry interweaving the golden threads of song and narrative from her life, including a story about how she met her beau in St. Louis while performing at MUNY in Chess. With her trademark powerful pipes, she offered from that 1979 brain child of lyricist Tim Rice, who teamed up with ABBA composers Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, a resounding “Nobody’s Side.”
Vosk, renowned for her role as Elphaba in Wicked, channeled a deeply personal connection with the audience, starting below the stage with “Let Me Entertain You” before beginning a symphony of storytelling harmonized with music that captured her remarkable career and her range as a performer. Her repertoire spanned an illustrious array as she celebrated Broadway (“One Song Glory” from Rent), Film “This Is Me” from The Greatest Showman), and the singer/songwriters of Laurel Canyon (Crosby, Stills and Nash’s “Love Has No Pride,” which was covered by Bonnie Raitt, who Vox further elucidated with “Something to Talk About”).
In My Living Room is a perfect title for the 90-minute set. Her powerful pipes, wit, and insider stories simply mesmerized. With music director Matthew Antonio Perri on piano and Rich Mercurio on percussion, Vosk is a commanding yet approachable figure, transforming the space into a sanctum where each melody unfurled like a chapter from an intimate memoir. Her voice, an instrument of rich timbre and emotive depth, traversed this eclectic spectrum with a masterful fusion of strength and tenderness.
Vosk also led some master classes at Pepperdine, and asked students to send in samples of their goods. For “Suddenly Seymour” from Little Shop of Horrors, she chose the charming Josh Williams to sing that duet with her. Williams is not only charming with splendid vocals, but proves he absolutely belongs on the stage. And the audience went wild when Vosk offered “The Wizard and I” from Wicked as if it was the first time she sang it.
The evening’s special guest, Scott Hoying (oh, nothing, just one of the founders of Pentatonix!) offered a solo song from The Life of Death, a musical about the Grim Reaper and his daughter who falls for someone whose life she is supposed to take. “Kind of the One” is not only quirky and immediately likeable, but was full of perfect rhymes, so rarely heard in theater these days.
Vox recently starred in the international premiere of Beaches: The Musical in Calgary. The lyrics are by Iris Dart and the music by Mike Stoller, but we got the one song from the musical not written by them: A rousing “The Wind Beneath My Wings,” which was written by Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley and sung by Bette Midler in the 1988 film adaptation of the story.
Oddly enough, for a rather small space (450 seats), the sound was loud enough to fill a stadium, often just this side of distorting with Vosk at full belt. Nevertheless, with such heartfelt narratives this was an awesome opportunity to see such a spirited, engaging and inspiring star in a living room-sized concert.
In My Living Room
Jessica Vosk Celebrates Broadway, Film, and the Ladies of the Laurel Canyon
Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University
24255 Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu
reviewed on Thursday, September 19, 2024
for more shows at Smothers Theatre, call 310.506.4522 or visit Pepperdine
for more info, visit Jessica Vosk
