Talent Times Three

One of our most talented singer/songwriters, Steven Lutvak displays his exquisite creations on the last Friday of every month at the Duplex, and we urge you to get a sampling of his sly and sophisticated songs as soon as possible — perhaps this Friday, October 28. The program varies from month to month but we expect that, no matter when you go, Lutvak will provide a mix of tried-and-true numbers such as his comic masterpiece “Bagelmaker to the Tsar” and his heartbreaking tour-de-force “Museum” along with newer songs, some culled from several musicals he’s writing.

Unlike the vast majority of songwriters who also perform their own work, Lutvak is a consummate showman. Rarely have we heard a cabaret entertainer do a better job on a Lutvak number than Lutvak himself; he has a light baritone voice that can wrap itself around you like a velvet robe or lift you with a buoyant musical urgency that also contains an ironic undercurrent of regret or melancholy.

The first time we saw Shawn Ryan in New York, we liked his voice well-enough but we were put off by his unfocused, self-indulgent act. He recently returned to New York from his native San Francisco with a new show (now closed), and the difference that some experience has made in this young and newly appealing performer is remarkable.

True, the new effort suffers from a certain amount of redundancy, and Ryan still tends to cut up a tad too much, but this act is solidly constructed. Over and above his distinctive tenor voice and puppy dog playfulness, the key to Ryan’s success this time around is that the act is designed for his shenanigans. Ryan is genuinely funny. An “out” gay man, his humor is laced with references to straights and gays, but it has a benign flippancy. Nonetheless, it’s dicey enough — and delivered so well — that he inevitably gets his laughs.

We also had the good fortune to hear Cheryl Bentyne deliver her sensual and smooth vocals at The Jazz Standard. Perhaps best known as one of the four members of Manhattan Transfer, Bentyne is in some ways more compelling and certainly more idiosyncratic as a solo artist.

She’s a demure diva who commands attention with the polish of her voice, a confidence born of experience, and the sense of freedom that comes from having the stage to herself. Unlike far too many jazz performers, she is not at all aloof; she’s breezy and easy, and her patter is conversational and charming. We look forward to seeing and hearing her again soon.

********************

[To contact the Siegels directly, e-mail them at siegels@theatermania.com.]