A commanding actress with presence to spare, Bebe Neuwirth wisely conceived her first -- and ultimately compelling -- cabaret act , Bebe Neuwirth: Stories with Piano at Feinstein's at Loews Regency, with numbers that are heavily weighted toward theatrical songs that can almost be spoken, or at least sung in a manner that won't invite an unfavorable comparison to Barbara Cook or Karen Akers.

Neuwirth's famous skills as a dancer, however, are mostly unused. She moves a bit, mostly using her arms and her shoulders, but if you're thinking of coming to see her dance, forget it. Between the small stage space and the nature of the show she's created, dance would seem out of place.

The show --[...]