THE HANGOVER REPORT – Jeanna de Waal draws enthusiastic DIANA fans out to Feinstein’s/54 Below (on a frigid Monday night)

Jeanna de Waal performs at Feinstein’s/54 Below.

Last night – a frigid Monday evening – Jeanna de Waal drew two enthusiastic concerts’ worth of fans of the recently shuttered Broadway musical Diana to Feinstein’s/54 Below (the first of the two shows was also live-streamed, thereby garnering an even a wider audience). As I was seated for the late show, I was pleasantly surprised to observe an anticipatory buzz in the air. Most in the audience were eager to get more of the musical’s leading lady, a musical theater actress nearly as enigmatic to Broadway theatergoers as the princess she played in the musical.

Indeed, it was a pleasure to get to know the actress – now a brunette, which initially disoriented me – behind the multitudes of wigs and dresses better. Aside from warming to Ms. de Waal’s affable personality and easy stage presence, it was a particular treat to hear her once again power through Diana’s three big, admittedly catchy power ballads (“Underestimated”, “As I Love You”, and “If”) with her sturdy, often stirring voice. Aside from those highlights from the musical, Ms. de Waal also payed tribute to divas who likely had a hand in influencing the theatrical creation that found its way onto the stage of the Longacre, namely Barbra Streisand (“My Man”) and Celine Dion (“It’s All Coming Back to Me Now”, which was Ms. de Waal’s audition song for the role). Although some of her vocals were more secure than others, there’s no doubt of Ms de Waal’s commitment to each moment of her solo show.

In my tepid review of Diana, I had hinted that its potential cult status was its saving grace. I’m happy to report that last night’s concert smartly embraced this aspect of the musical from its opening number, a fabulously kitschy number (complete with two backup dancers!) that slyly inserted the lyrics “Diana, The Musical” into Kander & Ebb’s “Roxie” from Chicago. The rest of the evening followed suite, with each especially cringe-worthy lyric from the musical delivered with a delicious knowing wink and campy flourish, to which the audience exploded in rabid cheers. My only gripe is that the concert seemed a bit short, running at most a scant 45-minutes. But looking around me, no one seemed to mind. They got what they came for.

RECOMMENDED

JEANNA DE WAAL
Cabaret
Feinstein’s/54 Below
45 minutes (without an intermission)
Closed

Categories: Cabaret, Music, Other Music

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