This was certainly my entertainment bargain of the year. Naturally it was not in Manhattan.
Morrison was his usual affable self, with his hat and ukulele. Besides his medleys from Hairspray and Finding Neverland, his six other songs were all written prior to 1960. In fact he showed an Ol' Blue Eyes influence, with his first two "Come Fly With Me" and "The Lady is a Tramp."
Megan Hilty is ready for prime time. She managed two costume changes within the two hour show. Her first gown was red and clingy, and the second deep blue with some draping. I won't try to describe the third gown.
Her song selection showed great versatility. I was pretty sure that when she sang "Popular," she was imitating Kristin Chenoweth singing "Popular" and she did it pretty well. But I didn't get the feeling that the audience was picking up on that. Not much other reason for Hilty to include the song which KC.I think sings in just about every concert.
In the second act she sang what she said was her most beloved concert piece: The medley of two Johnny Mercer songs "Autumn Leaves" and "When October Goes." The latter was a lyric waiting for a melody when Mercer died. His widow asked Barry Manilow to write a melody and I think that he did well.
Way back in 1992 Nancy LaMott sang this medley on her Johnny Mercer CD. I don't know if anyone else connected the two before or after until Hilty.
Hilty might have had less stage time that Morrison, as she was very busy changing her gowns. But it was made up to her by giving her the long, splashy closing number "Diamonds," which was received with enthusiasm.
