"It all starts with seduction" are the opening words of O'Connor & Vogel: Guy & Doll, a hilarious and touching new cabaret-theatre musical revue starring Debra Vogel & Brian Tom O'Connor. And from there the whole saga of the war of the sexes is spun through song. From romance to fear to marriage, through conflict, jealousy, regret, and on to joyful resignation, O'Connor & Vogel mine the grand treasure trove of the American musical theatre for humor and poignancy. Guy and Doll, with the incomparable musical director and arranger Darryl Curry at the piano, played to sold-out crowds during a two-month run last year at Manhattan's famous Don't Tell Mama club on restaurant row

What sets "O'Connor & Vogel: Guy & Doll" apart from other cabaret evenings is that each song is staged as a scene between two characters. "We were very inspired by the sophistication of Nichols & May's sketch comedy," says director Elfin Frederick, "and we created that kind of evening, but in song. Brian and Debra feel that even in an evening of character songs, the audience likes to get a sense of who the performers are. We make sure that among comedy and character songs, there is a healthy dose of simple, direct emotion." The result is a delightful miniature musical comedy.

About the songs

The material is culled from the character duets usually sung by the comic couple, for instance, "I'll Never Be Jealous Again," which was sung by Eddie Foy Jr. and Reta Shaw in The Pajama Game, and "Take A Job" from Do Re Mi, which starred Phil Silvers and Nancy Walker in the original Broadway cast.

One reviewer, Christopher Byrne described Guy & Doll this way: "Each of the songs the couple sing is a scene between a man and woman at one stage of their relationship, and over the course of the brief evening, we see couples who can't stop thinking of how nice it would be to know each other a little more intimately and couples who can't stop thinking that their partner is about as appetizing as pickled snake."

MUSICAL NUMBERS

Seduction & Dating

"Have Some Madeira M'Dear"
by Flanders & Swan, from At The Drop of a Hat
"Thinking"
by Rodgers & Sondheim, from Do I Hear a Waltz?
"You're Just In Love"
by Irving Berlin, from Call Me Madam
"Frim Fram Sauce"
by Ricardel & Evans, from Nat King Cole Trio
"Honeysuckle Rose"
by Waller & Razaf, from Ain't Misbehavin'
"Squeeze Me"
by Waller & Williams, from Ain't Misbehavin'

It's Not All Wine & Roses

"How Could You Believe Me When I Said I Loved You, When You Know I've Been A Liar All My Life"
by Lerner & Lane, from Royal Wedding
"Saturday Night is the Loneliest Night of the Week"
by Styne & Cahn, from Words and Music
"It's Never Too Late to Mendelssohn"
by Weill & Gershwin, from Lady In The Dark
"Cherry Pies Ought To Be You"
by Cole Porter, from Out of This World

Marriage & Its Travails

"Take A Job"
by Styne & Comden and Greene, from Do Re Mi
"The Man I Used To Be"
by Rodgers & Hammerstein, from "Pipe Dream"
"I Wanted To Change Him"
by Styne & Comden and Greene from Hallelujah, Baby!
"Talking to Yourself"
by Styne & Comden and Greene, from Hallelujah, Baby!

Good Intentions, Disillusionment & Reconciliation

"I'll Never Be Jealous Again"
by Adler & Ross, from Pajama Game
"And What If We Had Loved Like That"
by Maltby & Shire, from Baby
"Stuck On You"
by Gallagher & Waldrop, from Whoop-Dee-Doo!

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