Third Charter School Sought in Livermore - The Independent

Art & EntertainmentTHE INDEPENDENT • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011 5Firehouse's Smash Second Season Openerby Susan SteinbergCelebrating its first year asthe Valley’s newest performancevenue, the Firehouse Arts Centerin Pleasanton started its secondseason with a real bang.Firecracker entertainer LisaVroman, famous long-time star of“Phantom of the Opera”, provedshe could hold an audience in thepalm of her hand without all theelaborate sets, props, costumes andother cast-members of that powerfulproduction.Confessing that she was happierin her own clothes than in thecorset and 20 to 40 pound dressesshe wore as Christine, she was stillan elegant figure in several beautifulformal gowns, and still a vocalpowerhouse of a singer.Vroman also proved that in anintimate space she could connectwith her listeners on a very personalbasis, as she chatted informallyabout her career, her recentmarriage, and her many stage colleagues, who have included DickVan Dyke at the Hollywood Bowland Michael Tilson Thomas, conductorof the SF Symphony.The ladies in the audience werecompletely won over by her warmfreshness: “I’m not really 18 withlong hair or a voluptuous figure.”But in a glamorous midnight bluegown, she was a believable Maria,happily twirling to the girlishexcitement of “I Feel Pretty” from“West Side Story.”In a more serious vein, she gaveAndrew Lloyd-Weber’s “LoveChanges Everything” a movingart-song rendition, focusing on thetruth of the human heart: “Lovechanges everything, words meanmore, pain is deeper than before.Love brings you glory, it bringsyou shame — nothing ever willbe the same.”Switching moods, Vromanbecame a sizzling cabaret chanteusewith the blues-y “Girls ofSummer” (“they get burned”) andthen a hip chick tossing out sexyinnuendos in “The Boy From...”Evoking happy nostalgic smilesfrom the audience was a medleyof classic old favorites, from thehushed magic of “In the Still ofthe Night” to the passionate “Soin Love," and the jaunty “Who’sGot the Last Laugh Now?”Enjoying the slyly satirical sideof Irving Berlin, she showcased theunfamiliar but witty number, “PlayMe a Waltz by Strauss," in whichthe celebrated lyricist dismissed“Broadway tunes” in favor of theold-fashioned um-pah-pah rhythmsof the Waltz King. His “I Love aPiano” was just the opposite: arousing razzmatazz show tune,with the pianist working in everythingfrom Gershwin’s “Rhapsodyin Blue” to those famous notes of“Phantom."Accompanist Joan Cifarellishowed off more of her fabuloustechnique in a solo medley of oldBroadway favorites. She jazzed,she vamped, and she improvisedaround that great Duke Ellingtonsignature tune, “Take the A Train."Her wildly applauded performanceshowed the best traditions of olderfree-style artists now lost in today’sslick musical world. No wondershe’s in such high demand!Vroman’s most moving numberwas contemporary composerEd Dixon’s “I’m Tired of LovingYou," expressing the difficultyand pain of leaving a lover whono longer cares. Full of heartfeltemotion, the lines were sung withthe aching sincerity of someonewho’s been there: “I’ve given youeverything — do you really care?Did you ever love me? You werenever there...”In a more light-hearted spirit,she delighted the full-house crowdwith favorite popular show-stoppers,from Judy Garland’s iconic“Trolley Song” to “I Could HaveDanced All Night”.The concert’s second half beganwith the soaring soprano lines of “Come to My Garden” from “TheSecret Garden." Vroman gave ahauntingly lovely performance,made even more poignant by theparticipation of a gifted youngsinger from Walnut Creek, theangel-voiced Griffin Silva.Another lyrical selection unfamiliarto listeners was a trueart-song written by contemporarycomposer Steve Marzullo, whoset William Butler Yeats’ poem“When you are old...” to an exquisitelybeautiful melodic line.Switching gears once more, shewas all sweet girlish innocencesinging “Say a Little Prayer ForMe Tonight” from “Gigi," confidingthat, like most females, she’dhad a terrific crush on dapper malestar Louis Jourdan.An unexpectedly sarcastic tributeto a famous female “domesticgoddess” had the ladies laughingout loud at “You Wear Me Out,Martha." (Yes, the men were snickeringtoo.)Then it was anecdote time, withreminiscences about unnervingperformance mishaps, from theslowly-unraveling gown in “Phantom”to the tenor who literallydisappeared in the midst of a bigromantic duet. To help illustrateher predicament, she asked for anaudience volunteer. To everyone’ssurprise, Alex Murphy of WalnutCreek, recently graduated from thePacific Conservatory of the PerformingArts, gave a completelyimpromptu professional turn, andwas warmly applauded for hisvoice and his stage presence.Another familiar show-tune,“My Favorite Things” sparkledwith such punchy personal rewritesas “Standing ovations that go onforever, Cashing a check from SirAndrew Lloyd Webber," as theaudience roared.A medley of classic Rogersand Hammerstein songs from“Oklahoma," her encore gift to theaudience, was sung with a joy andsincerity that made them soundnew again. Vroman is truly a classact and consummate entertainer,connecting with her audience in avery personal way. What a pleasureto have her performing right herein the Valley!A continuing year of Firehouseevents promises many morememorable artists. For information,call 925-931-4848 or visitwww.firehousearts.org.Gift Sale to Feature Fair Trade ItemsA fair trade gift sale will be held this Sun., Oct. 16 at St. MichaelChurch in Livermore.The sale will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The church is locatedat 358 Maple Street.Fairly traded craft items suitable for Christmas gifts or any occasionwill be offered. Prices range from $5 to $20. Please bring a checkbookor cash. Gift items include baskets, scarves, Nativities, tree ornaments,soaps, candles, puzzle boxes, toys, musical instruments, children'sbooks and figurines.The items come from around the world including the U.S., Bangladesh,India, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Vietnam and other countries. Theitems are sold at cost to help the artisans and to raise public awarenessregarding fair trade.Fair trade means that the artisans receive a living wage and thatcharitable organizations are on the ground assisting them, their families,and communities to work themselves up and out of poverty.For more information, clock on fair trade gift sale athttp://stm-scm.blogspot.com. For information on fair trade in generalgo to www.crsfairtrade.org.