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TagsBY STUART DUNCAN
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
The Crossroads Theatre in New Brunswick continues to battle to regain its footing following tough financial seasons. After winning the Regional Tony Award in 1999, Crossroads was shuttered the following year due to mounting debt.
In 2002, the theater reopened for a shortened season and since that time has been offering its own work, interspersed with traveling shows from other producers. For example, the current season began with a world premiere of "Fly," a work based on the famous Tuskegee Airmen, critically acclaimed and locally written and produced.
The present offering, however, "3 Mo' Divas" is a concert "booking," created, directed and choreographed by Marion J. Caffey who has no relationship to the theater whatsoever.
It's a terrific evening nevertheless. Three extraordinary talents: Laurice Lanier, Nova Payton and Jamet Pittman sing, croon or simply belt out three dozen songs, running the considerable gauntlet from grand opera to jazz, by way of rock 'n' roll and the blues.The trio is classically trained and proves it right from the start. The ladies open with Musetta's waltz ("Quando m'en vo") from "La Boheme", with all three ladies showing extraordinary range and comfortable control.
And then each, in turn, shows her individual operatic skills.
First, Ms. Payton who hails from Washington, D.C., and has been in such musicals as "Smokey Joe's Cafe" and "Ain't Misbehavin'," sings "Io son l'umile Ancella" – Adrianna's first act aria from "Adrianna Lecouvreur."
Ms. Pittman follows with "O del mio dulce ardor." She also is from Washington, where she won the Metropolitan Opera regional competition at age 23. She has sung at both Avery Fisher and Carnegie halls in New York and performed the role of Bess in "Porgy and Bess" for "Live at Lincoln Center."
And finally, Ms. Lanier, originally from Jackson Tenn, and a Julliard graduate sings "Mon Coeur s'ouvre a'ta voix" from "Samson and Delilah," and one wit at intermission described her voice as being "of at least five octaves."
She has sung all over the U.S. and recently represented New York State at an international competition in Vienna after being selected from 3000 singers.
And having shown operatic skills the trio then proceeds to leap immediately to "Let The Good Times Roll" and "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," then to "Little Shop of Horrors." By Act Two we are into "Harlem Nocturne," My Funny Valentine" and "His Eye Is On The Sparrow."
And the theater goes wild with applause, roaring with approval and, at the finale, stands as one to rhythmic clapping and an unwillingness to let the three ladies go.
The ladies have changed during the second act from formal black to firehouse red dresses. The hard-working Russian pianist, Annastasia Victory, who has also been conducting the 5-piece orchestra from the keyboard, has joined them for bows.
One small problem: You will not find any of the above bios in the one-page (folded) program, nor information on who composed any of the songs. That, apparently, is not part of the budget these days. But, make no mistake, it's an evening not to be missed.
"3 Mo Divas" plays at Crossroads, Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, through Dec. 6. For information, visit the Crossroads Theatre Company Website or call 732-545-8100.
