Review: Arizona Onstage's 'The World Goes 'Round'

Infectious tunes such as “All That Jazz” or “Cabaret,” almost demand it.

Those songs are among the 25 in Arizona Onstage Productions’ “The World Goes ’Round: The Songs of Kander and Ebb.”

And while most would know those tunes — “Jazz” is from “Chicago,” the other from “Cabaret” — there were a slew of lesser-known showstoppers that make up this song revue, which opened Saturday to a packed house in the Cabaret Theatre.

Even when Kander and Ebb’s songs aren’t musical blockbusters, they often have panache, humor, and tell a tale.

This Arizona Onstage production is packed with voices that can soar and actors who know how to tell those tales.

What we loved the most:

• Amy Erbe

• ‘s rendition of “Colored Lights,” from the 1984 musical “The Rink,” was funny and tender and highlighted her warm voice and strong stage presence.

• Erin Anderson

• opened the show with “And The World Goes ‘Round” from the 1977 movie “New York, New York.” She has a glowing tone to her voice and the song’s poignancy rang true in her interpretation.

• Jeremy Vega

• has a gorgeous tenor and a knack for comedy, both of which shone through in his “Sara Lee,” written for the 1977 television concert “Liza With a Z.”

• Tyler Wright

• infused heartbreak into his version of “I Don’t Remember You,” from the 1968 musical “The Happy Time.”
• And

• Liz Cracchiolo

• ’s take on “Arthur in the Afternoon” from the 1977 musical “The Act” was packed with a sultry humor.
• The full-cast numbers were generous and musically spot on. This is a group that meshes beautifully.

What was good, but …

• Director

• Kevin Johnson

• kept his vision focused and the direction crisp, though sometimes it went a touch overboard — the background antics in “Sara Lee,” though funny, threatened to upstage Vega’s singing.
• The very first sound in the play were from reed player

• Michael Weiss

• , whose notes from his clarinet wafted around the theater curled around the audience, enveloping them in a welcoming hug. The rest of the four-piece band followed suit: they were sharp and full and rich. But at times, the music overpowered the voices. And with voices like these, you don’t want that.
• The jazzy Manhattan Transfer-esque version of “Cabaret” robbed it of both the desperation of the version in the play, and the feel-good welcoming of the movie version. The cast of five nailed it with some cool harmonies, but the song fell flat.

And in the end …

“The World Goes ‘Round” oozes good voices, good music and good times. Even with a few off-notes on the opening night, it’s hard not to embrace it and leave the Cabaret Theatre with a smile on your face and tunes in your head.