'Songbirds' is vibrant, captivating portrait of a period

Author: BARBARA ROSE SHULER

Writer/performer Layne Littlepage is a regional treasure with national and international stature. After a three-year hiatus, she has created a captivating new show of music, songs and commentary that can be seen this month at the Cherry Hall in Carmel. "Songbirds of World War II," commemorates the music that soothed and inspired the women and men of this exceptional and challenging period in our history.

Littlepage, accompanied by her faithful and stalwart pianist Barney Hulse, has fashioned a delightful and poignant reflection of this era's heroes, hardships and sacrifices.

Those of you who have experienced Littlepage in her wonderful one-woman show "An Evening with Beatrice Lillie" or her tributes to Julie Andrews, Marlene Dietrich and other personalities of the stage and screen, know how thoroughly she embodies these figures and their music.

She carefully re-creates the style, nuances and personalities of the times and places she inhabits.

With "Songbirds," she condenses the complex years of war into a 90-minute suite of musical moments that paint a vibrant portrait of the period with its unique character, longings and special brand of humor.

The pleasure of hearing these songs cascading brightly one after the other is a reminder of the musical richness and variety bequeathed to us by the war years.

Littlepage plucks a range of gems from this musical treasury, including the well-known works "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," "Thanks for the Memories" and "The White Cliffs Of Dover."

She also weaves in unfamiliar tunes and some surprises.

Throughout the show, as ever, Littlepage is charming and witty, giving insights and perspective on the material while balancing sensitively the sadder aspects of wartime with plenty of humor and vitality.

Hulse accompanies her at the keyboard and lobs in occasional commentary and performs a couple of solos.

The cabaret format allows an easy-going relationship between Littlepage and Hulse that the two capitalize on wickedly at times.

Hulse, like Albert Einstein, is one of those people that blows up the adage that "clothes make the man."

Whether dressed in a tux or jeans, he remains the same guy with unruly hair, a mustache and talent, whereas Littlepage seems to be able to effortlessly transform herself into a new personality with the mere flick of a ribbon.

The banter between the pair makes good use of this contrast in styles, culminating in a funny riff when Hulse refuses to don a skirt as one the Andrews Sisters, leaving Littlepage to sing all the parts of "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," a highlight of the show.

Songbirds from both sides of the pond are represented with themes that mirror the war from the perspectives of the soldiers, lamenting lovers and the entertainers dedicated to bringing smiles to weary troops.

Littlepage has divided the show into sections, beginning with an England at war medley followed immediately by songs of the entry of the United States after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

There is an in intriguing "Loose Lips Sink Ships" medley with some Glenn Miller tunes that reminds hearers that the war effort needs everyone to watch their words and actions.

The "Somebody Else is Taking My Place" and "What Do You Do in the Infantry?" segments feature songs by Frank Loesser, Irving Berlin and Cole Porter among others.

Using the husky layer of her impressive vocal range, Littlepage delivers a powerful Marlene Dietrich set, including "Falling In Love Again," "It's Been A Long, Long Time," "Be Careful, It's My Heart" and "Lili Marlene."

Her Betty Davis number, "They're Either Too Young Or Too Old," is a saucy showbiz interlude as is her darling Beatrice Lilly reprise dressed in a helmet and boots.

Songs of the English sweetheart Vera Lynn are included in the mix. Betty Hutton makes an appearance with Loesser's fun and theatrical "Rumble, Rumble, Rumble."

Even Jimmy Durante, Edith Piaf, Bob Hope and Bing Crosby chime in.

It's amazing how much Littlepage and Hulse have packed into this short program. It is also interesting how passionate and affecting many of these songs are.

Littlepage transports us into the World War II era and transmits the history lesson directly through the music.

She is an enchanting talent and a creative wonder. Go fly with her songbirds this month.

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