Mac-Haydn Theatre in Chatham, N.Y.
Created and performed by Elizabeth Ward Land
Directed by Matt Castle
“Once in a Very Blue Moon.”
Elizabeth Ward Land’s newest cabaret show, “Moondance,” is very special indeed. It is all about the moon. She is trying it out at the Mac-Haydn Theatre for a three-performance run, and it is over. It is a pity you can’t see it—a genuine pity for the show is remarkable and the singer/storyteller is remarkably brilliant. If we are lucky, and I mean really lucky, the theater will find a way to bring the show back at the end of the season. I would gladly see it again. She doesn’t just sing; she instructs us in moon lore, moon history, and the scientific ramifications of the eight phases of the moon. You are entertained, educated, and enlightened in 90 minutes of shimmering entertainment.
Ms. Land’s beautiful, rangy voice works well in the songs she has chosen for her show. They cover Van Morrison’s “Moondance,” Jay Hawkins’ “I Put a Spell on You,” Jimmy Webb’s “The Moon is a Harsh Mistress,” and Stevie Wonder’s “If It’s Magic,” along with a medley of pop standards and other songs. A major highlight was “Dark Lady” by Johnny Durrill, a song that will haunt me for days.
The excellent quartet of musicians, including Castle, that accompany her through the show make remarkable music in a myriad of styles. It is a great, great show.
