Arnaz the actress -- in a show that sings
Following in the career steps of a famous parent can be both hazardous and rewarding. And when, as with Lucie Arnaz, there are two high-visibility, high-achiever parents from the same career field -- in her case, entertainment -- the risks become even more pronounced.
To her credit, Arnaz has managed to step beyond the looming shadows of her parents, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, in a 35-year career reaching from the Broadway stage to television, films and recordings. She dipped into all those skills in an engaging cabaret set Tuesday that opened her five-night stint at the Cinegrill in the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.
Family matters surfaced fairly quickly via a whimsical Arnaz original song, “Lucie With an ‘I-E’ ” -- clearly inspired in spirit and content by Liza Minnelli’s “Say Liza (Liza With a ‘Z’).” The balance of the program embraced standards, a few lesser-known, but utterly compelling cabaret numbers (Craig Carnelia’s “Just a Housewife,” Lesley Gore’s “Other Lady,” Ron Abel and Chuck Steffan’s “Until Now”) and another original (“View From Here,” by Arnaz and Madeline Stone).
Arnaz, singing with a warm, throaty sound and a phrase-ending quaver, brought a dramatic viewpoint to each tune, telling the stories with an actor’s concern for lyrical detail and emotional thrust. But aside from intimate renderings in the latter part of her set -- especially “Just a Housewife” and “Quierme Mucho” (Yours) -- she was at her best in her lighthearted, between-numbers comments.
Interacting freely with an opening-night crowd that included a number of celebrity friends, Arnaz was quick with a witty remark and a colorful reminiscence, mobile and spontaneous in manner.
Arnaz has the skills to be a convincing cabaret artist. But she needs to reach beyond the techniques of acting into the untrammeled hearts of her songs.
*
Lucie Arnaz
Where: The Cinegrill, Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, 7000 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood.
When: 8:30 tonight, 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Price: $30-$45, plus $10 in food or beverages
Contact: (323) 769-7269
More to Read
The biggest entertainment stories
Get our big stories about Hollywood, film, television, music, arts, culture and more right in your inbox as soon as they publish.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.