Focusing on the Intimate Jerry Herman

Jerry Herman is not the first name that comes to mind when one mentions cabaret. The composer of such hit Broadway shows as “Hello, Dolly!” and “Mame” is far better known for his big, dramatic songs than he is for the kind of focused numbers appropriate for the intimacy of the cabaret stage.

So the choice of “A Salute to Jerry Herman” as the opening event in UCLA’s new Cabaret Series at Schoenberg Hall Saturday night was a curious one. Compounding the selection was a lineup of performers--Karen Mason, KT Sullivan, Nancy Dussault and Mimi Hines, among others--best known for their work in large theatrical venues.

Nonetheless, and in real tribute to a depth of character not always recognized in many of Herman’s songs, the too-brief presentation included many moments perfectly suitable for cabaret.

One of the most interesting was Sullivan’s medley of “I Don’t Want to Know,” “Kiss Her Now” and “And I Was Beautiful.” Despite an occasional wavering pitch, she balanced the material’s soaring high spots with quieter, more fascinating emotional insights.

The veteran and dependable Hines was the perfect choice for Herman’s lovely ballad, “It Only Takes a Moment.” And Dussault, who has been successfully venturing into the cabaret field lately, demonstrated her growing skill with in “Time Heals Everything.”

Karen Mason, who has been starring on Broadway as Norma Desmond in “Sunset Boulevard,” brought a few too many grand gestures and belting climaxes to her numbers. In that context, there was no denying the effectiveness of her rapturous reading of “If He Walked Into My Life Today.” Jason Graae added some much-needed whimsy with “Put On Your Sunday Clothes,” and George Dvorsky was properly handsome and mellow with “Hundreds of Girls.”

It remained, however, for Herman himself to steal the evening. Despite a self-described “raw throat,” he came up with delightful renderings of “Mame,” “I Won’t Send Roses” and “The Best of Times.” His concise, thoughtful interpretations were as close as the performance got to the pointed, emotional directness of cabaret. Someone should persuade him to do a solo evening of his tunes.

Unfortunately, Herman elected not to do two originally programmed songs from “Mrs. Santa Claus,” the Angela Lansbury-starring musical scheduled for December on CBS. It was the only gap in an otherwise entertaining evening of song.