Using the proper amount of heat is essential when cooking. And making music. The blues and jazz can be cool, or very hot. In the case of Ensemble Theatre Company’s “Cookin’ at the Cookery: The Music and Times of Alberta Hunter,” Dayna Jarae Dantzler and LaVon Fisher-Wilson, the actor/singers extraordinaire who portray Alberta Hunter at various ages (and a few other roles too), tend toward high temperatures, and lord can these two ladies sing! Written and directed by Marion J. Caffey with musical direction by Broadway vet George Caldwell, this show is a blast, moving quickly through the highs (and some lows) of the amazing career of Ms. Hunter, who after a more than thirty year career as a highly successful singer and songwriter, took what turned out to be a twenty year hiatus working as a nurse, then returned to the stage at the age of 82, achieving well deserved fame for a second time. The locus of her rejuvenated career, and setting for most of the play, was the restaurant/music venue started by Barney Josephson after his groundbreaking integrated night club Café Society closed due to a political fracas brought on by the McCarthy “investigations.” All is punctuated and propelled by the great songs Alberta Hunter is best known for, like “Sweet Georgia Brown.” “The Darktown Strutters’ Ball” and her composition “Downhearted Blues.” This is one toe-tappin’ and shout-out-loud barrel of great entertainment with excellent acting, direction and oh, that live band and singing! Now thru this weekend at the New Vic Theatre.
