Jane Keller, with Carey MacDonald on piano, Cabaret St James Theatre, reviewed by Garth Wilshere

IT was enterprising of the St James Theatre to turn their upstairs gallery space into an intimate cabaret venue for four nights.
With seating, candle-lit tables, waiters, food and bar service, softening curtains, screens and plants, atmosphere was created. On Friday they kicked off the season with an outstanding night with Jane Keller, an ex-pat American singer and teacher who has been quietly carving out a place on the local music scene.
Her trademark style is to present songs from the shows built in to a quasi-autobiographical story. But don’t expect the blockbusters; her selection is always eclectic and in Friday night’s show she only sang one that was even marginally well known – Sondheim’s I’m still here.
The remainder, though less well known, were certainly worth getting to know. Keller knows how to sell a song as she took us through highs and lows of relationships, presenting both comic and serious songs with style, wit and charm.
The large crowd greeted her performance with the acclaim it deserved, and as an encore were treated to a, stylish version of the Peggy Lee standard Fever with husband Dick Keller adding drum taps.
Throughout the evening she was ably accompanied by pianist Carey McDonald.
The other shows of the cabaret season look equally enticing. This Thursday sees a performance by Bella Kalolo.