Reviewer: Connor S. Rousseau
Venue: St. Alban's Episcopal Church
Kevin Cole’s piano prowess and Betsy Scott’s lively musical talent came together Sunday afternoon at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Bay City. When I learned legendary pianist Kevin Cole, renowned for his piano prowess (especially with the work of George Gershwin,) would be accompanying Scott in an inaugural concert series, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see these two paragons of music live.
I have the pleasure of being a close friend of Betsy Scott since middle school, and I knew even then that she possessed incredible talent that would take her far in a performing arts career. She certainly is a triple threat with remarkable skill. Whether it’s singing, dancing, or acting, Betsy Scott delivers.
People of all ages came to enjoy the performance, with supporters from her earlier days in primary school to her closest friends from near and far. Scott’s talent was first discovered in the community theatre sphere of Bay City, where I met her as well during summer musicals at John Glenn High School. She is a graduate of the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama, highlighting her dedication to a career for which she has tremendous passion. While her work takes her around the world, she, much like Kevin Cole, never forgot her roots.
The performance wasn’t like any traditional concert. Scott took the audience through the story of her incipient musical career by singing songs that drew parallels to her life so far. Classic pieces like “Nessun Dorma” were enough to prove Scott’s impressive vocal range and Cole’s skills as an accompanist. Scott also sang “The Wizard and I,” tying modern hits from the musical and now major motion picture Wicked into the mix to connect with a modern audience. She made her story personal and relatable, even sharing the love story of meeting her boyfriend with the timeless tune “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.”
Probably the most inspiring and motivating song was “Maybe” from the musical Annie, a song embodying the dreams of her early career and current ambitions.
They say theatre is about acting, but Betsy Scott’s performance on Sunday was deeper than that. Her personal story touched the audience. She succeeded in taking us on the journey with her, cracking jokes and speaking to us like old friends. The lyrics of her songs carried great meaning, but Scott knows that words alone don’t do a song justice. Scott’s body language, facial expressions, and dynamic tone complemented an already astounding voice.
It is always a pleasure to see local talent in action. Betsy Scott and Kevin Cole’s most supportive followers joined them for a fantastic performance, and the dynamic duo pulled out all the stops to showcase only the most preeminent talent.