Stage: Fever! The Music of Miss Peggy Lee

Flirtatious Fever

By Barbara Scherzer

Many consider the late singer/composer Peggy Lee to be the most important woman in American music. The first female to compose and record her own music, Lee's five-decade legacy includes two films, a successful nightclub career and more than 650 timeless recordings. For those who have never experienced Lee live, for a short time you can see for yourself the next best thing as Fever! The Music of Miss Peggy Lee plays Las Vegas.

The show stars Lezlie Anders and her husband, pianist Buddy Greco, who premiered this production here two years ago before taking it on the road. Accompanied by the Benny Goodman Tribute Band, Anders and Greco serve as your guides through Lee's life. Greco actually worked with the jazz singer in the early 1950s, while Anders' admiration for Lee was the catalyst for this show. Between numbers, the couple take turns sharing Lee anecdotes with the audience. When Greco is in the spotlight, Anders has time to change into one of her eight sparkling costumes.

Anders is easy on the eyes while her singing voice is strong and has a wide range. As she sings, Anders embraces the spirit of Lee and delivers it to the audience without diluting it by impersonation. For her first number, Anders slinks onstage and sings "Why Don't You Do Right?" all the while swinging her body to the beat. Her crystalline voice is heard to good effect in "Where Can I Go Without You?" and her take on "Manana" is fun. My personal favorite could be "Fever," in which Anders sizzles her song as a red spotlight bathes her body and smoke fills the stage. Or is it "Big Spender," in which the brass section triumphs and Anders seductively swings her pink boa while crossing the stage?

Greco, who arranged the show's music, is a good piano player and singer. The production's format only permits one duet, an upbeat "Alright, OK, You Win" in which their natural charisma together left me wishing for more. Also fun is when Anders pulls a male audience member onstage, cuddles up to him and croons, "Mr. Wonderful That's You" to his obvious delight.

This tribute benefits the Nevada SPCA No-Kill Animal Sanctuary and each performance features dogs available for adoption. Although I wanted more stories revealing Lee's personal life, by any measure Fever! The Music of Miss Peggy Lee is downright steamy.