Showtune is currently on the MusicalFare Theatre Premier Cabaret stage for only a few more performances, so if you’re a fan of Jerry Herman’s exquisite music, book your table now.

The show is replete with the songs you love to hear and hum: the haunting “Time Heals Everything” from Mack & Mabel, the cheeky “Bosom Buddies” from Mame, the lovely “Song on the Sand” from La Cage Aux Folles” are beautifully performed by powerhouse singers Anne DeFazio, Gregory Gjurich, Mary Coppola Gjurich, Stevie Kemp, Austin Marshall, and Eric Deeb Weaver with Stephen Piotrowski at the piano.

MusicalFare is calling this a Cabaret Musical, meaning it’s performed in the lobby Cabaret space and it’s not an engaged cabaret-style show, and nor is it a full-blown musical from the mainstage. This hybrid means that there are minimal props and a costume change. It’s a format that just isn’t for me. The usual performance platform was tricked out with a small stage façade outline with white lights and two side doors to allow the actors to flow about the now small-ish stage. During some numbers, the actors carried some props and there were some nods to costumes and accessories. It worked for songs like “A Little More Mascara” and Deeb Weaver’s interpretation was well done, down to the transformation of dressing in drag. I didn’t need to see actual ribbons down Kemp’s back, however, when she sang “Ribbons Down My Back;” her lilting, lovely voice and wistful presentation put me in that Hello, Dolly-era setting well enough. Same could be said about “Movies Were Movies” which started Act 2. Greg Gjurich is born for this number (he’s performed it a few times in Gentlemen Prefer DIVA presented by O’Connell and Company.) He didn’t need a faux camera and clapboard to remind us that he’s portraying a filmmaker.  In other words, this show could have let Jerry be Jerry and just have the cast sing the songs. Herman’s music/lyrics are that outstanding and evocative.

A couple of the highlights were the less familiar tunes. Kemp does wonderful things with Shalom, from Herman’s first musical Milk and Honey. “I Don’t Want to Know” from Dear World (how prescient Herman was to write about environmental impacts back in ’69!) were just grand.

The singers were truly spectacular and the solo piano accompaniment was perfection. Keep an eye out for Marhsall: he’s still in college and his performance was mature, nuanced, and outstanding.

Showtune runs just under two hours with an intermission for a good stretch and a refill. The show closes January 28 so get there and lose yourself in well-crafted words and wonderful music. Find details at musicalfare.com.