Mary Jo Vitale and Josh Leggett generate explosive vocal chemistry and when these two singers are really cooking, things can get hot in a hurry.
Like Sunday night at Katie Belle’s, when Vitale and Leggett combined for a “Broadway Summer Serenade.” The two-hour concert featured music from “Grease” to “Phantom of the Opera” with a little family history and lots of love thrown in for good measure.
“There’s something about summer and falling in love,” Vitale said from the stage in front a large audience that nearly filled the first floor seats. “I don’t know why – maybe it’s the heat.”
The temperature was rising throughout this energetic and entertaining evening. “Now, If you know this song, I want you to sing, dance and maybe do some cartwheels,” Leggett said. Then he went into a Motown staple, “My Girl,” with a dash of blue-eyed soul.
After the song ended, Vitale, who kept changing costumes and dresses all night, jumped on stage wearing a black poodle skirt and white blouse, as she sang, “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee,” from “Grease.” Soon, Leggett was on stage with her, sporting a leather jacket as they romped through a sock hop version of “Summer Love.”
The mood shifted to a more contemporary beat when Leggett did rocking justice to Billy Joel’s “Movin’ Out.” Vitale, wearing a frilly white top hat and gown to compliment a shoulder fur piece, borrowed a couple of songs from the hit movie “Frozen,” as kind of a tribute to winter. “I’m from South Florida, when it gets down to 70, I’m freezing,” she cracked.
Two show stopping numbers came near the end of the first hour. “I heard this song a couple of years ago and it has become the most important song in my life,” said Leggett, wearing a dark suit, blue shirt and red tie. He then brought the house down with “Because We Believe,” made famous by Andrea Bocelli. Leggett more than held his own on such a challenging effort.
Things got personal for Vitale on the next song, “Oceano,” which she dedicated to “my Grandma (Mary) and Grandpa (Frank).” She sang with operatic and spiritual grace in an Italian language number that tells the story of a man who met his bride to be in America. “This song always makes me think of their love story,” she said.
Vitale and Leggett have a musical genre-bending knack. These two seem at home with everything from classical gas to operatic rock. “They sing a variety of songs, and they have a good sense of humor,” said Sharon Batt, a Villager who attended the show. “They are a lot of fun and they keep things moving.”
The duo rocked out on “Dancing in the Streets,” and Vitale was in top form in a black dress and red-feathered boa around her shoulder on the sassy, “Don’t Tell Mama.”
In the middle of the second set, the singers rose to another vocal level on songs from “Phantom of the Opera.” Leggett wore a long black cape and white phantom mask as he hit all the high notes on “Music of the Night.” Then Vitale appeared next to him for the classic duet, “All I Ask of You.” Those were that kind of songs that Vitale and Leggett staked a personal claim on.
Leggett belted out the Roy Orbison standard, “Crying,” and they both shined on the Elvis Presley standard, “I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You.”
The night ended in rousing style when Vitale and Leggett left the stage and wandered through the audience leading a sing-a-long on Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin.’”
“This is the ultimate summer song,” Vitale said, and she and Leggett were rewarded with a standing ovation for a thoroughly enchanting evening.
