DATE: Monday, November 17, 1997             TAG: 9711170075

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B9   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Review 

SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   44 lines

STEVE AND EYDIE CONCERT NO LOUNGING PERFORMANCE

Steve and Eydie toasted their fans Saturday night with a cocktail that must have been mixed with water from the Fountain of Youth.

These two have been around since early television, and they are still going strong. On Saturday they played to a full house at Chrysler Hall - their first appearance there since 1985 - and it was outstanding.

Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme paid tribute to American composers, concentrating on the songs of Richard Rodgers, who worked with Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein.

That medley featured a little of this, a little of that, as the pair sang some of Rodgers' best. The highlight in that set was ``I Have Dreamed.'' It was one of several songs - ``Portrait of My Love'' was another - illustrating their ability to hang on to a last note.

Their powerful voices were matched by a lot of powerful energy. Add to that classy arrangements. They seldom go by the book. Like Frank Sinatra, they offer that ``something'' different with each song. The result is music that does not lose its flavor but is enhanced with some flavorful additions.

Lawrence and Gorme are a joy, whether singing together or solo. She was particularly impressive with ``You Go To My Head.''

The married pair seem to have that loving effect on each other.

Like Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Perry Como and Sinatra, Lawrence has a relaxed, natural sense of humor.

But most of the laughs were saved for Part 2. The first half of the concert was, for the most part, music, music, music - the popular music of the '30s to '50s, sounding fresh and jazzy in their care.

Steve and Eydie were joined by musician friends including guitarist Al Caiola.

Expert accompaniment was provided by the Virginia Symphony.

Wes Kenney passionately conducted a beautiful and exciting trip around the country.

Musical pieces included Leonard Bernstein's ``On the Town,'' a tribute to New York; Aaron Copland's ``Rodeo,'' a tribute to life in the Southwest; and Meredith Willson's ``Music Man,'' a tribute to small-town America.

It was an outstanding musical night. Here's hoping it is not another dozen years before Steve and Eydie return to Chrysler Hall.

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