By Bart Greenberg***Singer Tim Connell has a devoted following who packed Pangea for the second performance of his newest show, …it’s the joy in your heart… In fact, they may be a bit too devoted, attempting to engage him in conversation mid-show, a situation he handled with the same style and finesse that he always brings to the stage. 
He also brought along his superior voice and his fine interpretative skills making for a very pleasurable evening. The performer is an excellent story teller attracted to songs that tell tales and often contain a whole lot of lyrics (“Waters of March,” “Flight,” for example) that he projects with clarity and emotion. He is a lyricists best friend.
Connell had great fun with some unexpectedly bluesy, light-hearted numbers such as “Satan’s Little Lamb” and “Hit Me With a Hot Note,” proclaiming “when I’m good I’m good; when I’m bad all bets are off!” And he had a grand frolic with John Bucchino’s very funny “Playbill.” But he once more proved himself capable of being very moving such as in his very specific “Anyone Can Whistle,” which was delivered with simplicity and quiet passion. This number, as well as others in much of the evening, gained from a wonderful arrangement provided by music director James Followell, who also contributed vocal back up as needed. The two men have had and continue to pursue a very valuable collaboration. 
They are capable of surprising with their choice in material, such as the Sting contribution “Fragile.”
There were some other delightful surprises during the evening, such as Connell demonstrating his skill with the kazoo while offering up the joyful “Pass Me By.” Then there was the lovely low-key salute to his late brother, Matt, and all other “every day heroes,” with a subtle but strong “The Impossible Dream” and the lesser-known “The Butterfly” by Neil Bertram. And then he brought just the right acidic touch to the sardonic “I Miss New York” (Mark Campbell and Peter Golub). No one could challenge the genuine emotions within his treatment of “On My Way to You,” nor the surprisingly powerful patriotic medley of “American Suite,” “Give Me Your Tired” and “America the Beautiful.” The entire evening contrived to be both greatly moving and greatly entertaining, guided by director Mark Chmiel and with the soul of Connell.
Photos by Mark Wallis
