It’s been a week packed with live performance events—Essex Theatre Company’s “Blithe Spirit,” the Eli Yamin Jazz Quartet in two North Country venues, my own son’s “Anti-Student Loan Caberet--” but the one I’d like to share in detail is the one that casts its Voodoo spell on a very receptive Depot Theatre audience in Westport this summer evening through the charms of a former southern belle by the name of Beth Glover.

Ms. Glover has been performing her cabaret show at Don’t Tell Mama’s in New York City and I have been disappointed that my trips downstate have not corresponded with her performance dates. So I was happy to hear she would be performing the show right here in the Adirondacks.

This evening The Depot lobby is humming as the audience gathers and naughtily noshes on the enourmous array of junk food provided by hosts Beth Glover and Karen Lewis.

Beth is an Equity actor who has appeared onstage in the mainstage show at The Depot Theatre many times. She lives in New York City but also spends time at her second home in Saranac Lake. She is popular not only with Depot summer audiences but with many local folks as well (myself included).

I know I will be completely entertained this evening but I have no expectations other than that. Beth enters in basic black highlighted with a gold glitter sweater. She begins with a St. Louis blues theme and a cheeky attitude. In fact, early on she explains that this is the first time she’s performed the show on a stage, she is used to being in a more intimate setting where she can look people in the eye. She goes on to say, “If you think I’m flirting with you, I am.”

It’s no surprise to the audience that Beth is from Mississippi and the whole evening revolves around affectionate and sometimes searing jokes about the state. Yet it is still very much in this performer’s heart as she explains that there is an inescapable hold that our roots cast over most of us.

Early on in the program, Beth delivers a rendition of “Stand by Your Man” that brings a whole new meaning to the song. She wows us with a Gospel medley that her Mississippi MeeMaw would approve of but moves on to the a more boisterous number from “Primetime Prophet” written by her friend Randy Buck.

She shares her childhood desire to be a soulful black woman like Ella Fitzgerald, Eartha Kitt, and Billie Holiday. And she goes on to sing a number she actually heard Eartha Kitt perform live—“I Want to Be Evil.” She demonstrates for us how Ms. Kitt literally purred through the entire performance.

There are lots of great personal experiences that frame numbers like “How Lucky Can You Get” and beautifully executed songs from “Grey Gardens” and “Billy Elliott.”

At the end of the evening, the audience demands an encore. Ms. Glover comes back onstage saying, “I hate encores but I will do it if you sing with me.” She then, ever so artfully, proceeds to feed us the words to “Walking After Midnight” while singing it herself.

A fabulous ending to a special evening of song and memories.

Keep an eye on Beth Glover’s web site to see if you can catch “Mississippi Voodoo” another time or to see where else this talented actor may be appearing.

For more arts events in the area make sure to check in to the Lake Placid events page.

Kathleen Recchia has been enjoying the arts in the Adirondacks for about 20 years—both as observer and participant (acting, directing, and producing). She also enjoys cross-country skiing, swimming, juggling, and hosting visitors to the area at her bed & breakfast in Jay.