Instead, it invited back the trio who did "Gershwin and Friends" last year. Cynthia Cobb, Parrish Collier and Paul Helm again graced the stage, only this year in the larger Cabot Theatre rather than the Studio Theatre. The expanded venue allowed for the addition to the scenic design and to the accompaniment during the second act. Both additions worked well.

Gershwin's tunes are exclusively featured in the first act. Supposedly, Cobb and Collier are catering a party for Gershwin. The dialogue is a bit contrived, but that's usually the case in musical revues where they're trying to find a way to link songs together in a context.

With Helm at the piano, the duo begins with some of Gershwin's livelier numbers, such as "I've Got Rhythm" and "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off." Cobb's solo of "Someone to Watch over Me," and the duo with Collier in numbers from "Porgy and Bess" and in the lovely "Our Love is Here to Stay" is when they are at their best.

Cobb had the stronger voice of the two, but Parrish excels in the movement department and looks like he could dance up a storm if he had to. He moves with grace and pizzazz.

Occasionally, Helm joins them or has a solo of his own. Helm's clear tenor affords a nice contrast to the smokier voices of the featured pair. He's very comfortable and skilled at the piano.

In the second act, we are transported to a nightclub in Harlem where a bassist and drummer join the other musicians.

Tom McGirr and Michael Lorenz both take a turn in the spotlight. McGirr enhances Cobb's "Hit Me with a High Note" with the thrum of his bass fiddle, and all three vocalists join him in a clever, rhythmic number called, "Slap that Bass."

Lorenz's solo comes when he accompanies the trio's "Somewhere over the Rainbow" on his vibes.

Cobb introduced a bit of humor when she waltzed into the audience during her tipsy rendition of "Ain't Misbehavin" and knocks us out with her soulful "Stormy Weather."

One of Collier's most moving numbers was definitely "Sophisticated Lady" and was followed by Cobb's "In My Solitude," which they fuse together at the end. The trio did a lovely rendition of "Mood Indigo," as well. I had never heard that song sung in harmony before - beautiful.

Gershwin was a genius, no doubt, but the composers featured in the second act - Duke Ellington, Fats Waller and Harold Arlen - deserve equal billing, and maybe "Friends" doesn't do their talents justice. Rick Rasmussen provided a simple but effective set design; Pam Kriger, the choreography, and Bill Theisen, the overall direction.

I liked it even better this time around, except for the singalong at the end. Save that for Mitch Miller and his bouncing ball.

"Gershwin and Friends" runs through Feb. 12 in the Cabot Theatre of The Broadway Theatre Center, 158 N. Broadway, Milwaukee. Call 414-291-7800 or visit www.skylightopera.com for show times and tickets.