If Joni Mitchell’s “BLUE” album resonates with you, then--whatever your age or gender-- "Women of a Certain Age®," The Songs of Kantor and Dorn” is for you. The four woman musical revue comes to Bloomfield’s Havdalah Café at Temple Ner Tamid this Saturday night, December 3 only at 8:00 p.m.  The revue enjoyed monthly showcase performances at the Bitter End and the Triad in New York City over the course of 2010-2011. Among the evening’s songs will be “Lonely With Joni,” a paean to anyone who has sat alone in her room “hunting for identity in a no trespassing zone.” 

First, about the revue’s title and title song: "Women of a Certain Age®" draws from the French characterization of a woman who is no longer young but still in the game, bringing to the present memories, experience and a sense of possibilities. 

And, that is what composer-singer Margaret Dorn and lyricist Karen Kantor write about in works both personal--such as “Daddy and Sullivan,” a tribute to Kantor’s father who died too young—and  universal as with “ I Love My Job,” “Whose Keys Are These?” or “Who’s Gonna Make Me Laugh”

The last was the first song Kantor and Dorn wrote together and honors a past mutual friend, Charlie Whiteside, who died in 1991. Kantor, who has a long history as a stage manager and producer, and actress-singer-composer-musical director Dorn first met in NYC in the late 1980s at an event Whiteside gave displaying a section of the AIDS Quilt. Kantor shortly relocated to Portland, Oregon, which she continues to call home, but over the following 17 years the two continued their long distance collaboration.

“When I write a lyric, I usually have a rhythm in mind; I’ll put on a drum track to get the feel of the line,“ Kantor said. “What I get back from Margaret is completely different and 1,000 times better.”

Over time, they recognized the theatrical possibilities of their body of work. The songs encompass many themes and many musical genres from pop, rock, blues, theater, country, and doo wop.

“It’s an original musical revue, featuring four outstanding singers from New York City,”  said Montclair’s Bob Mellman, a lawyer best known as a member of the "Reticents," an area musical group. “All of them have impressive resumes in cabaret, recordings and commercials--Emily Bindiger is the singer in the ubiquitous ‘Sleepys’ commercial.” Rounding out the cast are Dorn, Carolee Goodgold and Andricka Hall. 

Mellman is among the Temple Ner Tamid members who bring in about three Havdalah Café evenings a year. It is produced by the temple’s Tarbut, or Culture Committee.

“Most of our shows have been concerts, usually focusing on a genre of music. We thought that it would be exciting to present a different kind of show, “Mellman said. “We'd watched the videos of a few of the songs, and were touched by the subject matter and really impressed with the music, lyrics and singers. Kantor was a high school friend of mine from Millburn which made booking the show a friendly, fun process.”

Previous performers have included famed folk duo Jay Ungar and Molly Mason; “Margot Leverett & the Klezmer Mountain Boys,” and  past “Saturday Night Live” comedy writer Alan Zweibel. There are also nights by the "Reticents" which celebrate Bob Dylan and the band members have dubbed the "Havdylan Café."

Havdalah is a religious ceremony marking the end of the Jewish Sabbath. “There is a brief--about ten minute-- candle lighting before the café opens,” Mellman said. “It’s very magical and mystical and complements the music to come.” 

Temple Ner Tamid’s congregation of 500 households draws largely from Bloomfield, Montclair, Glen Ridge, Nutley, Clifton and surrounding towns. Its history of merged congregations from both Reform and Conservative Judaism emphasizes inclusion with interfaith, LGBTI, multiracial and multigenerational members. 

As to the cafe: "We have had audiences of 250,” Mellman said. “Sometimes we set up table and chairs like a cabaret, but this show will be in the sanctuary with the audience sitting in a semi circle close to the performers.” 

There will be refreshments and a chance to speak with the artists after the show. Admission is $25 at the door or $20 in advance by paying at the temple or by check to Temple Ner Tamid: mail to their location at 936 Broad Street, Bloomfield, NJ, 07003. Call 973-338-1500 for more information.