Barbara Cook

The listing said Go The Distance: The Lyrics of David Zippel" featuring (in large letters) Barbara Cook.
This is part of Jazz at Lincoln Center's American Songbook series. A roster of performances featuring famous and eclectic performers in one of the worlds greatest concert spaces. The backdrop of the Allen Room is a magnificent 3 story wall of glass, over-looking Central Park and Columbus Circle. The hall is breathtaking.
Before this night, I know little of lyricist David Zippel. Great singers like Billy Porter, Sally Mayes, Jason Graae and Brent Barrett were there to pay tribute. But the big name, Barbara Cook would be the highlight.
It was Bill's birthday night, so a great night, starting with dinner at Bobby Flay's Bar Americain preceded the show. Before it started, reading the bios of the performers, I was surprised that Ms. Cooks bio was twice as long as the featured lyricist. 2 pages of tiny type face. Now she is revered, but this made her sound like the leader of the free world.
So out she comes, not able to make it up the 2 stairs to the stage without assistance, and sings 1 song. That was it. Huh? Hey, wait a minute. This packed house is here to see you my dear. Throw us another bone. Nada. Nothing. Wow. Cheap shot.
Jason Graae was fantastic in every number. What a terrific singer and entertainer.
Newcomer Lindsay Mendez is one to watch.
We saw Stone Phillips, but surpisingly, no one else famous to see Ms. Cook. Maybe they knew she was only going to sing one song.
Bill, Happy Birthday. I had a great night. Hope you did too.

Barefoot in the Park

Neil Simon's play has no business being a Broadway show. I is dated and dull. Like watching a half-rate sitcom. The performances on the other hand:
Patrick Wilson has terrific comic timing, dashing stage presence and is the only thing worth watching in this show. When he is off stage, it all falls apart.
Amanda Peet making her Broadway debut. Catch her now, because no one will cast her again after seeing her play Corie. One note. She must have been told to "project" by an acting coach long ago and never forgot it, because she looks and sounds like a high school actor, trying to hit the back row with no amplification. Horrible performance. Embarrassing really.
Jill Clayburgh and Tony Roberts, who are both wonderful actors, make the most of their shallow and completely mis-cast roles.
Isaac Mizrahi did the costumes and I don't understand the hoopla in the press. They were boring and looked like they were done by the cast of Project Runway. Tailored nicely and uninspired. I expected more.
The set was sufficient, the musical interludes were fine. Just a dull night of theater.

Melissa Errico at Joe's Pub

One of my favorite places to hear music. For years, we have been seeing great performers do great shows here. Even the mediocre ones are special at Joe's.
Last night, we got to see Ms. Errico do an evening of songs off her upcoming album of music written by Michel LeGrand. I should love his music. It's lush, slow, pretty and presumably very moving. Moving to any one but me? It washes over me but never sticks. Lovely, and empty. Melissa does an awesome job in selling it, with her crystal clear voice and commitment to each song. Don't get me wrong, I loved the evening and adore her, but this is not a show that I would need to see her do again. Joe's pub shows work best when the artist does a lot of different material. Judy Kuhn failed for me at Joe's Pub because it was all one note. The last album Melissa put out, was an incredible diverse collection of tunes that kept the evening moving along. I can never not (double negative?) be moved when she sings, but if I don't particularly like the tune, I know something different is just 2 minutes away.
That said, I would still see her do just about anything. Profound respect.

Kismet

City Center Encore's series is one of the quintessential New York theater experiences. An orchestral, staged presentation (on-book) version of classical musicals, presented by some of Broadways biggest stars. Even if the show is bad, like last nights Kismet, it is still a great night on Broadway.
Paul Gemignani, the new musical director, is wonderful at the podium.
Brian Stokes Mitchell was surprisingly flat. Marcy Harriell and Danny Gurwin were sadly mis-cast. Marin Mazzie and her amazing wig were a wonder though. She gave a powerhouse performance.
The show itself bores me. Stranger In Paradise is like listening to elevator music, or like we all agreed, those old orchestral records Time Records was pushing in commercials when we were kids.
The stars were out and that is always fun. Bill talked with Marge Champion.
Sondheim was there and this time we got to talk with him (Bravo Bill). Third time to see him this week.
And the highlight, getting to chat with Erika Slezak. She is lovely and charming and very funny. We talked about David Sedaris' tribute to her, and she told a couple great stories about him and a dressing room on the One Life To Live set that is named after him. She was gracious, and lovely, and so kind.
Fun night out with Bruce, Bill and John.

Indigo Girls

A couple years ago, the Indigo Girls did an amazing show in Central Park. It was the day that most of the east coast was shut down because of a massive blackout. Everything was postponed or cancelled. Everything except the Indigo Girls. They asked their audience to move in a little closer, and with the help of generators, rocked Central Park until sundown. The audience was as diverse as I had come to expect at an Indigo Girls concert. Lots of lesbians to be sure, but some older world conscious couples, lots of young people, music lovers, political activists, and grown-up hippies. Perfect.
Last night at McCarter Theater in Princeton, the girls played sans band. Lots of dueling guitar work, but something was missing. Maybe it was the age of the audience in Princeton, not an under 40 person in sight. It was all a little to civilized. And when they rocked, the audience was just a touch above polite. I miss the band. The songs are as well crafted as it gets. A touching version of Amy's "Romeo and Juliette" brought a tear to my eye. 22 songs total. Maybe it was the venue, but it was not what I wanted. I left hungry.

Manoel Felciano

Last night at Ars Nova, Manoel Felciano, currently playing Tobias in the new Production of Sweeney Todd, presented a night of music and musings.
He speaks 5 languages, graduated with a masters from Yale, plays 20 instruments, sings, writes sonnets, writes music, and his father is a professor of music at Berkeley. Nice credentials.
He is charming and childlike. He has a lovely voice and an unfocused enthusiasm that is fun to watch. His choice of material was all over the place. An obscure piece from his musical directors show, a couple tunes that he wrote in college, a Maria Carey tune???, a Steely Dan song. None of it made sense, but it worked because so eclectic and never stayed in one style long enough to become boring. Even Steven Sondheim, who was sitting next to me across the aisle, tapped his toes and danced in his seat, totally enthralled by this very very unique young man.
Michael Cerveris joined him on stage for a number. The sound was off so the song sounded muddy. Eden Espinoza, hmmm, I just don't get her appeal. She's a phony with a screaming crazy voice that never sounds good.
A bunch of college friends joined him one by one on stage. The highlight of this part was the 3 guys who he sang a capella with in college. Sweet trip down memory lane.
Melissa Errico sang 2 wonderful Randy Newman songs with him, and then joined the audience taking a seat right behind us. It gave us a chance to chat with her about her new album coming out in June, and her new baby, and her upcoming show at Joe's pub next week. She is lovely as ever.
John McDaniel was there, as were a couple other Sweeney cast members including Alex Geminiani, who played a terrific little trumpet interlude during the show.
What a terrific $15. Great show, cool celebrities, tiny theater.
Big week coming up. More to blog later.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

"Kids Night on Broadway" is a great idea and I am so glad that all these little ones are getting to see live theater. Note to self: Stay away next time.
The musical has one of the weakest openings I have ever seen. How can a such a big budget show have such a lame opening, un-memorable dance number? I usually like Jerry Mitchell's work. His choreography in Never Gonna Dance saved that show. Here it was nothing. 16 dancers doing nothing. What a waste of talent and stage space.
Norbert Leo Butz: the best thing in the show. Over the top. Like musical theater's Jack Black. Frenetic. Doing all he can to save a stupid musical.
Jonathan Price: I kept hoping Michael Cain would walk out of the audience and onto the stage and say, excuse me Mr. Price, it should be like this...
Joanna Gleason: Ever since I saw her true colors at the Public last year, I can't stand her. Ungrateful and full of herself. And she can't dance. They had to design a long flowing dress to conceal the fact that she can't move.
Sherri Rene Scott: Love her voice. Nice job.
The set was too little, the music was bland, our seats sucked, but I still would rather be in a Broadway theater than anywhere else.
The CD release party after. Meeting Sondheim, LuPone, Cerveris, Felciano, and the rest of that brilliant cast. Standing on that stage looking up at what they look at 8 times a week. Goose bumps. Amongst legends.
And then home to the one I love. The perfect ending. What started as a dud of a night rises to something extraordinary.