Andrea McArdle Added Another Bright Light to the Renewed Laurie Beechman Stage

By Marilyn Lester***When Andrea McArdle stepped onto the stage of the newly reconceived Laurie Beechman Theatre, it was a wildly applauded homecoming of sorts. For starters, when Annie opened in April 1977, 13-year-old McArdle in the title character, met ensemble player, Beechman, about a decade older, but a fellow thespian who became a bonded friend none the less. And thus began the tale, in story and song, of the Philadelphia native who became an adoptive native New Yorker when she began working in the Apple even before Annie. What else to open with, than “Native New Yorker” (Sandy Linzer, Denny Randell), followed by a clever medley of “Theme from New York, New York” (John Kander, Fred Ebb) and “NYC” (Charles Strouse, Martin Charnin). 

The evening, as it developed, was a homage to the 1970s—and in many ways, McArdle made it seem like those days were not so very distant. She herself is delightfully youthful. When she mentioned a granddaughter it was hard to believe. With her also clever pairing of Alicia Keys’ “Tomorrow (A Better You, Better Me)” with McArdles hit, now a signature song, “Tomorrow” (Strouse, Charnin), it seemed like no time had passed since the tune was introduced. McArdles voice is still flexible, resounding and youthful.

In 1978, the diva starred in the film Rainbow, playing the young Judy Garland. In homage to that alliance, McArdle sang a jazzy “Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart” (James F. Hanley), “The Trolley Song” (Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin) and what else, but that truly iconic “Over the Rainbow” (Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg). And among her many talents—a performer of many parts—McArdle has a flair for comedy, evident in a wicked version of Jerry Herman’s Mack and Mable gem, “Wherever He Ain’t.” But the cherry on the comedic sundae was a duet with music director-pianist, Steve Marzullo, perfectly channeling “All in the Family’s” Edith and Archie Bunker with the TV show theme song, “Those Were the Days” (Strouse, Lee Adams).

Beautifully paced and realized, McArdle joyously moved from memory to memory, with song to drive home the points of her narrative. From Billy Joel’s “Angry Young Man” to a female take on Stephen Sondheim’s “Being Alive” to a double encore of another Joel, “You’re My Home” and “Spring Fever” (Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein) complete with verse, she conquered. Born for the stage, totally in command, vivacious, energetic and greatly appealing, McArdle spun a show to remember. Kudos go to musical partner, Marzullo, a piano master with a terrific empathic relationship with the singer and the perfect touch of musical support.