By Marilyn Lester***One thematic strand often found in the cabaret tapestry is the “about my life” trope—and it presents in interest a surefire way to separate the wheat from the chaff. Unsurprisingly, singer-actress Joanne Halev‘s re
markable show, Sailing On at Birdland Theater was all prime wheat—no chaff to be found. Fully embracing her status as a person of a certain age, Halev, charming, insightful and witty, drew her audience into her rich life experience with a splendid welcoming warmth.
And so we began at the cradle, with formative years in Maine. Her love for that foundational state (read that two ways), was so full of depth we could almost smell the salty sea air as she sang “Beyond the Sea” (Charles Trenet, Albert Lasry, Jack Lawrence: English lyric; originally “La Mer”). But then, at age 9, there was a move to the Dairy State—and landlocked; yet young Joanne was open to a world of adventure all the same. At that age there was so much ahead, and that eventually included the discovery o
f… boys! “Show Me” (Frederick Loewe, Alan Jay Lerner). In college, a surprising and cute reveal was Halev’s romance with… Tom Wopat! And being a master story-teller, that delicious chunk of information was artfully unwrapped like a delectable piece of chocolate.
Then the swinging 1970s arrived and Halev, newly out of college, had more adventures ahead, from the Lower East Side to Greenwich Village and pre-hipster Brooklyn, learning first to “Live Alone and Like It” (Stephen Sondheim). It was an exciting time for a young woman in the city and a man or two who would lead to “The Lies of Handsome Men” (Francesca Blumenthal). By this number, Halev had already proved her ability to live in a lyric with authenticity. With a seamless transition from the English folk tune “Blow the Wind Southerly” to Amanda McBroom’s “Ship in a Bottle,” her ability to evoke emotion and mood was certified.
Eventually, Mr. Right came along as did two daughters, three careers and family life, including a very special grandmother. Concluding with gratitude for her life and a love for the city, Halev also admitted that memories of Maine were never far away. She book-ended Sailing On with a touching version of “La Mer,” whose last line in French tells of a sea that’s “cradled my heart forever.”
Crafting this superb show, Halev worked with two other masters of their crafts: director Sara Louise Lazarus and music director-arranger-pianist Alex Rybeck. Theirs was a collaboration that produced a smart, humorous, touching and authentic show with song choices that perfectly moved the narrative forward in delightful progression. In performance, bassist Ray Kilday anchored each number with both authority and sensitivity.
Photos by Matt Baker.
