By Marilyn Lester****Garbed in Sunday clothes with beads and buckles and bows, and most definitely getting their picture took, was a thrilling cast of performers singing the Jerry Herman songbook at the Mabel Mercer Foundation’s 29th Annual Cabaret Convention, night three. The Best of Jerry Herman was hosted by Klea Blackhurst. Cliché warning: Blackhurst is the hostess with the mostest in every possible way. Need a host? Who ya gonna call? No question, it’s she.
Blackhurst is a joyful bundle of energy who knows how to keep a show paced and moving along. She’s a natural with her narrative—no podiums for her. Her dynamic movement on stage, mic in hand, set a convivial mood, delivering an evening that was delightfully relaxed and cheery. Jerry Herman was well served with Blackhurst at the helm and a cast of fifteen talents to sing and laud the master with reminiscence. Plus, she sings. In extremely fine voice (Blackhurst was “on!”) she opened the show with the perfect narrative tie-ins to “Just Leave Everything to Me” (Hello Dolly!) and “It’s Today” (Mame).
Although the composer/lyricist has written over a dozen shows, the repertoire for the evening was drawn from his well-known works, with Brent Barrett beginning the parade of tributes. With his impossibly rich and beautiful baritone he sang “Look Over There” and “Song on the Sand” (La Cage Aux Folles) with deep feeling. Deep feeling was a strong feature the evening. Herman’s pithy and often philosophical songs lend themselves to touching heartstrings, especially through skilled performers. In a beautifully controlled rendition of “I’ve Never Said I Love You” (Dear World) a mesmerizing Josephine Sanges displayed her classically trained/operatic skills. Likewise, Sarah Rice offered an affecting “And I Was Beautiful” (Dear World). Sweetly operatic, Renee Katz offered a gentle, emotive “Ribbons Down My Back” (Hello,Dolly!), while Celia Berk performed a composed and dreamy “It Only Takes a Moment” (Hello, Dolly!).
The possibility of a Herman song—be it “light” or otherwise, was also captured in impeccable interpretation by many others in the cast. It was sheer delight to hear Valerie Lemon mine the terrific Phil Hall arrangement of “Kiss Her Now” (Dear World) with emotive power and authenticity. Kristoffer Lowe, in excellent, top form, delivered a beautifully crafted, thoughtful “I Won’t Send Roses” (Mack and Mabel), while from the same show, Marieann Meringolo offered an intensely impassioned “Time Heals Everything.” Amra-Faye Wright was stunning in her incisive interpretation of “I Don’t Want to Know” (Dear World). The anthem-like “I Am What I Am” (La Cage Aux Folles) was sung with zealous authority by Eric Michael Gillett.
As to the lighter side of Herman, Christine Pedi’s comic take on “The Spring of Next Year” (Dear World) was priceless. Joan Ryan’s fun “Look What Happened to Mabel” (Mack and Mabel) conjured up images of singing “outer borough” denizens. Fun was flying with a duet by Blackhurst and Debbie Gravitte with “Bosom Buddies,” while Greg Gropper, cheerfully asked us to “Put on Your Sunday Clothes” (Hello,Dolly!).
In a class all by himself, the entertainer par excellence, the super-talented and endlessly energetic Lee Roy Reams, shared many of his experiences of Herman and of performing the canon. Reams read a note sent by the 87-year old creator of all this magic, who was at home in Miami Beach, but so very present none the less. Reams disclosed the story behind the cut and reinstated song, “Penny in My Pocket” (Hello, Dolly!) and sang it with his trademark flair. That flair was displayed on steroids with his theatrical, beautifully over the top rendition of the title song from La Cage aux Folles. Draped in a huge red boa, and making the most of the prop, Reams sang and tossed off impressions of Mae West, Marlene Dietrich and Talulah Bankhead with ease. Regarding Bankhead, he paused and delivered the line “Am I the only one here tonight old enough to remember me?” with exquisite comic timing.
A feature of the evening was the presentation of The Adela & Larry Elow American Songbook High School Competition Award to Christina Jimenez, who easily demonstrated why she’s a winner with an impressive “Wherever He Ain’t” (Mack and Mabel). A large rotation of musicians participated during the evening and included pianists James Followell, Alex Rybeck, John M Cook, Phil Hall, Mike Petrie, Jon Weber and Mark Hummel; bassist Steve Doyle; drummer Rob Garcia and cellists Amy Ralske and Adrian Daurov.
Wrapping up a fine evening of song and story, Blackhhurst told one final tale about Ethel Merman and her long relationship with Hello, Dolly! before actually appearing in it. Then, “genetically predisposed” to these matters, she ended with Merman’s special song (the predecessor to the Act One closer) and performed both, just as Merman did in her Dolly turn: “World, Take Me Back,” followed by “Before the Parade Passes By.” And what a parade it was.
All photos by Natasha Castillo
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