By Maya Amis****The highlight of my holiday season was Richard Holbrook’s Holiday Chestnuts from Christmases Past and Present. It was the perfect way to plunge whole-heartedly into the very best of the season, with its sentimentality and joy in plain sight. Holbrook has a sincere, engaging presence and treats his audience as old friends, which, no doubt, filled some of the packed houses. Old-fashioned in the very best sense, this is a show to fall into, to be carried along with by Holbrook’s smooth, rich voice—the luxurious back-up provided by The Tom Nelson Trio and by the spell woven by the clever selection of expected and unexpected songs, old and new.
Holbrook brings his masterly interpretation—you can tell that he is also an actor—and his strong appreciation of lyric to a classic holiday show with heart and, above all, empathy. The show contained Christmas standards (including a great Sammy Cahn medley), several carols and some unexpected gems that fit remarkably well into a holiday show. I particularly enjoyed the side trips into Sondheim, especially when Holbrook turned into a wide-eyed little boy for “Giants in the Sky.” Charles Aznavour’s “Quiet Love” and “The Place Where Lost Things Go” from 2018’s Mary Poppins Returns may not be specifically holiday songs, but they fit seamlessly into the mood and flow of the show, which was both joyous and wistful—appropriate for a time of year that holds so many bittersweet memories for many of us, whatever our backgrounds.
The jazz inflected music throughout was truly lovely. The Tom Nelson Trio is just great and always exactly where they needed to be in relation to Holbrook’s performance. They had some welcome chances to show off what they can do, which is a great deal.
I am looking forward to seeing more of Richard Holbrook. He epitomizes much of what is great about cabaret as an art form. He has an intimate connection with the audience that never seems forced and his performance respects the material while making it his own. I enjoyed being reminded of old favorites and being introduced to songs that I had not encountered before. It all added up to a delightful evening that banished all Grinch-like thoughts and left me smiling, ready to take on the season in all of its facets.
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