By Bart Greenberg***Longest-running member of the pops group Uptown Express, Christopher Caswell, brought sincerity and honesty to his cabaret show Ordinary Miracles at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. He also brought a fine, appealing singing voice and a charming personality to the stage. With terrific musical back-up by James Followell, music
director and pianist; bassist Sean Conly; and percussionist Dan Gross; as well as with a steady guiding hand by “creative consultant” Jeff Harnar, Caswell brought the audience into his world in this autobiographical evening.
He explained that most people’s lives are defined by two dates with a dash in between—birth and death; he cleverly focused on that dash as he shared stories of his youth and his life later in New York City, illustrated by his song selections. The numbers were a satisfying mix of contemporary and standards, kicking off with “Life Is Wonderful” (Jason Mraz, Stephanie Poole, Alaana Ferri), a song with great and specific lyrics that Caswell dove into; the singer seemed to love his words to the point of proving himself a lyricist’s best friend. His dynamism on the high-energy number “Take On Me” (Pal Waaktaar, Magne Furuhoimne, Morton Harket), linked to his hopes and his extreme shyness, was impressive and highly expressive.
The show suffered a dip in energy when Caswell concentrated on more obscure and repetitive material. What did keep the show moving were warm stories ab
out friends and family, including a reconciliation with his Dad, who was 100 at the time. And then he celebrated his husband with such sincere love that it was moving to all. This tribute included two excellent numbers, “Just the Way You Are” (Khari Cain, Peter Hernandez, Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Khali Walton) and “The Nearness of You” (Hoagy Carmichael). The latter especially reflected Harnar’s influence on the singer with it’s excellent phrasing and fluidity.
The later part of Caswell’s show was taken up with songs from musicals—rather obscure ones to be sure, but still in a style he seemed comfortable with, and with plenty of content. “This Time” (Jeff Bown) from the Off-Broadway Now, Here, This; “My Days” (Ingrid Michaelson) from The Notebook; and, as the encore, possibly the first cabaret show to feature a number from the currently running Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), “New York” (Jim Barne, Kit Buchan); all drew out the best from the performer in their specificity and passion (and some thankful humor). Expectedly, the title-of-show tune, “Ordinary Miracles” (Marvin Hamlisch, Alan and Marilyn Bergman) was in the show, and if the first half of the evening favored more such material, it would have certainly been a more fully-memorable one.
