It appears that Scott Siegel’s Broadway Unplugged has competition with the Broadway Close Up series.  Well, not exactly except for the fact that the singers in this production are also unplugged, not using mics. In speaking to several associates in the biz, however, we wish they had! Better to hear you with, my dear!

With or without mics, the celebration of Richard Maltby & David Shire’s works are a joy to behold. Having Gretchen Cryer as host,  who auditioned for the songwriters when they began writing while at Yale, seemed more than fitting. They were joined by many of the original performers Maltby/Shire shows, surely a trip down memory lane. Sally Mayes—Closer Than Ever—remains an exciting and dramatic performer with the ever-amusing “Miss Bird.” Together with Lynn Winterstellar, their duet, “It’s Never That Easy"/"I’ve Been Here Before” blends two first class voices.

Starting Here, Starting Now (one of my favorites), featured Winterstellar singing “I Don’t Remember Christmas” with all the bite and anger it deserves. “Crossword Puzzle,” a lyrical feat for anyone, seemed like a breeze for the lovely and talented Loni Ackerman, whose high kicks in the finale of “One Step,” together with full cast, can compete with just about anyone. Martin Vidnovic, of rich delicious vocals, sang the title song (“Starting Here…”) and told the “One of the Good Guys” story from Closer Than Ever with panache.

Although we speak of Maltby & Shire as though they are an undivided pair, they have each had individual successes. Matlby won a Tony Award for his direction of Ain’t Misbehavin’ and was the lyricist on Miss Saigon and The Pirate Queen, while Shire composed the Academy Award winning “It Goes Like It Goes” for the film Norma Rae. The team is in the throes of writing a new musical based on the life of the Wright Bros. and Amelia Earhart, Take Flight, and presented a peek with “The Funniest Thing,” which it was!

Newcomers Benjamin Schrader and Gwen Hollander were featured as well as Broadway Voices.

The most poignant part of the evening was Richard unfolding his life story which is to make music, a joy we can all share, as he sang and David played “If I Sing.”

Musical direction was by Patrick Brady with Bob Renino on bass.

Sandi Durell
Cabaret Scenes
November 3, 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org