A Long and Winding Road is Maureen McGovern’s celebration of the Baby Boomer experience. She effectively uses song and anecdote to coalesce the experiences of the generation, singing standards of the era such as “The Secret O’ Life,” recalling the reaction to Kennedy’s assassination, reminding the audience of the sea-changing impact that the Beatles and Carole King had on popular music.

McGovern adopts an earth-mother persona perfectly suited to the material.  The years have given McGovern’s voice a warmth, enhancing the experience.  And she’s masterly at using the material as basis for musical storytelling, whether contemplating the effects of time in “The Circle Game” or ruminating on love in an a gripping medley of “MacArthur Park” and “The Moon’s a Harsh Mistress.”  All is strongly supported by the subtly fascinating work of musical director Jeffrey D. Harris.

The show expands her recent Metropolitan Room outing into a full theatrical presentation.  The concert is effectively enhanced by photos from McGovern’s childhood albums, home movies, and historical film clips.  Production designer Clifton Taylor deserves special mention for creating an unobtrusive yet useful setting as well as spectacular diva lighting.

McGovern’s patter occasionally feels very scripted.  However, it may be a result of the fact that her communication in song feels so effusively organic, that anything else would have to pale in comparison.

Michael Miyazaki
Cabaret Scenes
March 31, 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org