Mary Wilson, one of the original members of the legendary female singing group The Supremes, took the stage opening night at Feinstein's at Loews Regency and proceeded to "rock the house"! For anyone who grew up on the music of one of Motown's most beloved and prolific musical groups, it was reassuring to see and hear Ms. Wilson looking so stunning and sounding as vibrant as we remember her in a group that, along with Diana Ross and Florence Ballard, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.

Although she was considered a back-up singer at the time of her greatest success, she has subsequently forged a successful, multi-dimensional solo career. She's been a part of dozens of hit records, written two best-selling autobiographies, performed on stage and screen and lectured around the world as an ambassador on behalf of numerous social causes.

Getting off to what, at first, appeared to be somewhat of a “slow start” with Phyllis Molinary/Artie Butler’s "Here's to Life" as an opener, followed by another ballad, "Smile" (Charles Chaplin/John Turner/Geoffrey Parsons), Wilson used both songs effectively to connect, in a very “up close and personal” way, with her audience. When she finally broke loose on the second half of her third song, the Johnny Green/Edward Heyman/Robert Sour masterwork, "Body and Soul," she held her listeners in the "palm of her hand!" and from that moment on, it was "damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!” By the time she got to a medley of three of The Supremes' most famous hits,—"You Can’t Hurry Love,” "Come See About Me” “Back in My Arms Again”—the “joint was really jumpin” and some audience members were on their feet!

The song she dedicated to the late Florence Ballard, Henry Krieger/Tom Eyen’s “I Am Changing,” from the hit musical Dreamgirls was a tour de force and brought up the persistent, prickly question…"Was Dreamgirls inspired by The Supremes?” Producers say no, but Wilson shared that Flo was “as close as she could be” to the character of Effie in Dreamgirls. Additionally, while setting up a particularly moving rendition of the Joni Mitchell song “Both Sides Now,” she wondered aloud as to how Joni Mitchell could have possibly known exactly how she would be feeling at this point in her life. She’s “been there, done that” and appears all the wiser for it!

From a young girl living in the Detroit projects to an international career that spans fifty years, Mary Wilson continues to do what she does best and loves the most – entertain! She’ll be at Feinstein's at Loews Regency through October 3rd.

Lynn DiMenna
Cabaret Scenes
September 23, 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org