Raúl Esparza almost turned himself inside out in his exciting American Songbook program at the Allen Room, revealing his rich Cuban heritage as the major influence in his life.  He filled an extraordinary ninety minutes with warmth, charm and an energy level  that probably reached not only the back rows of the Allen Room, but the tourists milling about in Columbus Circle outside the Allen’s beautiful windows.

Mr. Esparza is a major presence on the theater scene—a fine actor and singer whose talents have served Stephen Sondheim (Company) and Larry Kramer (The Normal Heart) and many other playwrights and songwriters.  His American Songbook appearance was a program of mostly Cuban and Latin-American songs culled from his rich memories of the Cuban Miami of his youth, plus a generous offering of Sondheim, Boy George, Jonathan Larson and Cole Porter, whose “Begin the Beguine” sensuously opened the show in an interpretation of revelatory breadth.

There was nothing even remotely schizophrenic about this combination of Broadway with Calle Ocho.  Mr. Esparza has totally integrated his ethnicity with his Broadway and film career; it’s just that when he sang the Latin repertoire, his body sang along with him—he let go in a way that he rarely has in his theatrical appearances.

He included songs made famous by Celia Cruz, the Salsa Queen, and some learned at his grandmother’s knee, such as “Dolor y Perdón” by Benny Moré (known as “The Barbarian of Rhythm”), “Drume Negrita” (Ernesto Grenet), a pensive lullaby sung as the final encore and “Sabor a Mi” (Álvaro Carillo), a hip-twister full of delightful little hesitations. Also included were the slightly naughty ditties learned in the streets and local cafes like “Wanda” (Hansel Enrique Martinez & Raul Alfonso) about a woman of easy virtue.

His Sondheim portion included an anguished “Marry Me a Little” and a wistful “Goodbye for Now.”

He chose to leave quietly with two encores that included the aforementioned “Drume Negrita” and George Harrison’s “Something.”

The pleasures of the evening were enhanced by his thirteen-member band led by Mary-Mitchell Campbell for the theater songs and David Oquendo for the Cuban segment.

Raúl Esparza put on an amazing show, the kind that you never want to end.  He was totally in charge, yet relaxed and exuded confidence without ever overdoing.   The only thing to say is an awestruck “Wow”!

Joel Benjamin
Cabaret Scenes
February 18, 2011
www.cabaretscenes.org