There are no “Silver Bells,” “Frosty the Snowman,” or “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” songs in this holiday show. Michael Feinstein and Barbara Cook are going rogue, deciding their gift will be a celebration of America’s great songwriters, like Irving Berlin, Stephen Sondheim and Jerry Herman. There was an exception. For the evening’s finale, the duo delivered “Goodnight,” a relatively unknown song by British lad Lennon, followed by a sing-along to Berlin’s “White Christmas.” This, however, was the only Christmas song.

More important was acknowledging Barbara Cook as one of this year’s recipients of a Kennedy Awards honor. Hearing her sing is always a reminder of how integral she is to the American Songbook. Her lustrous ballads are among the evening’s most moving moments. Berlin’s “I Got Lost in His Arms” is rich with honesty and haunting phrases. She brings a gripping stress to the words of “Here’s to Life” (Artie Butler/Phyllis Molinary), which has become almost a signature song for her.

Michael Feinstein, the human encyclopedia of popular songs, provides his own standout moments, none more so than the tour-de-force “Fifty Percent” (Alan and Marilyn Bergman and Billy Goldenberg). This song from the Broadway musical, Ballroom, reveals the romantic involvement of a widow and a man who has other commitments. Feinstein compellingly brought every word home with truthful passion

Adding influential performers to their list, Feinstein salutes Mabel Mercer and Bobby Short with “Let Me Love You” (Bart Howard) and a propelling “Let There Be Love” (Lionel Rand/Ian Grant). Fred Astaire gets a nod with “The Way You Look Tonight” (Jerome Kern/Dorothy Fields) and for Jeanette MacDonald, he and Cook combined the two sets of lyrics of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart’s “Isn’t It Romantic,” in catchy counterparts. A touching remembrance to Rosemary Clooney is Berlin’s “How Deep Is the Ocean?”

With a band of five jazz men led by pianist/Musical Director Mike Renzi, the stage ignites with rhythm as Feinstein sings Herman’s revised lyrics, changing “Hello, Dolly!” to “Hello, Barbara!” It is a joyful holiday gift and if there is a future CD of this show, it will be the gift that keeps giving.

Barbara and Michael continue at Feinstein's through 12/30.

Elizabeth Ahlfors
Cabaret Scenes
November 30, 2011
www.cabaretscenes.org