BWW Reviews: Boston Gay Men's Chorus and Laura Benanti SMILE at Symphony Hall

The Boston Gay Men's Chorus Smile, with Special Guest Laura Benanti

Sunday, June 14, 2015 at Symphony Hall

Reuben M. Reynolds III, Music Director; Craig Coogan, Executive Director; Chad Weirick, Principal Accompanist and Assistant Music Director; Michelle Chassé, Stage Director and Choreographer; LeWana Clark, American Sign Language Interpreter; Jonathan Hess, Percussion; Mark Pucci, Bass; Lighting Designed by Anne Dresbach, Dresbach Designs; Brian C. Griffin, Customer Service Manager; Adele Nadine Traub, Production Manager; Kelsey Buckley and Jessical Going, Rehearsal Managers

The Boston Gay Men's Chorus appropriately titled their annual Pride concert Smile because that's what their music makes you do and it was the inescapable facial expression seen throughout Symphony Hall on Sunday afternoon. Special Guest Tony Award-winning singer/actress Laura Benanti had the audience eating out of her hand with her blend of down-to-earth, girl-next-door personality, gorgeous soprano voice, and self-deprecating comical anecdotes. Together, the BGMC and Benanti inspired each other to perform at the highest level of their combined vocal abilities in a program featuring selections by some of the giants of American musical theater and the World Premiere of "Peace," a BGMC Commission by Joshua Shank.

The concert was off to a joyous and energetic start with "Brotherhood of Man" (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying) and its chorus line of 14 gray-suited dancers led by Dance Captain Michael Lombo. Moments later, they returned in t-shirts, sporting rainbow fans and flags, to pump up "I Love a Parade," closing out a trio of Harold Arlen compositions. Between the smiling, strutting dancers and the animated interpretive movements of LeWana Clark (American Sign Language Interpreter), it was hard to decide where to look first. Most of the dance crew tried their hands (and feet) on some Bob Fosse-like choreography for Kander and Ebb's "Cabaret" (Cabaret) just before intermission. Kudos to Stage Director and Choreographer Michelle Chassé.

Benanti performed a solo set in each of the two acts, choosing from the works of Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Lowe, and Kander and Ebb. She graciously shared that her personal commitment to singing with the BGMC stems from her late uncle Robert Wonneberger having been a founding member of the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, DC, and she has a fan base of gay theatergoers, as evidenced by #GaysForElsa on Twitter after her acclaimed appearance in "The Sound of Music Live!" on NBC in 2013. She sang both the title song and "Climb Every Mountain," as well as "I'm Glad I'm Not Young Anymore (Gigi), "I Have Dreamed" (The King and I), "I Could Have Danced All Night" (My Fair Lady), and "A Quiet Thing" (Flora the Red Menace), the latter both a cappella and sans amplification.

While the aforementioned six songs showcased Benanti's incredible vocal instrument, her so-called "Inappropriate Medley" gave her a chance to display her versatility and her comic chops. Including snippets from several pop songs, she channeled Beyoncé, Cher, Aretha Franklin, and, most amusingly, Tina Turner with all of the de rigueur hair flipping and spinning around called for in "Proud Mary." Every aspect of Benanti's performance was utterly delightful and it was clear that she and the boys belong to a mutual admiration society.

The Chorus also favored selections from the Great White Way, with three from the mid-70s musical I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road, which Reynolds informed the audience was written by the only (at the time) female composer/lyricist team, one of whom was a lesbian (Gretchen Cryer and Nancy Ford). Their resonant rendition of "You'll Never Walk Alone" (Carousel) put Josh Groban's recent Tony Awards version to shame, and a set of Stephen Sondheim songs was masterfully arranged by accompanist Chad Weirick. The majestic sound of the voices of the Chorus in "Sunday" (Sunday in the Park with George) drove home the point that this was anything but an ordinary Sunday.

Reynolds and the BGMC depart on June 18th for a tour of the Middle East, carrying forth their mission to inspire change, build community, and celebrate difference. The people of Israel and Turkey will hear the stories of the members of the Chorus, beautifully told in the piece composed by Shank. He received hundreds of responses when he asked the membership to complete the phrase: "I was at peace when..." and set approximately fifty of them to music. Sunday's audience was the first to hear "Peace" and there really are not words to describe its impact. However, it will be an incredible gift brought by these wise men to a land that needs to receive such an extraordinary message.