Review: THE BEST OF TIMES Made for a lovely time at AMT Theater
J2 Spotlight Musical Theater Co. celebrated the songs of Jerry Herman on 4/21
The trademarks of a legendary musical theatre writer whose melodies are filled with bounce and grace and whose lyrics beamed optimism and/or sincerity were celebrated at the AMT Theater on West 45th Street on April 21. Jerry Herman's well-crafted music and words from one specific score had resonated in the walls of the venue the week before and in the days following. J2 Spotlight Theater Company has once again scheduled “partner” one-night-only cabaret events to further explore the oeuvre of the composer-lyricists of their three mainstage musical revivals. So, first up, on a tuneful Tuesday evening, was a delightful deep dive into the songs of Jerry Herman during the run of the revival of his first score for a book musical, Milk and Honey. That production’s fine musical director, Harry Collins, also served as pianist for the cabaret night — this time smilingly visible on stage instead of being literally behind the scenes. The performers included quite a few cast members of that show and other J2 productions (past and upcoming), and additional singer-actors.
Directed and very enthusiastically hosted by Milk and Honey associate director Stephen Cole (not to be confused with a musical theatre writer of the same name), it was a pleasing potpourri of Herman’s work. There were some of the best-known BIG songs and some refreshing choices (pieces we rarely hear live). Let’s start with some choices that showed members of the Milk and Honey company with varied characterizations in refreshing choices. They turned to the score of the TV movie Mrs. Santa Claus for two charmers: Samantha Schiffman and Larry Toyter were an engaging pair in the number that convinces us that opposites DO sometimes attract, with the cute “We Don’t Go Together.” And Neva Small was a pip with the sprightly, done rightly “Almost Young” (which recalls “That’s How Young I Feel” from Herman’s score of Mame; both songs had been introduced by Angela Lansbury as the respective title characters). Another M&H castmate, Jordan Gross, was on the bill, with an earnest and yearning “Love, Look in My Window,” written for Hello, Dolly! – specifically for Ethel Merman, who was Herman’s intended star, then dropped from the score until Merman finally agreed to take on the role as the final Dolly in the original Broadway production of that mega-hit’s long run.
Adam B. Shapiro was particularly effective with a fully inhabited full-length and gutsy, emotionally charged “I’ll Be Here Tomorrow” from The Grand Tour, the musical which, on Broadway years ago, had originally starred Joel Grey, the legendary star with whom Mr. Shapiro would get to work with (as his director) in the Yiddish-language production of Fiddler on the Roof.
Usually, the company does not feature material from its currently running show in these cabaret nights, but there was one taste of Milk and Honey performance with leading man Eric Michael Gillett reprising his poignant interpretation of “Let’s Not Waste a Moment.” It was the kind of anything-but-wasted moment that would make those who hadn’t secured seats to see him and his colleagues in the musical lament that they couldn’t do so: the entire run was already sold out.
Other strong performances were turned in by versatile Janet Fanale, Happy McPartlin, and Collin O’Neil (already in rehearsal for J2’s next musical, Carnival!), among others.
The program was titled The Best of Times after the same-named song from La Cage aux Folles. And that carpe-diem number was the evening’s finale, presented –unsurprisingly – as a sing-along. It had the desired effect of ending on a note of hope, even with the sense of uncertainty that is part of the lyric (“As for tomorrow, well, who knows? Who knows?”) As for the “tomorrows” for J2, there’s a series of Thursday afternoon lectures and events as well as their production of The Mystery of Edwin Drood opening on May 14 and a cabaret night of the songs of its composer-lyricist, Rupert Holmes, on May 19, with Harry Collins back on the keyboard and more J2 alumni and colleagues treading the boards at the AMT Theater.
For more on J2 Spotlight Musical Theatre Company and to buy tickets to The Mystery of Edwin Drood, visit them at www.j2spotlightnyc.com
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