BWW Reviews: SIGNATURE TENORS Encompasses a Wide Array of Musical Styles

Here's a riddle for you: What do The Andrews Sisters, Irving Berlin, Jersey Boys and The Four Tops all have in common?

The answer is Signature Theatre's throwback cabaret Signature Tenors, and it is probably the first time these names have been mentioned in the same sentence. While the cabaret encompasses a diverse range of artists, ensuring there is something for everyone, the execution is a bit uneven.

In many ways, the evening is evocative of the male groups that dominated the late fifties and early sixties. Featuring a charismatic quartet of tenors (Jimmy Mavrikes, Gannon O'Brien, David Rowen and Stephen Gregory Smith), Signature Tenors certainly fits that style and the solo numbers are designed to showcase the different tastes of each performer.

For most of the evening, the pattern of songs performed included a group number, several solos, a medley or duet followed again by a group number. Fittingly enough, Signature Tenors began with an energetic "Who Loves You Pretty Baby" by one of the greatest quartets of all time, The Four Seasons.

Mavrikes then followed with an incredible rendition of the Four Tops hit "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)." With the superb Howard Breitbart, who also serves as the show's musical director, at the piano, Mavrikes was able to take the Motown classic and give it a contemporary feel.

Providing the evening with some of its sweeter moments, was Smith who sang a slow and soulful "Night and Day" followed by a touching performance of "Blackbird" later in the night. The Beatles hit was dedicated to his mother who was in the audience and you couldn't help but feel that maybe the Lennon-McCartney lyrics perfectly captured Smith's feelings at that moment.

Some of the evening's heavier moments were provided by O'Brien who gave a heartfelt and stirring "How Glory Goes" from Floyd Collins. He then teamed up with Rowen to give Signature Tenors an exceptional performance of "I Don't Remember You/Sometimes a Day Goes By" from the Kander & Ebb revue And the World Goes 'Round. This seemed fitting considering that Kander was in the building to oversee the world-première of his new musical Kid Victory.

As strong as O'Brien and Rowen's performances were the song choice revealed the cabaret needed structure. Walter Ware III, who conceived and directed Signature Tenors, selected songs that one doesn't typically expect to hear from tenors. Several of the song introductions and transitions came off as forced and unrehearsed, lacking the sort of conversational tone required for the intimacy of a cabaret.

When greater detail was given regarding why a song was chosen, such as with Smith's aforementioned "Blackbird," or when the quartet memorably performed the Andrews Sisters calypso number "Rum and Coca-Cola" then Signature Tenors truly hit its stride. However, when they failed to provide the proper context some of the song choices came off as puzzling.

For example, the final medley included "If Ever I Would Leave You" and "Agony." Without an introduction, it wasn't clear if the quartet was performing this song for a fictional person or if it was meant to serve as a metaphor for the show's ending. The performance was certainly one of the evening's highlights, but with greater context, it could have been more powerful.

Zachary Dalton's lighting design gave Signature's new fourth-floor cabaret venue The Shen a warm and inviting feeling. Fitted with tables for four and featuring candles and a bar that's open throughout the performance, it's a nice escape on a cold winter's night.

While the evening could have been better structured, the wide array of musical and classic hits ensures that everyone is going to have a good time.

Runtime: 70 minutes with no intermission

Photo: Jimmy Mavrikes. Credit: Signature Theatre.

Signature Tenors plays thru February 28th at Signature Theater 4200 Campbell Ave, Arlington, VA. For tickets, call (703) 820-9771 or purchase them online.

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