After a long hiatus I returned to NYC last week for an infusion of city life, energy, friends, diner food, subways and fun. Doing the tourist thing was great. I visited the 9/11 memorial and marveled at the beautiful pools, took a tour of the island of Manhattan via the Circle Line and spent a grand afternoon at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
But, a visit to NYC demands Theatre with a capital T. Ticket prices have gone through the roof for many shows but the musical Big Fish and a cabaret show at Don’t Tell Mama’s gave two great evenings of entertainment without totally breaking the budget.
Big Fish is a simple story told in sweet song and dialog. There wasn’t a weak link in the cast, the dancing and singing moved the story along smoothly. The imaginative costuming gave depth to the characters and the story. As an actor I was trying to picture the number of dressers needed backstage for the myriad of quick changes by leads and chorus members alike.
Projections were utilized in scene changes and in production numbers but were smoothly intrinsic to the action. The projections served the production well and never seemed to scream, “Look what we did – because we can”. Got need for some pure entertainment? Big Fish might be just the thing to lighten your mood.
The cabaret show starred new friends, Paul and Rochelle Chamlin at Don’t Tell Mama. The show consisted of a selection of solos and duets by Paul and Rochelle with a traveling theme in this well known, intimate setting. Directed by Teresa Fischer, a NYC cabaret artist herself, the show played to an appreciative audience.
An added perc for me was meeting Ray Jessel after the show. I have had the great good fortune to sing one of his comedy songs “Wanna Sing a Show Tune” in cabaret shows here. He was most impressed to hear that we do indeed have such shows in Kansas. What a delightful gentleman. His next performance was scheduled at Don’t Tell Mama for after we had left the city. I am sorry to have missed that performance. He began his cabaret performances after age 70 so – guess there is still time.
Wait for me NYC – I’ll be back.