By Ron Fassler . . .
Christin Milioti has achieved a solid reputation in her more than twenty-year career as an actress. She’s given terrific performances in everything from romantic comedies to harsh dramas, and even sci-fi (if you’ve never seen the 2017 Black Mirror episode titled “USS Callister,” stop what you’re doing and find it on a streaming service). Her Italian-American background, as well as growing up in New Jersey, helped in her being cast at twenty-one in a recurring role on The Sopranos. It’s possible, however, that many of her fans are unaware that she is a top-notch singer, evident to anyone who saw her in the original cast of Once on Broadway in 2012, for which she received a Best Actress in a Musical Tony nomination. She even played piano for her role as “Girl,” a task she handled to perfection. She is also a recording artist, even if she keeps it somewhat on the down low. By that I mean, after seeing her one-night-only cabaret at Joe’s Pub Friday night, I went to iTunes to find more of her singing and was met with the choice of only one, a cover of Justin Vernon’s “715 Creeks” (listen to it—it’s great).
Happily, Milioti sang more than one song in her act, which featured two backup singers and an excellent band consisting of a drummer, bass and two guitarists (one of whom, musical director Cody Owen Steine, doubled on piano). Opening with Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero,” Milioti began the song with its refrain, “It’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me.” When she finished, she launched into an off-the-cuff, self-deprecating story, setting the tone for the entire evening. Her storytelling reached a fever pitch mid-show when she delivered a monologue about meeting for the film version of Wicked, the first in-person audition she’d had after a year and a half of Covid lockdown. Her vivid description of living for a week in dire fear of singing the final notes of “Defying Gravity” was hilarious. She referred to the response at the end as “the silence I will think about when I’m dying.”
She certainly steered clear of the big money notes the score to Wicked requires, instead concentrating on songs that hold meaning for her. Some of the artists covered were Fiona Apple, Phoebe Bridgers, Mitski and the band, boygenius. Particular standouts included her version of rock indie band Manchester Orchestra’s “The Gold” and the Righteous Brothers’ “Unchained Melody.” She also brought out actress and songstress Alysha Umphress for a duet on the boygenius song, “Not Strong Enough.” Umphress, so good in the 2014 Broadway revival of On the Town, could easily have stayed for another number or two. But, you know . . . always leave them wanting more.
After Milioti’s final song, all the musicians and singers left the stage and she returned for the obligatory encore. To close out a lovely night, she accompanied herself on piano (beautifully) and chose the previously mentioned song, “715 Creeks.” Luckily, now I can listen to it whenever I like.
Cristin Milioti performed at Joe’s Pub in The Public Theater on October 27 (425 Lafayette Street at Astor Place). www.publictheater.org
Photos: Ron Fassler
