Cabaret Review by Andrew Poretz . . . .
Broadway star Karen Mason has long been a beloved fixture on the New York cabaret stages since she was the first performer at Don’t Tell Mama back in 1982. Ms. Mason honored composer Jule Styne in her newest show, Just in Styne: Karen Sings Jule, in front of a sold-out Birdland audience. Styne was the brilliant composer who, in his eight decades in the business, wrote hit songs for Sinatra back in the 40s, had a big career in Hollywood, and ultimately found his greatest success with Broadway musicals, including Gentlemen Before Blondes, Bells Are Ringing, Gypsy, and Funny Girl.
Ms. Mason was backed by her long-term musical director/pianist Christopher Denny, with Tom Hubbard on bass. Director Barry Kleinbort also offered special lyrics for several songs. (For all songs mentioned, only the lyricists’ names are supplied.)
The star, dazzling in her signature white outfit, was off to a great start with “Let me Entertain You” (Stephen Sondheim), melding in the verse of “I’m the Greatest Star” (Bob Merrill) with special lyrics describing Styne’s style. She was in fine voice, which only got warmer throughout the set.
A medley of “I’ve Heard that Song Before” (Sammy Cahn) and “Just in Time” (Betty Comden and Adolph Green) had a funny bit incorporating references to other Styne songs. Denny’s clever arrangement provided counterpoint of one song to the other as Ms. Mason sang. This technique was used again on a medley of “It’s Magic” (Sammy Cahn) and “Long Before I Knew You” (Comden and Green).
Ms. Mason’s patter was well-written, with excellent timing. She garnered laughs with a self-deprecating monologue about Jule Styne and her connection to the material (she has played Mama Rose in Gypsy). “From over-the-hill stripper to Brooklyn Jewish girl in one year,” she cracked.
The star delivered the ballad “Ride on a Rainbow” (Leo Robin) with beautiful, sensitive singing and a delicate, celeste-like approach by Denny. An excellent, jazzy medley of “I’m in Love” (Sammy Cahn) and “There’s Nothin’ like Love” (Leo Robin) had Ms. Mason singing with just Tom Hubbard for half the song.
A segment of World War II songs showcased several of Styne’s best-known works from that period. “Saturday is the Loneliest Night of the Week” (Sammy Cahn) was a huge early hit for Sinatra. Denny’s arrangement brought out the underlying pathos of the song, from the perspective of a lonely woman whose fella was serving overseas. Similarly, in “I Don’t Want to Walk Without You” (Frank Loesser), and “I’ll Walk Alone” (Sammy Cahn), Ms. Mason’s delivery of these wartime songs was powerful and poignant.
“It’s been a long, long time, maybe never… since I’ve done a singalong,” the star announced, to much laughter. A very fun singalong of “It’s Been a Long, Long Time” (Sammy Cahn) was a great capper to this segment.
“Every Street’s a Boulevard in Old New York” (Bob Hilliard), from the obscure Broadway show Hazel Flagg, is best known from the Lewis and Martin film adaption, Living It Up. With Denny’s vocal harmonies and additional material by Barry Kleinbort, this was one of the show highlights for Ms. Mason.
One of the challenging choices in the Jule Styne catalog for any singer is “People” (Bob Merrill). Thanks to Barbra Streisand’s definitive rendition in Funny Girl that was so stunning, Ms. Mason relayed, the producers had no choice but to backtrack from their decision to cut the song. Ms. Mason put her own spin on it and made it her own.
With only the verse from “The Party’s Over” (Comden and Green), Ms. Mason was at her must vulnerable with “The People in my Life” (Bob Merrill). Her acting here was excellent and authentic. Ms. Mason can make even the largest room into the most intimate space, a gift hewn from decades of experience as much as from her formidable talents as a singer and storyteller.
It was “Karen’s turn” with a sensational “Rose’s Turn” (Stephen Sondheim). This hot, bluesy take on Mama Rose’s 11 o’clock number from Gypsy made one long to have seen Ms. Mason in the show. The star seemed to really dig deep to reveal the truth of this character.
A sustained standing ovation garnered an encore medley of “I Have You to Thank” (Leo Robin) and “Make Someone Happy” (Comden and Green).
Just in Styne: Karen Sings Juletook place on March 25 at Birdland Jazz, 315 West 44th Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenue (www.birdlandjazz.com).
Photos: Maryann Lopinto
