By Brian Scott Lipton . . .
“Oooh, the audience loves me… and I love them. And they love me for loving them and I love them for loving me. And we love each other.”
While these words are spoken eight times a week by the character Roxie Hart in the long-running musical “Chicago,” they could just as easily be uttered by the 95-years-young Marilyn Maye every time this legendary singer appears in a New York City cabaret.
Every show she does is a certified lovefest, with her devoted fans applauding and cheering wildly after every number, and Maye, basking in the adoration, repeatedly telling the crowd how grateful she is for their presence — just as she did during her October 23 show at 54 Below, which was attended by such cabaret-world luminaries as Lorna Luft, Christine Pedi, KT Sullivan and Catherine Russell.
Unquestionably, love was in the air during her 75-minute set, which benefited by the brilliant work of her musical trio: pianist Tedd Firth, bassist Tom Hubbard and drummer Mark McLean. Better still, the majority of her songs were about love, in one form or another. As Maye wisely noted before launching into a stirring rendition of the Burt Bacharach-Hal David classic “What the World Needs Now,” the one thing all of us need in today’s troubled times is more love.
Since Maye consistently sings with such passion, conviction and sheer joy – even if she goes up on a lyric now and then – it can be very difficult to choose favorite moments for her show as each song is a little sparkling gem. (Unlike many of her previous outings, the 75-minute set was light on long medleys.)
Personally, I adored how she spoke – rather than sang – the first few lines of “This Could Be the Start of Something Big” (written by Steve Allen, who introduced her to many Americans through his television show) before turning it into a joyful proclamation, giving us a chance to fully appreciate Allen’s singular way with a lyric.
It was thrilling to hear a song with which I was completely unfamiliar: a gorgeous torch song called “Every Time” from Hugh Martin and Ralph Blaine’s musical Best Foot Forward – and which Maye says she sang for the composers at the tender age of 11 when she went to visit her cousin who was starring in the show in Chicago.
While a seemingly unusual choice, Maye beautifully captured the melancholy and longing of Frank Loesser’s “Joey, Joey, Joey (from The Most Happy Fella) which was sung with such power you might have actually been able to hear it on 54th Street.
But if I was forced to pick an absolute favorite, it would have to be her peerless pairing of the dreamy “Lazy Afternoon” (from The Golden Apple) and Blossom Dearie’s worldly-wise “Bye Bye Country Boy,” about a country fair singer who wishes her sweet, shy admirer had asked her to settle down rather than letting her return to her lonely life in L.A. This song not only breaks my heart every time, but one can literally picture Maye as the tune’s narrator.
“I love to sing for you. Actually, I love to sing to you,” Maye told the crowd towards the show’s end. But she also, on occasion, loves to sing with us, happily encouraging the audience to join in the chorus of James Taylor’s enchanting “Secret Of Life.” That song is a perfect summation, since no one knows more about the ups and downs of the lovely ride of life better than Maye does – or the importance of love.
Marilyn Maye continues at 54 Below (254 West 54th Street) on various dates through November 14. For tickets and information, visit www.54below.org
Photos by Sandi Durell (or as indicated)
Featured Photo by Magda Katz
