Cabaret Review by JK Clarke . . . .
Wednesday, December 6, saw Urban Stages come alive for the first of two nights of music centered around the famed Algonquin Hotel, as part of Urban Stages’ Winter Rhythms series. Nights at the Algonquin—directed by Sara Louise Lazarus with musical direction by Alex Rybeck—was a celebration of songs performed over the years at the hotel, in particular at the Oak Room, one of New York’s most famed and cherished cabaret spaces—called by many The Church of American Popular Song—from 1980 through its closure in 2012.
Written, hosted and narrated by librettist/lyricist Michael Colby (Charlotte Sweet, Tales of Tinseltown) whose connections to the Algonquin—his family owned it, he lived there for a time—could fill a book (and it does, the delightful The Algonquin Kid, his memoir of a fascinating life and place), the evening was a who’s-who of the New York cabaret scene, singing numbers that had a special place and a life at the Algonquin, particularly at the Oak Room.
Colby opened the show with a performance by New York cabaret luminary Steve Ross, dapper in a blue pinstripe suit with a red carnation, who sang a medley of Noel Coward numbers. Karen Akers, in a flowing long red gown, followed with Cole Porter’s “Water Under the Bridge” and Sondheim’s “Water Under the Bridge.” And the numbers kept coming from the likes of Jeff Harner, Daryl Sherman (with Boots Maleson) and Natalie Douglas who wowed ‘em when belted out Michael Colby and Paul Katz’s “I Can Sing” (Tales of Tinseltown).
The capacity audience was then treated to videotaped testimonials and tributes from notable Oak Room veterans Michael Feinstein, Harry Connick, Jr., Tovah Feldshuh and Andrea Marcovicci. Following the salutations, KT Sullivan and Mark Nadler, delightfully outfitted in festive and shades of green, came out and performed a big set that included “Well, Did You Evah?”/ “It’s De-Lovely” (Cole Porter), “Never Met a Man I Didn’t Like” (Coleman, Comden, Green), “Penniless Bums” (Styne, Merrill) and “Wise Guys”/“Old Friends” (Sondheim). Mark Nadler sang a surprising rendition of “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” in a smooth, slow, laconic way that had everyone in the audience on the edge of their seats.
Closing out the show Alex Rybeck performed Porter’s “Another Op’nin, Another Show” and Karen Oberlin sang “In My Dreams” (Colby/Markoe) along with an In Memoriam presentation on the stage’s video screen, honoring Algonquin performers who’ve moved on to the next stage.
The entire cast of performers came out for a group performance of, appropriately, George and Ira Gershwin’s “Our Love Is Here to Stay,” closing out a night of touching and memorable performances.
Nights at the Algonquin took place December 6 at Urban Stages (259 West 30th Street, between Seventh and Eighth Avenues) as part of the Winter Rhythms 2023 festival. www.urbanstages.org
Photos: JK Clarke
