Tom Culver: Cole Porter, Uncorked

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Tom Culver

Cole Porter, Uncorked

Metropolitan Room, NYC, June 10, 2015

Reviewed by Ron Forman for Cabaret Scenes

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Photo: Angie Clement-Cromwell

Tom Culver is a charming old pro who knows how to command the stage, use his hands to great effect and has the ability to insert amusing remarks during and between numbers. Cole Porter, Uncorked was a fast-paced show featuring 20 of Porter’s best songs. Some of these chestnuts have been smartly updated with new lyrics by Culver, whose singing style is relaxed and comfortable.

His opening number was an updated version of Porter’s “Well, Did You Evah!”—with added new lyrics by Marilyn Maye—followed by a Bobby Short tribute number, “Looking At You.” Culver’s witty new lyrics to “You’re the Top” included mentions of Meryl Streep, Beyoncé’s wages and even the amazing Ms. Maye, who arranged six of the numbers. Culver beautifully blended a medley of the rarely performed “Dream Dancing” and “So in Love.” Guest vocalist Jaye Maynard performed a moving, dramatic “Miss Otis Regrets (She’s Unable to Lunch Today).” The audience joined in for a rousing “Don’t Fence Me In.” Culver told the ironic story of Porter’s writing the up-beat “At Long Last Love” —supposedly while lying in a hospital bed after his tragic fall from a horse.

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The evening ended with a poignant, heartfelt “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye,” followed by his cheerful encore medley of “Ridin’ High” and “From This Moment On.

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Ron Forman

Ron Forman has been a Mathematics Professor at Kingsborough Community College for 45 years. In that time, he has managed to branch out in many different areas. From 1977 to 1994 he was co-owner of Comics Unlimited, the third largest comic book distribution company in the USA. In 1999,after a lifetime of secretly wanting to do a radio program, he began his weekly Sweet Sounds program on WKRB 90.3 FM, dedicated to keeping the music of the Great American Songbook alive and accessible. This introduced him to the world of cabaret, which led to his position as a reviewer for Cabaret Scenes.