The Ziegfeld Society
Cavalcade of Stars
Lang Recital Hall/Hunter College, NYC, 9/26/15
Reviewed by Rob Lester for Cabaret Scenes
With its mission to preserve musical theater’s past to be passed on to present/future generations, The Ziegfeld Society presented an afternoon unabashed valentine to the music and days of yore. Mark York, onstage pianist for 22 numbers in two acts, was both M.D. and M.C. (In this case, that also stands for Merry Cheerleader.) Inspired, of course, by lavish song-stuffed productions of master showman Florenz Ziegfeld (pictured) and his famed Follies, memories and audience were stoked from the start to the “It’s Not Where You Start” finish, with Walter Willison pulling out all the stops for that show-stopping show tune Tommy Tune introduced in Seesaw. Then, the sung bows—the full company happily singing the Ziegfeld trademark, “A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody” by Irving Berlin. Sarah Rice also had Berlin gems up her sleeve (despite broken arm in a sling), comically saucy with a saucer-eyed “You’d Be Surprised” (1919 Follies), then provided a somber time with “Supper Time”’s tragic lament. With convincing near-tear mode and heart-in-throat voice, her acting was magnetic. In a Berlin counterpoint quartet, Ian Whitt radiated charisma and grace.
The bare-bones, bare-stage affair had some sparkle in some costumes, and a huge Ziegfeld-worthy red feather boa for not-at-all shy Lee Roy Reams to sashay his way—his way—through Jerry Herman’s songbook at fabulous full throttle. Cabaret is a contact sport, and sure bet Anita Gillette demonstrated how a pro makes eye contact with an audience, adapting her splendid solo show’s samples to this stage, also fully using the space.
(Not all participants did such direct emotional reaching out.) Carole Demas was the Cats’ meow, nailing a “Memory” parody. Nice Fanny Brice nods came from Loria Parker who, then billed as Catherine Jacoby, played that Ziegfeld star in a TV movie. Who says nostalgia ain’t what it used to be?
