Famous Duets II

  • Post author:
  • Reading time:2 mins read

Famous Duets II

Urban Stages, NYC, December 19, 2017

Reviewed by Bart Greenberg for Cabaret Scenes

Sue Matsuki

Savvy producer and elegant hostess Sue Matsuki (pictured) assembled a varied and enthusiastic cast to celebrate the art of duets coming from the worlds of pop, theater, rock, jazz, movies, and the Great American Songbook as part of the gala fundraiser series, Urban Stages’ Winter Rhythms Festival.

Rodgers and Hammerstein got a great deal of attention with both traditional (“I Have Dreamed” and “People Will Say We’re in Love” delivered by handsome Rob Langeder and Laurie Krauz, who charmed by showing off parts of her personality and vocal range not often exploited) and nontraditional treatment (“All Er Nothin’” and “Stepsisters’ Lament” delivered with zeal and camp by husbands Jay Rogers and Aaron Morishita). The latter couple also offered a very touching version of “It Couldn’t Please Me More” (“A Pineapple”) by Kander & Ebb from Cabaret.

More contemporary sounds were offered by a trio of linked songs: “Unforgettable,” smoothly sung by Frank Dain and Tanya Holt; “No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)” belted by Holt and Tanya Moberly; and, completing the triangle, “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” torched by Dain and Moberly.

The lesser-known Bruce Clough and Barbara Gurskey scored with the lesser-known and very funny “Therapy” from Tick, Tick…Boom! (Jonathan Larson).

Matsuki also got to pair with several partners, all to great effect: Fran Leonardis on “The Grass Is Always Greener”; Peggy Eason on “Bosom Buddies”; and with her longtime singing partner, Edd Clark, for a holiday medley.

Bart Greenberg

Bart Greenberg first discovered cabaret a few weeks after arriving in New York City by seeing Julie Wilson and William Roy performing Stephen Sondheim and Cole Porter outdoors at Rockefeller Center. It was instant love for both Ms. Wilson and the art form. Some years later, he was given the opportunity to create his own series of cabaret shows while working at Tower Records. "Any Wednesday" was born, a weekly half-hour performance by a singer promoting a new CD release. Ann Hampton Callaway launched the series. When Tower shut down, Bart was lucky to move the program across the street to Barnes & Nobel, where it thrived under the generous support of the company. The series received both The MAC Board of Directors Award and The Bistro Award. Some of the performers who took part in "Any Wednesday" include Barbara Fasano and Eric Comstock, Tony Desare, Andrea Marcovicci, Carole Bufford, the Karens, Akers, Mason and Oberlin, and Julie Wilson. Privately, Greenberg is happily married to writer/photographer Mark Wallis, who as a performance artist in his native England gathered a major following as "I Am Cereal Killer."