A class act all the way—and a nostalgia extravaganza—was the 92^nd Street Y’s gala Beatles music concert, a major production and major success.  The 134-year-old institution’s annual fundraising event and celebration was also a celebration of the music that united a generation—and influenced generations to come.  The event was a satisfying mix of diligent and respectful rock and roll re-creations and refreshingly reinvigorated renderings and grown-up orchestral versions of the songs that are part of our shared musical reference points. 

Thrills included veteran Richie Havens who was startling and stirring in his strong guitar playing and riveting singing.  Reprising his Beatles covers heard at Woodstock (“Strawberry Fields Forever” and “Here Comes the Sun”) as well as the non-Beatles “Freedom” brought him the most prolonged applause of the night and a standing ovation.  Melissa Manchester was warm and winning, singing “Blackbird” and “Eleanor Rigby” and talking about attending a Beatles’ concert at age 14 and getting the souvenir of their signatures from their plane ticket reservations (her friend’s mom was the travel agent). Carol Woods played hostess and reprised “Let It Be,” the number she sang in the recent film Across the Universe and told a moving and very personal story about her connection to the experience.  She as joined by the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, in residence at the Y. 

40-plus years after hitting the charts with friend Paul McCartney’s compositions, pop duo Peter & Gordon (!) were back to do two, “Woman” and “World Without Love.”  One can’t say they sounded very much the same, but it was remarkable and one of the pinch-me-I’m-dreaming moments.  (After a 38-year break from singing together, they reunited for special events in 2005 and have recently been touring.) 

Bewigged and costumed in mod suits and Sergeant Pepper garb, an energetic contest-winning tribute band stirred more memories with some fairly close (but not slavish) Xeroxing, closer in the tempo and arrangement division than vocal clonedom.   They’re called The Backwards and they hail from Slovakia where, when the country was known as Czechoslovakia, the music of the band was banned by the state.    Lanny Meyers (also familiar in cabaret circles) conducted an orchestra, sometimes accompanying Beatles retrospective dazzling film montages.  In fact, it was all quite dazzling.  The time lags needed for different set-ups for mics, instruments, and amplifiers were no problem: they were covered smoothly with those film and instrumental segments that never felt like filler because they were so well done and stirred memories, fast-flashing images of the famed quartet through the years, including bits from their motion pictures with music flowing throughout. 

Vocal-instrumental quintet The Fab Faux’s rich harmonies ended the night on a high.  Made up of first-rate musician-singers, their work was impressive for its skill and energy, their manner confident and unpretentious.   Raising spirits and $2.8 million-- and many more memories—the bonanza of Beatles deserves a double bravo! 

Coming attractions at the Y of interest to cabaret/theatre fans: a little more Beatles music (plus Billy Joel, Paul Simon, plus the Bergmans, Sondheim etc.) in the final Lyrics & Lyricists concert of the season (May 31, June 1 and 2) – “Did the American Songbook Really end in 1965?” hosted by Andrea Marcovicci with Stacey Sullivan, Lee Lessack, Kelly Houston and Francesca Amari, with musical director Shelly Markham.  And on June 10: an afternoon concert by Christine Ebersole.  (See www.92y.org for all the many programs)

Rob Lester
Cabaret Scenes
May 19, 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org