For cabaret lovers, Michael Feinstein’s Holiday show at Feinstein’s at Loews Regency has become almost as much a New York tradition as the Christmas show at Radio City Music Hall.  This year’s is a treasure, with Feinstein and co-star David Hyde Pierce reveling in performing together as much as the audience enjoyed watching them.

Long a savvy interpreter of songs, over the years Michael Feinstein has evolved into a major vocalist.  In this show, he exudes an infectious vivacity and downright pleasure at being on stage. Johnny Mercer/Sadie Vimmerstedt’s “I Wanna Be Around” was an expression of anticipatory delight, Cole Porter’s “So in Love,” a deep expression of feeling. Noting how the intimate quality of cabaret and a club setting lent a different sensibility to a song, Feinstein gave an introspective reading to “What Kind of Fool Am I?,” one that almost certainly would have been lost in a concert setting.

With Feinstein, Tony and Emmy Award winner David Hyde Pierce created an enchanting and jubilant twosome.  His actor’s flawless timing sharpened the pair’s exchanges as well as put a fine edge on his songs. Establishing himself as a charmer in his first solo with Jerry Herman’s “Penny in My Pocket,” Pierce confirmed it with Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler’s “Ill Wind.”  The whimsical Spamalot song, “You Won’t Succeed on Broadway” (“if you don’t have any Jews”) was turned into a Chanukah song, enhanced by Pierce’s riotous simulation of Chasidic dancing. His body language and often-deadpan facial expressions frequently suggested an unspoken tongue-in-cheek attitude that amused Feinstein as much as anyone else in the room. But there was nothing funny about Pierce’s fine baritone voice, or his ability to join Feinstein at the piano as the two of them ended the show with an impressive and rousing four-handed version of Scott Joplin’s “Maple Leaf Rag.”

Credit the show’s success also to Musical Director and pianist John Oddo’s delightful arrangements, and to his masterful instrumentalists: Mark Vinci on reeds, George Rabbai on trumpet, Jim Saporito on drums, and Jay Leonhart on bass.

“’Tis the season to be merry” and indeed this show is!  Give up a few lunches if you have to in order to cover the tab, but don’t miss it.  Michael Feinstein and David Hyde Pierce’s Holiday Show continues at Feinstein’s at Loews Regency through December 30.

Peter Leavy
Cabaret Scenes
December 2, 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org