Billy Porter: Feinstein’s at the Nikko

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Billy Porter

Feinstein’s at the Nikko, San Francisco, CA, January 30, 2015

Reviewed by Steve Murray for Cabaret Scenes

Billy-Porter-Cabaret-Scenes-Magazine_212It couldn’t have gone any better for Tony winner Billy Porter’s cabaret debut in San Francisco. Even a mid-set fire alarm became fodder for Porter’s effervescent humor. Mixing a blend of R&B into his interpretations of Broadway classics, Porter brings an upbeat and fresh perspective to “But the World Goes ‘Round,” “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” and a delightfully dialed down “Don’t Rain on My Parade.”

Porter infuses his material with authenticity and performs with a genuine gratitude for his successes and opportunities. Stating that “there are no time limits on your dreams,” he is enjoying his present fame with humility and a well-deserved swagger. He sang the poignant “Not My Father’s Son” from his award-winning role as the drag performer in Kinky Boots, a role many gay men find hits very close to home.

A huge Sondheim fan, Porter offered unique renditions of “Move On” and “Sunday” from Sunday in the Park with George. Credit longtime collaborator and musical director James Sampliner for crafting the sound that supports and uplifts Porter’s sassy style. One of the highlights for me was a heartfelt cover of Smokie Norful’s “Run Til I’m Finished,” a song that sums up Porter’s strong determination and will. The lyric “I’m going to finish my race/I’m going to take my proper place in the winning circle” is art mirroring reality for this talented entertainer.

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Steve Murray

Always interested in the arts, Steve was encouraged to begin producing and, in 1998, staged four, one-man vehicles starring San Francisco's most gifted performers. In 1999, he began the Viva Variety series, a live stage show with a threefold mission to highlight, support, and encourage gay and gay-friendly art in all the performance forms, to entertain and document the shows, and to contribute to the community by donating proceeds to local non-profits. The shows utilized the old variety show style popularized by his childhood idol Ed Sullivan. He’s produced over 150 successful shows, including parodies of Bette Davis’s gothic melodramedy Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte and Joan Crawford’s very awful Trog. He joined Cabaret Scenes 2007 and enjoys the writing and relationships he’s built with very talented performers.