Cathy Glickman
It’s So Easy to Fall in Love with Linda Ronstadt
Davenport’s, Chicago, IL, March 18, 2017
Reviewed by Carla Gordon for Cabaret Scenes
Legendary Linda Ronstadt excelled in a cornucopia of musical genres as does songbird Cathy Glickman in her loving tribute to Linda. Like Ronstadt, Glickman’s supple vocal instrument offers supported, oaky low tones along with solid top notes. She can land the innocent sentiments of “Somewhere Out There” (James Horner/Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil) with the delicacy that it calls for, then, moments later, swing into a jazzy “Straighten Up and Fly Right.” For cabaret, Glickman can be a bit emotionally contained. Thus, it was especially meaningful to hear her honest, often vulnerable delivery of Karla Bonoff’s “Someone To Lay Down Beside Me” that may seem to be about a sexual encounter, but explores so much more about deeper longings. Glickman finds the languid surrender behind “You Go to My Head” and the thrum of Warren Zevon’s “Poor, Poor, Pitiful Me.”
Rondstadt dipped her toe into classical type music, playing Mabel in both Broadway and PBS televised versions of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance, and Glickman clearly has the chops to do the same. However, she made a smart choice to take the opportunity to add comedy to her program with a parody to “Poor Wand’ring One,” in which Ronstadt is reminded to eschew The Mikado and stick with “Desperado.” The chest-to-the-wind delivery of “Love Has No Pride” (Libby Titus/Eric Kaz) gave the show a well-timed energy and just the right edge. Kudos go to pinch hitter Sophie Grimm who stepped in at the last moment for Glickman’s backup singer who had been taken ill. Grimm is quite the performer herself. Beckie Menzie provided excellent musical support in this multi-musical genre show. Closing with Randy Newman’s “Feels Like Home” sent the message from both Glickman and Ronstadt about how, in moments of joy shared between entertainers and audiences, our hearts find homes in which we can comfortably sojourn.
Stricken with Parkinson’s disease, sadly, Ronstadt can no longer entertain us. We are fortunate that Cathy Glickman did so on her behalf and did well.