Faith Prince
The New York Pops Underground
Feinstein’s/54 Below, NYC, September 24, 2018
Reviewed by Randolph B. Eigenbrode for Cabaret Scenes
A wise man once said: “Keep it simple, stupid.”
Faith Prince does indeed keep this appearance as headliner (for the annual PopsEd fundraiser) fairly basic. In other hands, a showing like this could be perceived as paint-by-numbers.
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With just a piano, mostly Broadway standards, and a few general—but personal—stories, there isn’t much here to make a lasting impression.
Yet somehow Prince pulls it off.
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How could an evening, however elementary, feel dull with the innate charm that Prince exudes? As a “quirky leading lady,” she brings a flair to “Hurry! It’s Lovely Up Here” (Burton Lane/Alan Jay Lerner) and “The Boy from…” (Stephen Sondheim/Mary Rodgers)—each bewitching. The latter is so often fumbled by singers who underline its subdued humor with neon-lit emphasis. Yet Prince avoids accenting any punchlines, simply imbuing them with a quiet honesty.
In “Doin’ It the Hard Way” (Jimmy Van Heusen/Johnny Burke), she lets loose with an idiosyncratic allure that ricochets between hungry ego and muffled disappointment. It’s a choice like this that’s so bulls-eye perfect for Prince who, while always attractive, seems to come to the audience rather than the other way around. Again, in other hands this might seem laborious and desperate, but with Prince it just works.
Showing versatility, she also flaunts some villainous vim with a medley of selections of her ruffian roles, including a fabulous monologue from The Cake by Bekah Brunstetter. But, ultimately it was the subdued “Sweet Kentucky Ham” (Dave Frishberg) that leaves a lasting impression. Satisfyingly economical in her physicality, Prince weaves a portrait of a performer who finds herself with her post-show nights alone. This welcome departure from the typical quirks and brass cements the evening as a triumph for this Broadway and cabaret star.
