Drew Gasparini
Raise a Glass: The Music & Lyrics of Drew Gasparini
Feinstein’s/54 Below, NYC, October 4, 2018
Reviewed by Chris Struck for Cabaret Scenes
Drew Gasparini’s songs have a fresh, impactful feel as if spoken from the heart. I’m sure part of that comes from his ability to tap into raw experiences. Another part of that appears to come from a worthwhile study of contemporary theater.
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His likeability and personability aided him in building a strong cast of supporting characters to make his show at Feinstein’s/54 Below one of the better ones I have seen. While a lot of the material was written from the first-person perspective, it never felt overreaching or self-indulgent and instead evoked emotional connections to a sense of family and the simple things in life.
No better examples exist than his odes to fatherhood—“The Essence of George” sung by Ben Fankhauser and “How Was I to Know?” sung by Andrew Kober. In their respective songs, the talented duo gathered up outstanding emotion to bring to life lines such as “This family, he built up from the ground,” from the former, and “I don’t want to wait a day, I always feel like I’m losing anyway,” from the latter. However, while these songs occasionally felt somber, not everything in the show felt so serious.
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In fact, one of the best bits followed Kober’s song when he received a “perfect attendance” award—a mock award for his consistent appearances at Gasparini’s showcases. Kober received a commemoration plaque and a video tribute from other members of a group called the (m)orons—Alex Brightman and F. Michael Haynie. The video tribute brought a ton of laughs, and Brightman’s exceptional timing and stage sense threatened to steal the show, especially, when he joked, “and as an additional surprise, we’re here” to a resounding gasp from the audience. Kober and Gasparini made sure to dispel the hope of the audience, reassuring them that Brightman was definitely not present.
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Additional praise should go to Gasparini’s sisters, Chloe and Kasie, who joined the show. Kasie’s song, “Limitless,” displayed some of the best lyrics about love in life and she brought wonderful emotional flavor into it, crooning “you’re the only one who keeps me going even.” Chloe’s number was similar in tone, but came from a different vantage point about love as she belted, “I Wish I Knew You Then.” Ultimately, Gasparini capped off the night himself, starting with a tribute to his sisters. His trio of closing numbers brought a building emotional climax to a fitting end.
