John Davidson
The John Davidson Show
Birdland, NYC, September 9, 2019
Reviewed by Bart Greenberg for Cabaret Scenes
It can be very dangerous to revisit a performer you remember from his youth. It can be very dangerous for the performer as well.
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But, in John Davidson’s case, time has laid a very light hand upon him. His voice has hardly changed at all from when he was Walt Disney’s leading juvenile, and his timing and wit have definitely improved from the summer television series in which he shared the stage with George Carlin and Richard Pryor. Even his luxuriant hair is still present, albeit having turned a glowing white (he refers to himself as “an albino chia pet”).
What has emerged after years of being a television game show host and regional musical comedy staple is a man who’s very comfortable in his own skin. On stage, as he reveals a goofy, slightly salty personality with a skill for charming the audience, a large dose of self-mockery, and a surprising ability as a songwriter. As a self-described troubadour, Davidson accompanied himself throughout the evening on a series of guitars, including one suitable for his composition, “Rhinestone Pink Guitar.”
The mix of candor and charm made the show seem personal to all of us. He offered up sincere stories about his relationship with his older daughter and their reconciliation, leading to a moving number about his emotions for her, “Jenny.
” A tale of marital rapprochement was encapsulated in “I Still Wanna Be Your Superman,” though most of his references to his marriage were both humorous and self-deprecating.
In fact, it was comedy that definitely dominated the evening, with original songs that wryly asked, “Why Do Men Have Nipples?” and declared “70 Sucks!” There was quite a bit of political commentary as well, with the self-mocking “It’s Hard to Be Liberal” (Roy Zimmerman), which hardly obscured his pride in his strong political beliefs. He also offered up the theme song for his local-access television series, “What’s Next,” a clever patter number about the changing world. Few performers are as open and revealing as Davidson, who left us feeling we knew him far better than when we had walked in.
