Faith Prince and Jason Graae

The Prince and the Show Boy

Orinda Theatre, Orinda, CA, November 10, 2019

Reviewed by Steve Murray for Cabaret Scenes

Pairing two giants of stage, screen, and cabaret successfully depends on the chemistry between the pair, and these two longtime pals ooze camaraderie and intimacy making for a compelling, highly enjoyable evening of song and banter. Right from the special-lyric opening of songs in which they insertied their names (Chasin’ for Jason, Face for Faith) the two worked their special magic in duets of The Book of Mormon’s “You and Me, But Mostly Me” and in a heartfelt tribute to their friend Jerry Herman (“Bosom Buddies,” “Open a New Window,” “Before the Parade Passes By”). Working together in several shows as well as both of them attending the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music has cemented their friendship and it is apparent throughout this showcase of their talents, wit, and charm.

Prince is the Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle award winner for her performance in Guys and Dolls and she received similar nominations for 2008’s A Catered Affair as well as Tony noms for Bells are Ringing and Jerome Robbins Broadway. Her TV credits are numerous (Law & Order, Modern Family, Drop Dead Diva, Huff, Spin City, and more). Her solo concerts and albums are critically acclaimed. Singing of the lonely life on the road in “Sweet Kentucky Ham,” Prince can be intimate and poignant, then sarcastic and brassy as the jilted lover of “Crossword Puzzle” from the 1977 off-Broadway musical revue Starting Here, Starting Now with lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr. and music by David Shire.

Jason Graae is a beloved Bay Area performer, soon to be reprising his Theatre Bay Area Best Actor in a Musical role as Scrooge in Scrooge in Love at 42nd Street Moon this December. He recently finished a year-and-a-half run as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz in the national touring production of Wicked. A gifted comic actor, Graae chides music director John Bowsell throughout Wicked’s narcissistic “Popular” and renders a hilarious take on the overly maudlin, too often performed “My Funny Valentine.” Quick witted, Graae is a joy with his on-the-spot banter and intimate anecdotes.
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The two combined on a lovely rendition of “Smile,” Prince handled the vocals and Graae accompanied her on the oboe (is there anything this man can’t do?
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). They duetted on “A Little Bit Off” also from Starting Here, Starting Now. Graae’s poignant story of coming out to his mother wass supported by a forceful declaration of self-identity on La Cage aux Folles’ “I Am What I Am.” Prince shows off her comic side with Stephen Sondheim and Mary Rodgers’ hilarious wordsmithing on “The Boy from….”, a playful twist on “The Girl from Ipanema” from the musical revue The Mad Show. The two worked on William Finn’s Falsettos and from that show we get Jason’s tender “What More Can I Say” and Faith’s “Holding to the Ground,” speaking to life’s ever-changing plans.

Accompanied by the very lyrical John Boswell on piano, Graae and Prince blend their voices into seamless harmony on the duets and effortlessly showcase their individual talents. As the combined their voices in their finale of “Always Look on the Brighter Side of Life” (Eric Idle) and “Nowadays,” magic was made.
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