Orfeh and Andy Karl
Legally Bound
Feinstein’s/54 Below, NYC, January 25, 2020
Reviewed by Joel Benjamin
Broadway’s most romantic couple, Orfeh and Andy Karl, returned to Feinstein’s/54 Below for their intimate show Legally Bound which showed why they are also Broadway’s most fun couple.
A sassy Motown medley brought them on stage for a show that featured both songs from shows they appeared in along with some of their personal favorites. These included “Change the World” (Tommy Sims/Gordon Kennedy/Wayne Kirkpatrick), a song about how love can do just that sung by both, and Orfeh’s dramatic rendition of “Piece of My Heart” (Bert Berns/Jerry Ragavoy).
They met while both appearing in Saturday Night Fever and more recently were in Pretty Woman together, though, ironically, not as a couple. (Karl was paired with Samantha Barks, who played the hooker Vivian.)
Somehow, they avoided songs from the latter, but not from the former, from which Orfeh sang “If I Can’t Have You” (Barry, Maurice, and Robin Gibb) transforming it from a hot disco song into a real love song. She wasn’t as subtle singing “I’m Your Baby Tonight” (Babyface/L.A. Reid/Whitney Houston), pushing the volume a bit too high.
Karl, a busy Broadway veteran, starred in Rocky and Groundhog Day, representing them respectively with the anthem “Fight from the Heart” (Lynn Ahrens/Stephen Flaherty) and the heart-searching “Seeing You” (Tim Minchin). He displayed his leading-man chops by lifting each song with his artistry.
Orfeh also had her own high point with “Hotel California” (Don Henley/Don Felder/Glenn Frey), mining all the hidden wistful notes in this popular song.
Their duets were full of flirtatious looks, particularly in George Michael’s “Freedom!” and in their final number, Prince’s “Kiss,” which was a particularly apt way to end the colorful set.
Steven Jamail was the adept music director/accompanist, shepherding the small band and backup singers with panache and wit.
Legally Bound was directed by Charles Randolph-Wright with a sense of flirtatious fun.
