Sidney Myer
Pangea, NYC, November 22, 2021
Reviewed Ron Forman
Who can I compare Sidney Myer to as a cabaret artist? The answer is NOBODY. He is a marvelously unique performer unlike any I have seen. I have witnessed Sidney steal the show on a number of occasions at the Cabaret Convention and other venues where he was a guest star, but I had never seen him do a solo show, until his extended stay at Pangea. His droll personality produces continuous laughter, and his unusual style of singing, body language, and facial expressions work especially well with funny songs and equally well when he performs sentimental ballads. Myer is the manager/booker at the iconic Don’t Tell Mama cabaret, and he hilariously listed the stars (actually relatives of stars) who have appeared at DTM beginning with Paul Newman’s daughter and ending to loud laughter with Barry Manilow’s mother. He even got the audience to sing along on two numbers, “Maricón” and “Bella Note”
Music director Tracy Stark’s work on piano was perfectly matched to his singing style, as was her voice when she joined him in song.
Myer’s eclectic mix of songs ranges from a very soft and lovingly done “Namely You” from Li’l Abner to the boisterous “Maricón,” which includes the line “It’s the most famous name in Latin America.” Stark joined him vocally on “I Love You” from Little Me. He even included a lilting Irish tune—“The Kerry Dance.” He made the entire SRO audience smile with “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile,” from Annie. He closed to great applause with a wonderful performance of “It’s So Nice to Have a Man Around the House.” His very kinetic encore number, Alan Sherman’s “Good Advice,” left us laughing as he walked off stage.
