Cindy Firing
You & I
Cindy Firing Pays Tribute to Barbara Cook
Laurie Beechman Theatre, NYC, April 1, 2022
Reviewed by Bart Greenberg
Cindy Firing blew in from the Windy City and, to put it succinctly, she came, she sang, she conquered. Making her New York City cabaret debut with a program that paid tribute to one of the queens of cabaret, Miss Barbara Cook, she proved herself a worthy successor as both singer and actress and as a fine storyteller. Wisely, rather than simply presenting a series of “greatest hits” introduced by the celebrity, Firing chose to chart the diva’s life with appropriate selections, including quotes from Cook’s memoir, as well as clever new lyrics crafted by Firing and her music director John Cook.
Kicking off the show with a zippy medley of “Stars,” “Don’t Look at Me,” and “I Can Cook, Too,” with clever parody lyrics in reference to the tributee, Firing set the tone for the show with a mix of humor and reverence, while showing off her impressive vocal range and classical training. Next came another medley—“Nobody Else But Me” and “Lucky to Be Me”—that demonstrated the performer’s idiosyncratic phrasing and appreciation for the verses of songs, both reflective of the star she was honoring. This was followed by “Til There Was You” presented with absolute simplicity for maximum emotional effect. With the shifting effects and emotions in these three numbers, the audience could relax and know they were in the presence of a talent who knows what she is doing.
“Another Mr. Right Left” was given a film-noirish delivery; Firing struck a profile pose as she delivered a torchy exploration of the demise of Cook’s romantic relationships. Cook’s relationship with her son and their temporary estrangement was beautifully conveyed via a medley of Sondheim’s “Loving You” and “Losing My Mind.” This was both emotionally effective and dramatically smart. Director Marshall Mays obviously helped to hone these wonderfully theatrical moments.
Firing was absolutely fearless in tackling a portion of “Glitter and Be Gay” while telling us of the development of that aria. “You and I” was a touching moment, delivered using long-time Cook associate Wally Harper’s arrangement, while “It’s Better with a Band” was a hysterical highlight as Firing gleefully compensated for not having a band on stage. She finished the evening in the tradition of her subject with an unplugged performance of an obscure Sondheim song, “They Ask Me Why I Believe in You,” performed with a quiet intensity that only left only one question unanswered: when will Cindy Firing be returning to the New York City cabaret scene?
