Robert Bannon: Rewind

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Robert Bannon

Rewind

The Green Room 42, NYC, April 16, 2022

Reviewed by Bart Greenberg

Robert Bannon

Following a cleverly assembled video montage that took us backwards through the star’s life, Robert Bannon rocketed onto the stage at The Green Room 42 for a high-energy performance of “I’m Still Standing” (Elton John/Bernie Taupin) that immediately demonstrated his strong rock belt and his excellent use of the stage. That’s not all he had to offer as he was quick to reveal in this autobiographical program. He returned to his childhood with a medley of songs from Sesame Street, climaxing in a moving delivery of “The Rainbow Connection,” which he began with delicate simplicity and slowly and smoothly built to an emotional payoff.

Further medleys were devoted to Barry Manilow and Laura Nyro, along with moving and humorous tales of why these artists were important to him. There was also a beautiful blend of “Cats in the Cradle” and “I Think He Knew” late in the program, making a powerful point about family. These excellent montages were largely the work of music director Yasuhiko Fukuoka, who provided exemplary piano work during the show and joined with David Cinquegrama on guitar, Marco Panascia on bass, and Simon Fishburn on drums to provide a fine framework for Bannon to work in.

Bannon was clearly well-matched with his director Robbie Rozelle, a high-energy, unfettered performer himself, who helped to shape the show to make it free and loose and to provide enough order to keep it from swinging into anarchy. For instance, a stunt that worked surprisingly well is the singer’s getting to live out two of his dream roles, Roger and Mark in Rent, by duetting with himself on both parts of “What You Own.” When the singer tackled “But the World Goes ’Round,” it began as a tribute to Liza Minnelli but quickly metamorphized into a personal statement.

And that was not the only number that was performed with no theatrical trickery. “Every Single Day” is a powerful showstopper from the new musical Harmony, and Bannon found every nuance in it. He also offered a touching version of “From a Distance,” acknowledging the presence of songwriter Julie Gold in the audience who was smiling like a proud mama. Bannon had plenty to be proud of with this fine, energetic show.

Bart Greenberg

Bart Greenberg first discovered cabaret a few weeks after arriving in New York City by seeing Julie Wilson and William Roy performing Stephen Sondheim and Cole Porter outdoors at Rockefeller Center. It was instant love for both Ms. Wilson and the art form. Some years later, he was given the opportunity to create his own series of cabaret shows while working at Tower Records. "Any Wednesday" was born, a weekly half-hour performance by a singer promoting a new CD release. Ann Hampton Callaway launched the series. When Tower shut down, Bart was lucky to move the program across the street to Barnes & Nobel, where it thrived under the generous support of the company. The series received both The MAC Board of Directors Award and The Bistro Award. Some of the performers who took part in "Any Wednesday" include Barbara Fasano and Eric Comstock, Tony Desare, Andrea Marcovicci, Carole Bufford, the Karens, Akers, Mason and Oberlin, and Julie Wilson. Privately, Greenberg is happily married to writer/photographer Mark Wallis, who as a performance artist in his native England gathered a major following as "I Am Cereal Killer."