Linda Kahn
Say Yes!
Laurie Beechman Theatre, NYC, September 18, 2022
Reviewed by Bart Greenberg
Photo: Michael Ian
Linda Kahn offered up an A-class production in her deliciously positive program Say Yes! at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. With direction by Jeff Harnar and music direction by Christopher Denny (and arrangements by the two of them), and with legendary bassist Jay Leonhart, the singer had a glittery frame within which to work. And work she does, with wit, warmth, and a glowing soprano voice, plus some major acting chops. In her humor and in her generosity, she recalls the spirit of Barbara Cook, and that sure isn’t a bad thing.
She kicked off the afternoon with a celebratory mix of “Don’t Rain on My Parade” and “I Want It All”; the medley filled with optimistic charm and showed a fine specificity in her realization of the lyrics. Following came her reaction to the pandemic that delayed her show— “Don’t Fence Me In”—in a version that was both rueful and wise and had some fascinating phrasing of the lyrics. These numbers have all been performed by various artists over the years, but Kahn had the talent to imbue them with not only freshness, but also an intensely personal approach. The same could be said of her ballads, such as “So Many Stars” and Amanda McBroom’s “Wheels,” both were treated with a measured balance of emotion and intelligence.
Her excellent acting skills and compassion for individuals could be seen in both comedic and dramatic moments. Her “Miss Byrd,” paired with Tim Minchen’s “Naughty,” portrayed a woman who was both amused and aroused by her secret sensual life. Later, in her delivery of “Just a Housewife,” she created a woman’s barely suppressed anger at the reduction of her life—it was a brave and dangerous moment. Perhaps the most emotional moment of the show was her detailing of her and her husband’s journey in their attempts to adopt a child and their triumph in doing so. The sweet lullaby “Baby Mine” had many in the audience in tears.
Kahn paid tribute to her two “husbands,” her longtime music director and her legal spouse of 40+ years. For Denny, she charted their devoted, and at times combative, relationship with a delightful mix of “You’re a Builder Upper” (Harold Arlen/Ira Gershwin/E. Y. Harburg) and “Undecided” (Sid Robin/Charlie Shavers). For her beloved husband, she offered the sweetest of love songs, “Anywhere with You,” composed by none other than her gifted pianist. She also spent time with her other musical partner on stage, Leonhart, in a spirited mix of “Pick Yourself Up” and “Slap That Bass” that was sheer fun.
She brought the show to a close with an apt mix of “I Can See Clearly Now” and “Yes” because, as she assured the audience, she’s “just a girl who can’t say no.” The audience clearly would say “yes” to another Linda Kahn cabaret show.
