In the Spotlight: The J2 Cabaret Series
All That Jazz: The Songs of Kander and Ebb
Theater Row, NYC, April 18, 2023
Reviewed by Bart Greenberg
The J2 Spotlight Musical Theatre Company is in the middle of
its third season of bringing life to rarely performed Broadway gems in full
productions (somewhat reminiscent of the much-missed Mel Miller’s Musicals
Tonight). The co-founders, Jim Jimirro and Robert W.
Schneider, have added new features each year. (The last time it was a series of lagniappes—added post-show bonuses such as panel discussions with original cast members or lectures by the charming Peter Fililcia, for instance, that have been expanded this year.) Now they are offering a cabaret evening on the second Tuesday of each production that highlights the other works of that selection’s composer and lyricist.
The first evening, following its production of Woman of the Year, featured one song from each of the Broadway shows written by the team of Kander and Ebb (except for The Visit, for unexplained reasons). Under the direction of Schneider and with the charming and informed hosting skills of internet phenomenon Charles Kirsch, the unplugged evening moved smoothly and was well programmed to present a variety of performers and material. Jake Cannon did yeoman work at the piano, adjusting easily to each artist’s needs.
Kicking things off, Julia Murney offered “But the World Goes ’Round” from the film New York, New York. Next came Broadway veteran Anita Gillette who performed an energetic and intentionally silly “Don’t Tell Mama” from Cabaret; she had a long tenure as Sally Bowles in the original production. Another stage star was next, Charles Busch who presented a subtle and highly touching “A Quiet Thing” (Flora the Red Menance). Then came raconteur Jim Brochu, who delighted us with tales of his mentor David Burns before launching into the latter’s breathless patter song from 70 Girls 70, “The Caper.” He stayed on stage to welcome his good friend of many decades, the Crown Prince of Cabaret, Steve Ross. Together they offered a well-practiced and perfectly delivered “Go Visit Your Grandmother” from the same show. Ross then remained to play and sing “Only Love” from Zorba in his gentle and multi-level emotional style.
Original cast member Derrick Cobey of The Scottsboro Boys performed one of the emotional highlights of the evening with “Go Back Home.” In theatrical contrast, Christine De Frece belted out a deliciously filthy version of “Everybody’s Girl” (Steel Pier). Jim Walton, a member of the cast of And the World Goes ‘Round, offered a subtle and heartfelt “Marry Me” from The Rink, and Ayana Francois gave us a sensuous “She’s a Woman” from The Kiss of the Spider Woman. Cady Hussman, who played Sabina in one of the latter iterations of Kander and Ebb’s adaptation of The Skin of Our Teeth (under several titles) sang the closing number of the musical, “At the Rialto,” with enormous emotional simplicity. Next came the second duet of the evening as Deidre Goodwin and Kai White deadpanned to great effect “Class” from Chicago. The handsome Andy Tighe brought passion to Curtain’s heartbreaking “I Miss the Music.” The concert climaxed with two of Kander and Ebb’s spriteliest numbers, The Act’s “City Lights” delivered by Nicole Weitzman and the ebullient Eric Michael Gillett’s “The Life of the Party” (The Happy Time). Wrapping things up was an audience participation rendition of “Theme from New York, New York” (good idea, but most of the cast had vanished into the night so it didn’t have the impact it might have had).
J2 certainly set a high standard to live up to with this inaugural show for this series. Upcoming evenings will be devoted to Jule Styne and Bob Merrill and to Cy Coleman and David Zippel. It will be interesting to learn the numbers they’ve chosen for these famed writers and who will perform them.
