Richard Holbrook
Twenty Plus Three in 2023
54 Below, NYC, August 15, 2023
Reviewed by Bart Greenberg
Richard Holbrook
Photo: Maryann Lopinto
Celebrating his 20 years in New York cabaret (three years later following the postponement of its original run due to the Covid shutdown), Richard Holbrook brought a wonderful show to 54 Below that was by turns funny, moving, surprising, and courageous. It was as honest as any autobiographical show I’ve seen; he dealt gracefully with a health crisis and made some surprising choices of material. He had clearly taken advantage of the delay to burnish the program to a stunning glow. Of course, some of that polish came from director Jeff Harnar, as well as from his longtime collaborator and music director Tom Nelson and the other members of his trio—bassist Tom Kirchmer and drummer Peter Grant. But it was Holbrook who stood firmly front and center.
Holbrook looks like a classic supper-club performer from another generation, with his ready and warm smile, his beautifully maintained tuxedo and bow tie, and his dedication to the Great American Songbook. As the evening progressed, however, he showed he was so much more than all that with his wide-ranging songlist. Kicking off the program from within the audience, and with a smile like a warm embrace, he offered Sondheim’s “Old Friends” as an establishing number.
He followed that with a jaunty medley of “I Feel at Home with You” and “Thou Swell,” personalizing these standards as he connected to his sold-out audience. Then, shifting the mood, he became an expert balladeer, with the classic “The Nearness of You.”
He moved on to a group of songs about New York City. The first two had been sung by the marvelous Portia Nelson, and he introduced them with a great story about his encountering the lady herself. The sings were “Sunday in New York” and the very funny “Confessions of a New Yorker (Hate-Love New York).
” It was so nice to see a male crooner who’s not afraid to be humorous as he showed in “Anything Can Happen in New York” followed with happily no attempt to modernize the lyrics; you got the jokes if you got the jokes. He continued the sassy mood with a solo version of the duet song “How Could You Believe Me When I Said I Love You When You Know I’ve Been a Liar All My Life” and then shifted style with a lovely tribute to Jane Powell and a rendition of “Too Late Now,” which she had sung in the film Royal Wedding. It was enriched by his ability to be still and let the song deliver the emotion.
A very clever section included three numbers connected with Fred Astaire.
They all dealt with making music, and each one gave his musicians a showcase: “Drum Crazy,” “Slap That Bass,” and “Fascinating Rhythm.” Each of the players rose to the occasion with some dazzling work.
Then Holbrook moved on to sharing some personal experiences as he spoke about his battle with cancer and his authentic compassion for people dealing with illness. This led to another trio of linked songs, all by Charles Aznavour: “There Is a Time,” “Quiet Love,” and the emotional high point of the night, “What Makes a Man a Man,” not only well sung but also beautifully acted by Holbrook. To lighten the mood, there was a delightful reflection on his facing a certain milestone birthday with a pairing of “Wait Till We’re Sixty-Five” and “I’m Glad I’m Not Young Anymore.”
The show closed with a heartfelt “Here I’ll Stay,” a romantic love song he used to highlight his passion for performing. Then came the surprising encore of “On the Street Where You Live,” again made personal by making “the street” 54 Below and the other cabaret rooms he has performed in over the years. This show left the audience eager to find out what Holbrook does next.
