Bob O’Hare
Walk Through the World: The Songs of Leslie Bricusse
Don’t Tell Mama, NYC, November 19, 2023
Reviewed by Bart Greenberg
There are many adjectives that come to mind in describing Bob O’Hare’s new cabaret show, Walk Through the World: The Songs of Leslie Bricusse: charming, smart, generous, and heartfelt, but somehow the most accurate word would be “delicious.” As the singer offered a collection of, by turns, moving and witty numbers, and shared why he was drawn to the material, he created an almost visceral experience so that one could feel and even taste, the magic in the writing. The generosity of “If I Ruled the World,” the innocent passion of “My First Love Song,” and the sheer thrill of “After Today” were all felt physically as delivered by O’Hare’s fine talent.
Confined to a chair on stage, he found a way to compensate by adding a great deal of variety in both material and approach. Supported by The Tom Nelson Trio (Nelson acting as music director and pianist, Tom Kirchmer on bass, and Peter Gant on drums) and directed by the excellent Eric Michael Gillett, O’Hare’s talents were on full display. One fine example was a subtle bit of acting: when he delivered the joyous “On a Wonderful Day Like Today,” the first time he sang the lyric “and I will pay the bill” it was with some hesitation and regret. The second time he got to those words, he made it a straightforward declaration. Everything changed as the positivity grew.
O’Hare quite naturally spent time on Bricusse’s collaboration with Anthony Newley, the latter as both songwriter and performer. Each of their three theatrical ventures were highlighted: Stop the World–I Want to Get Off with “What Kind of Fool Am I?”; The Roar of the Greasepaint–The Smell of the Crowd with “Who Can I Turn To?”; and The Good Old Bad Old Days with the title tune. It seemed as if the songwriters had invented the power ballad for Broadway. There were several numbers from the film Doctor Doolittle, written solely by Bricusse, in which O’Hare was a major lead, including the most haunting song ever sung to a seal: “When I Look in Your Eyes.” It was given a haunting delivery here. Speaking of haunting, O’Hare delivered a deeply touching medley of the lesser known “You and I” (from Goodbye Mr. Chips) and the classic “Two for the Road” (music by Henry Mancini). This was just one highlight in an evening of delights that was a tribute to a fine songwriter and that was filled with the warmth and the talent of O’Hare.
