Christine Reisner: Christmas with Uncle Albert: The Life and Songs of Albert Hague

Post author:Bart Greenberg
Post published:January 8, 2025
Reading time:3 mins read

Christine Reisner

Christmas with Uncle Albert: The Life and Songs of Albert Hague

Chelsea Table + Stage, NYC, December 19, 2024

Reviewed by Bart Greenberg

Albert Hague was a Broadway composer who wrote several successful show scores, a few less successful ones, and some rather famous novelty numbers. In his second act, he found fame in the role of the music teacher in the film and television series Fame. He was also a loving family man, and his niece Christine Reisner came to Chelsea Table + Stage to pay a wonderful tribute to him. Directed with specificity and fine attention to detail by Michael Kirk Lane (the pre-show music and video was lifted from Hague’s Broadway cast recordings and their covers) and featuring three terrific and varied guest stars, this was a crème-de-la-creme cabaret/theater presentation.

With expert music director Jon Weber at the piano (was there a piano he wasn’t at this season?), the show contained a fine sampling of Hague’s work, concentrating understandably on the scores of Plain and Fancy (lyrics by Arnold Horwitt) and Redhead (lyrics by Dorothy Fields). They featured the best-known numbers of the two scores, as well as some of the lesser-known but very appealing selections. Reisner displayed a strong character voice and fine comic timing (and some delightful dancing) in such gems as “It’s a Hell of a Way to Run a Love Affair” and the tongue-twisting “Herbie Fitch’s Dilemma.” She was also able to switch to a more emotional delicacy in “The Right Finger of My Left Hand” and to a real sultry soulfulness in “Early Blues Evening” (Langston Hughes).

All of the guest stars had their moments to shine as well. Craig Rubano, with his fine baritone and leading-man stage presence, shone in the seductive “Just for Once” and in a joyous duet with Raissa Katona Bennett on “Look Who’s in Love.” Katona Bennett enchanted us with the rarity “A Lifetime Love” from Cafe Crown (lyrics by Marty Brill). Shana Farr used her shimmering soprano on two gems from Plain and Fancy: “It Wonders Me” and “Follow Your Heart.” Weber even got into the fun with his droll delivery of “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” (Theodor Seuss Geisel aka Dr. Seuss). The other musicians were Charlie Steiner (drums), Dan Pearson (clarinet, flute, and sax), and Philip Ambuel (bass). Reisner also surprised us by her flair for playing the violin.

There were other delights as well, including some numbers from Fig Leaves Are Falling and other projects, some amusing video clips of Hague, and some family memories from Reisner. It was a great touch to have all the women wear metallic-hued dresses, which made the show feel more unified. Small touches like this made a great difference. This was a proper salute for a too-little-celebrated composer.

Tags: Bart Greenberg, Jon Weber, flute, Cabaret Reviews, Look Who’s in Love, Cabaret Scenes, Fame, American Songbook, sax, CD Reviews, A Lifetime Love, Nightclubs, clarinet, Michael Kirk Lane, Cafe Crown, Redhead, Musicals, Craig Rubano, Clubs, Marty Brill, Raissa Katona Bennett, American Songbook Association, Lyricist, Christine Reisner, Dr. Seuss, It Wonders Me, Great American Songbook, ASA, NYC, Christmas with Uncle Albert: The Life and Songs of Albert Hague, Plain and Fancy, Follow Your Heart, Broadway, You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch, songwriter, It’s a Hell of a Way to Run a Love Affair, composer, Theodor Seuss Geisel, Cabaret, Dan Pearson, Dorothy Fields, Herbie Fitch’s Dilemma, Piano, Charlie Steiner, Broadway Musicals, drums, Vocalists, The Right Finger of My Left Hand, Arnold Horwitt, Philip Ambuel, Music Director, CD, Early Blues Evening, Langston Hughes, Fig Leaves Are Falling, Shana Farr, Chelsea Table + Stage, Singer, Just for Once

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 & Noble, 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."