Ron Ramsay
A Life Rewritten: Miracles, Music & Me
Don’t Tell Mama, NYC, September 18, 2025
Reviewed by Bart Greenberg
Ron Ramsay made his New York City cabaret debut at Don’t Tell Mama and demonstrated his warm tenor voice, with an appealing hint of vibrato, which proved to be a powerful and flexible instrument as the evening went on. He was also an excellent storyteller, and he had a fascinating personal story to tell, albeit a very dark one. He surrounded himself with some talented people, including music director/pianist Matt Cusson and guest vocalist Samantha Talora. Unfortunately, they were all trapped in a show that was a bit of a mess.
Ramsay spent the first part of his adult life as a proud Chelsea boy, going out every night with his partner, dancing at all the clubs and thinking they were both fabulous. He was a highly successful international exercise guru, and his partner was a well-regarded fashion model. And then 9/11 happened; he found himself isolated and, for the first time, dependent on alcohol. A 20-year nightmare of substance abuse and medical crises ensued as all his successes slid away. A new support network and his music eventually saved him.
He did leaven this exhausting tale with some dark humor, but not nearly enough, and in his telling, things became repetitive and at times confusing. The triumph of his story came about halfway through the show, but then things rambled on for another half hour or more, leading to an over-long 90+minutes running time. Although Ramsay credited Michelle Darby as a “storytelling coach,” the show would certainly have benefitted from the guidance of an experienced director.
Still, there were many pleasures to be found in the show. “My Manhattan” (Paul Alexander) was an energetic and not overdone New York City number, and it was a great introduction to his youthful self. “Cigarettes & Chocolate Milk” (Rufus Wainright) was a clever and naughty song that allowed Ramsay to show off his skills as an actor and as a pianist, and he went on to play the piano throughout the show. He duetted with Talora on Randy Newman’s “Feels Like Home,” which featured her gorgeous mature soprano and powerful gospel ferocity. His deep friendship with Dick Gallagher was celebrated with his timely “Laughing Matters” (music by Mark Waldrop).
Late in the show, Cusson delivered a finely balanced, but rather irrelevant “Just the Way You Are” (Billy Joel). Ramsay’s “Someone Like You” (Van Morrison) was a thrilling climax to the evening—or it should have been—if it hadn’t been followed by three more songs. Hopefully, when Ramsay returns to the cabaret stage he will have some guidance that would allow him to truly shine.
