Molly McFadden: Living on the Moon

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Molly McFadden

Living on the Moon

Don’t Tell Mama, NYC, November 19, 2025

Reviewed by Bart Greenberg

Molly McFadden

Living on the Moon was certainly an unconventional cabaret show. Actually, it was designed to be performed in small theaters, but since it is about a woman performing a cabaret show, it seemed inevitable that it would wind up in such a locale. The woman was Molly McFadden, a fine vocalist and an even finer actress, as well as an adept puppeteer, who shared her story of caring for her mother, a victim of Alzheimer’s. Told with compassion and humor, it was a touching tale enlivened by theatrical touches, such as having her mother embodied by a large puppet. The show was performed without the benefit of microphones, and yet all was clearly heard and understood. McFadden speech possesses a fine clarity. This was all backed up by skilled pianist Alex Rybeck.

McFadden proved to be a charming actress and a very brave one. She also suffers from early-onset Alzheimer’s that is well controlled by medication at this time. Her openness was one of the things that won over the audience and eliminated any trace of sentimentality. This isn’t to diminish the musical aspect of the program. McFadden possesses a warm and secure voice. Among the melodic selections were a wonderful arrangement of “The Nearness of You” (Hoagy Carmichael/Ned Washington) that blended in a bit of “Send in the Clowns” (Stephen Sondheim) to fascinating effect. Other classic tunes that were interwoven within the play included “Fly Me to the Moon” (Bart Howard) and an incredibly touching “Where or When” (Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart) done as a duet for daughter and mother. This not only enhanced the musical aspect of the program but offered a highly dramatic moment as well. A final offering merged two traditional songs, “The Water Is Wide” and “Shenandoah,” and she received a highly emotional reaction.

Living on the Moon was indeed an unconventional cabaret show, and Molly McFadden proved herself a happy addition to the cabaret world. Hopefully time will bring her back to New York City and to cabaret.

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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."