05/09/06

THE GODDESS CONCERT at Merkin Concert Hall

Posted by: Gregg Culling
On Talkin' Broadway
   
Broadway Concerts Direct on Monday night presented The Goddess Concert: Unplugged and Divine at Merkin Concert Hall. The concert was described as an evening of songs "exploring life's mythical mysteries and tributes to various goddesses (and gods)." The hall, on West 67th Street, boasts of its unparalleled acoustics, intimate scale and innovative programming. All performances were done without microphone and not a word was missed.

Producer John Hiller welcomed everyone and gave the house rules: all artists select their own songs. Under the helpful direction of E. Katherine Kerr (also a Broadway/film/tv actress: Passion, The Siege, Silkwood, Law and Order), the cast included Sarah Rice, Jason Simon, Lumiri Tubo, and Babs Winn. Steve Saari was the musical director who opened the concert with his own stunning arrangement of the Battle Hymn of the Republic, blending several classical styles in major and minor keys in multiple variations on a theme.

All the singers joined together for the first selection, appropriately the "Lusty Month of May" (Lerner/Loewe), each unique voice blending into harmonic bliss. Leading off for the first solo was Jason Simon, a seasoned performer, big of stature and voice. He proved it with "Bigger is Better" (Waldrop/Gallagher) from "When Pigs Fly."

Babs Winn could best be described as a cross between Sally Mayes and Faith Prince. She chose as her first selection a medley of "The Green Heart" (Rusty McGee) and "I Lose My Heart" (Paul Bodden), dedicated to those who are in a position to nurture and be patient with someone they love. Later in the evening she was all effervescence in "A Trip to the Library" (Bock/Harnick) from "She Loves Me." She later showed her country side with "I'm in Love With the World" (Forman/Guilbeau), a la Dolly Parton.

Sarah Rice, the original Johanna in "Sweeney Todd" on Broadway, has performed internationally with singers as diverse as Dame Joan Sutherland and Angela Lansbury. Her classically trained soprano offered clear coloratura flourishes to "That Mesmerizing Mendelssohn Tune" (Irving Berlin). She later saluted the great Yma Sumac, the original Sun Virgin goddess, with "Taki Rari" (Moises Vivanco). And yes those high notes were there! She later dazzled with "Bel Raggio" (Rossini) from "Semiramide," demonstrating that she has obviously studied Dame Joan's repertoire and knows her way around a trill.

Seated on the edge of the stage, Simon wrapped his big sound around William Finn's "I'd Rather Be Sailing" from "A New Brain" and later in the evening he used his deep baritone and comedic talent to great effect with "If I Were King of the Forest" from "The Wizard of Oz," revealing that he's truly the class clown. He joined Ms. Rice later in the lovely title song from "The Desert Song" (Romberg/Harbach/Hammerstein), dispelling all memories of Jeanette and Nelson.

Lumiri Tubo is an accomplished actress and cabaret singer who has often performed at the annual Cabaret Convention at The Town Hall. She proved her ability with gospel tinged jazz on "Hallelujah I Just Love Him So" (Ray Charles) and did a wonderful comedic job with Maltby/Shire's "You Wanna Be My Friend?" that had the audience in stitches. She displayed her considerable range with "If I Could" (R.Miller/Hirsch/Sharron) about being a good mother or mentor to a child.

The three ladies had their way with "You Could Drive a Person Crazy" (Sondheim) from "Company" offering some wild asides and demonstrating their comical and dancing talents. The entire cast waltzed us off with "When the Spring" (Romberg/Donnelly) from "The Student Prince," hailing the season of the goddess of Spring.

Future performances at Merkin Concert Hall include Wednesday, June 14th: "The Sopranos: Licensed to Trill" with Sarah Rice, Maureen Brennan and Judith Blazer. They will be performing without microphones. Sounds like yet another winner!

~ Gregg Culling