By William Wolf

BROADWAY UNPLUGGED 2016  Send This Review to a Friend

With an impressive roster of singers without mikes, after a while it all seemed so natural to hear performances as they used to be on Broadway before the age of amplification took over and one could forget that this was the exception to the norm. Once again creator/writer/director and host Scott Siegel has done a service with the staging of “Broadway Unplugged 2016” at The Town Hall last night (July 25).

Although more men than women were on the bill, each woman performer was a standout with the requisite voice and charisma for the task. The production got off to a rousing start when Bill Daugherty gave a mighty interpretation of “I Am What I Am” from “La Cage aux Folles.” That coming-out anthem has been heard many times, but Daugherty, with his rich voice, put a personal stamp on it.

Chuck Cooper is always an asset to any program and he brought humor into the show early on with his fun-filled, animated interpretation of “Your Feet’s Too Big” from “Ain’t Misbehavin.” Cooper later flashed his versatility with his ultra-poignant “Lost in the Stars” from the legendary musical of that name.

Another ever-favorite of mine is the wonderful voice of William Michals, who poured his heart into “The Last Time I Saw Paris” from “Jerome Kern Goes to Hollywood.” Michals succeeded in putting across the meaning of that song, a moving, protest ode to Paris as it existed before the Nazi occupation. There was a book by that title by Elliot Paul, a volume that had special meaning for me as a guide for my first visit and exploration of that city, where I lived for a year in my youth. I got a special kick out of listening to Michals’s caressing of the song as the tribute it was meant to be.

The audience also heard Michals and Bill Daugherty provide a stirring duet of “Lily’s Eyes” from “The Secret Garden.” By singling out the above performers, I in no means underrate the powerful contributions by the other men: Douglas Ladnier singing “If Ever I Would Leave You” from “Camelot” and “Body and Soul” from “Three’s a Crowd;” Brian Charles Rooney” singing “Softly, As In a Morning Sunrise” from “The New Moon” in the tango rhythm that was originally meant for the number; Ryan Silverman performing “Private Conversation” from “Side Show” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from “Carousel;” Kyle Scatliffe thrilling with “This Nearly Was Mine” from “South Pacific;” Joseph C. Townsend performing “This is the Moment” from “Jekyll and Hyde;” Pepe Nufrio scoring with “It All Fades Away” from “The Bridges of Madison County,” and the inimitable Tom Wopat, from the original cast of “The Will Rogers Follies,” entertaining us with “Look Around” from that show.

Although the women were outnumbered, they were not outshone. Alix Korey was dynamic singing “Lesbian Love Story” from “The Wild Party.” Stunning Jeannette Bayardelle, who played Celie in “The Color Purple,” excited the audience with her voice range and rousing, intensely original riff on “Fools Fall In Love” from “Smokey Joe’s Café.” It was not just a song from her; it was an experience.

One of the evening’s brightest turns came from Molly Pope singing “Broadway Baby” from “Follies.” I’ve heard many versions, and Pope perkily expressed the hope for success with her voice and a grab bag of poses and expressions all conveying the determination and quirky passion to be an original and a star.

Scott Siegel in his “Broadway by the Year” series created the Broadway by the Year Chorus of discovered talented young performers, and they impressively concluded the event singing “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” from “The Sound of Music,” and of course, as with everyone else (except host Siegel), without amplification.

The music, which had to be tailored to the matching of numbers with the assorted singing talent, was provided by music director and band leader Ross Patterson, also skillfully on piano, veteran bass player Tom Hubbard and Mairie Dorman, who had gratifying solos, excelling on cello. Holly Cruz did the musical staging, with Rick Hinkson as assistant director and stage manager and Joe Burke as assistant stage manager. At The Town Hall, 122 West 43rd Street. Reviewed July 26, 2016.

  

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