Review by Ron Fassler . . .
Here in New York City, the non-profit Urban Stages has been championing the work of playwrights, composers, and lyricists for decades. Its modest home on West 30th Street has produced shows written by some who are just getting their start, to more seasoned artists happy for a safe space to continue practicing their craft.
This past Saturday afternoon, Michael Colby hosted a revue of songs he has written with a myriad of composers over his long career, famous mostly for his book and lyrics to Charlotte Sweet (1982), a well-received original off-Broadway musical, composed by Gerald Jay Markoe. Taking a seat stage left at a music stand, Colby engaged the audience with background on the who, what, and where of each of sixteen numbers sung by a group of actors and friends, many of whom recreated roles in shows from his vast repertoire. Titled “Cast of Characters: Part Two” (yes, there was a “Part One” produced a week earlier), the talent stuffed onto the tiny Urban Stages stage could rival any currently playing on or off-Broadway.
Among the seventeen actor-singers, it was a pleasure to spend time with such stalwarts as Stephen Berger, Joel Blum, Eric Michael Gillett, Ann Harada, Adam Heller, Leah Hocking, Michael McCormick, Jennifer Smith, and Jill Paice, who graced us with their professionalism. Thrown together and under rehearsed? Sure. Spontaneous and unapologetic? That too. It made for a fun afternoon hearing material that is not well known and, as opposed to many occasions when songs out of context fall flat, worked efficiently.
Colby’s taste as a writer is towards the funny and the romantic, with a fondness for Jewish-inflected material. After all, it’s to be expected that when you write a show called The 1st Family of 2nd Avenue it’s going to include a song such as “Oy Yoy Yoy!”, performed here by a delightful Joel Blum and Craig Pomranz (music by Artie Bressler). Along those lines, the best of the bunch was “It’s Still Me,” (music by Ned Ginsburg), the story of an older Floridian Jew extolling how he’s still got what it takes (Stephen Berger in strong humor and voice). In terms of excellence, Nat Chandler hit it out of the park, recreating his role in Colby’s Tales of Tinseltown, singing “Someone to Love Me,” (music by Paul Katz), and I was also fond of Leah Hocking’s performances of two songs, full-throated and loaded to bear, “Every Morning the Same” (music by Ned Ginsburg) and “What’s a Witch?” (music by Jack Urbont). Gina D’Acciaro brought the full Merm to her “I Got Rhythm”-inspired “I Can Sing (music by Paul Katz.) and Jill Paice deliciously found the fun in going up on her lyrics by improvising with pianist Joe Baker on “Not All Jake” (music by John Introcasso). Their interaction made for an unexpected and unplanned highlight.
As for a personal favorite, I found “Elevator Man,” a moving story of loneliness, especially well acted and sung by Eric Michael Gillett. I believe the audience felt the same way, too.
Additional cast members Daniel Castro, Jill Geddes, John LaLonde, Jane Seaman, and Megan Styrna, all acquitted themselves well. Director Sara Louise Lazarus managed add a touch of movement here and there, but basically this was mostly standing center and singing, either by memorization or with the aid of a music stand containing the lyrics (though even with that, some performers still managed to lose their way). But considering what a nice afternoon this all was to get in out of the cold and be warmed by the smiles on the faces of every one of these performers, meeting them with a smile of one’s own was easy.
Once again, a thank you to Urban Stages for keeping space for creatives both young and old to strut their stuff. Long may the flame burn bright.
For further information on Urban Stages and their upcoming production The Porch on Windy Hill, please visit here.
Photos by JK Clarke.
Headline photo: Members of the cast of Cast of Characters.
