Cabaret review by Ron Fassler . . . .

Gavin Lee must know that he can’t really go wrong musically by saluting songs first introduced by Fred Astaire, right?  Though naturally best known for his perfection as a one-of-a-kind dancer, Astaire’s pleasant, but thin voice introduced more classic tunes than just about anybody else between the 1920s and 40s. Just think for a minute who wrote specifically for his voice: Harold Arlen, Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, and Cole Porter, among others. They all wanted Fred Astaire to sing their songs! Graced with superb musicianship, his singing certainly took him farther than even he ever expected it to. But composers like these were not wrong.

At Gavin Lee: Steppin’ Out with Fred Astaire, which played a two-night engagement at 54 Below last week, not only did we get the dapper British actor-singer in fine form, putting his spin on close to thirty classic tunes associated with Astaire, he brought his tap shoes along, too. A wonderful song and dance man, as anyone can attest who saw him on Broadway as Bert in Mary Poppins (2006) or as Squidward in SpongeBob SquarePants (2017), Lee is the real deal with two Tony nominations to prove it.

His affinity for Astaire goes back to when he first caught him on television as a child growing up in Woodbridge, Suffolk, England. He was also quick to note onstage that he’s played two roles in theatrical versions of films first done by Astaire: Ted Hanover in Holiday Inn and Jerry Travers in Top Hat. In fact, one time, while settled into one of the West End’s oldest theaters, he discovered it was the same one where Astaire had done a show back in the 1920s. And don’t try and disavow Lee of the belief that he was using the same dressing room seventy-five years later, for he’ll have none of it.

Dressed impeccably in a tux that fit his lithe frame to perfection, Lee made for a dapper figure with an elegant style ideally suited to Astaire’s natural refinement (especially for a kid from Omaha, Nebraska). As for Lee’s singing, like Astaire’s, it’s a thin and reedy voice but it packs much more power. He knows how to use it to the max and he is truly giving of himself as a performer. He doesn’t hold back and the appreciative audience on Saturday night were with him every step of the way.

Clearly scripted, Lee is a marvelous storyteller, too, and his well-polished delivery was a welcome treat. Many cabaret artists sort of leave room for winging it, which can have its own charm, but give me someone who is this prepared and this confident. There wasn’t as much as a single “umm” to mar his timing. It really made for a very pleasurable evening’s entertainment, especially by weaving stories about Astaire’s career throughout and using songs he’s famous for to augment them. Lee also has a remarkable way of slipping directly from his patter into singing that is effortless. Bravo.

And the songs! Lee excelled at everything, from ballads like “Let’s Face the Music and Dance,” to stirring up-tempos like “Fascinating Rhythm” (his dancing on that one was not to be believed), to clever wordplay numbers like “We Saw the Sea.” It should also be noted that these are not the easiest songs to sing. Have you ever tried to warble “Night and Day?” It’s not for the faint of heart.

I’d be very interested in whatever Gavin Lee has next up his sleeve, for as good as he is on Broadway playing to 1,500 people a night, he’s equally charismatic and delightful in the intimate setting at 54 Below. 

Oh, and just for fun, if you want to see a list put together of all the songs introduced by Fred Astaire, someone’s taken the trouble to post them on Wikipedia. Click here.

Gavin Lee: Steppin’ Out with Fred Astaire played June 14-15 at 54 Below (254 West 54th Street, between Seventh and Eighth Avenues). www.54Below.org.

Photos: Ron Fassler