Cabaret Review by Ron Fassler . . .
When I was a boy interested in musicals, the scores Anthony Newley wrote (with Leslie Bricusse) for Stop the World I Want to Get Off and The Roar of the Greasepaint—The Smell of the Crowd were major favorites. It also didn’t hurt that Newley starred in both shows; his singular way with a song insinuating itself onto my playlist that has kept them there in good standing for more than fifty years. An eccentric performer (to say the least), every inflection was so “Newley” in everything he did that even when Sammy Davis Jr. made “What Kind of Fool Am I?,” “Who Can I Turn To?,” and “The Candy Man” into worldwide hits, it was always its composer-lyricist’s voice that I heard in my head.
Now cabaret artist Goldie Dver has brought a new show to Don’t Tell Mama, “What a Man! Goldie Dver Sings Anthony Newley” that is more than just a standard tribute—it’s a personal one. Dver and her late husband were dear friends of “Tony’s” and the stories she tells about “the magic he created with his music” are funny, sad, and ultimately uplifting. A handsome framed photo sits atop the piano for the entire set and his spirit is conjured time and again as Dver pores through his song stack. And what a stack! Among the wonderful renditions of Newley-Bricusse tunes to which we are treated, besides the three already mentioned, are “Feeling Good,” “Gonna Build a Mountain, “The Joker,” and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’s, “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket.” It’s a deep dive into treasure trove from which Dver always emerges with a pearl.
Dver’s long connection with New York City’s cabaret world is evident in all she brings to the stage. Confident, warm and charming, the songs are an extension of her natural abilities as a good will ambassador. Under the direction of James Beaman, Dver hits the sweet spot time and again. There is also musical director Dan Pardo’s superb accompaniment, alongside the bass of John Miller and percussion by Chip Fabrizi which gives the show a welcomed, polished flair. In a grateful finale, Dver wrote clever new lyrics to “Thank You Very Much,” a song Newley and Bricusse wrote for the 1970 film musical Scrooge, acknowledging all those who not only contributed to the act but to her life. She’s a giving performer and a grateful one, which make for an evening that one hopes will return soon. Newley deserves it and so does Goldie Dver.
“What a Man! Goldie Dver Sings Anthony Newley” was presented at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC. For more information about Ms. Dver, go to https://www.goldiedver.com and for future programming at Don’t Tell Mama, please visit https://donttellmamanyc.com.
Photos by Ron Fassler.
