By William Wolf
|
It is the Johnny Mercer centennial, and what could be more appropriate than cabaret diva Andrea Marcovicci honoring him? She is doing just that with her new show “Skylark: Marcovicci Sings Mercer” in the Oak Room of the Algonquin Hotel ( Nov. 17-Dec. 26), an important addition to the holiday cabaret period. As usual, Marcovicci brings a helping of fun to the room that over the years has become a major performing home for her.
We get the familiar blend of her providing tidbits of background information and the sense of joy that she brings to her program, giving the impression that she loves signing the selected songs and communicating as intimately as possible with her attentive audience. Marcovicci is always the actress, and that shows in her lively interpretations. She doesn’t just sing; she enacts every number.
One entertaining opening night moment as she ambled through the room was pausing to sing Mercer’s lyrics (music by Harry Warren) of “You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby” to a willing foil, cabaret impresario Donald Smith. Very amusing.
The selections were eclectic Mercer, who, Marcovicci recalled, had the reputation of writing with so many collaborators, or, as she put it, writing a song with the first person who came to visit him on any given day. She characterized him as the perfect lyricist for when you feel like crying in your beer or having a drink at the bar. She sang “One for My Baby” to prove it.
The treasure trove to be tapped is rich. Among the numbers on which Marcovicci put her stamp on opening night were “Skylark,” of course, and “Too Marvelous for Words,” “I Thought About You,” “My Sugar is So Refined,” “Autumn Leaves,” “Moon River,” “I Remember You” and “My Shining Hour.” That’s just a sampling. Through it all, Marcovicci, looking elegant, gave the impression that she was a hostess inviting us to a fun-filled party. Her accompaniment is by musical director and pianist Shelly Markham and Jered Egan on bass.
Her current run in Oak Room is in synch with the release of her new CD “As Time Goes By: The Best of Andrea Marcovicci,” a compendium of favorites from her recording career as well as newly recorded numbers. The occasion is her 60th birthday. And to think, I interviewed her for Cue Magazine when she had a key role in the 1976 movie “The Front” with Woody Allen. As I said, she remains ever the actress when singing. And that’s good. At the Oak Room, Algonquin Hotel, 59 West 44th Street. Phone: 212-419-9331.
