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Brian d’Arcy James
June 28, 2012
“Under the Influence”
54 Below – June 26 – 30
Brian d’Arcy James comes to 54 Below with “Under the Influence,” an evening of pop songs that influenced him when he was growing up in Michigan in the ’80s. Though he has enjoyed considerable success and recognition for his work on- and off-Broadway and in television and films, he’s opted to leave Brian d’Arcy James, the actor, waiting in the wings and present, instead, Brian d’Arcy James the singer and, especially, the person. By this I mean that with only a few exceptions, he doesn’t attempt to interpret or explore the lyric; rather, he focuses on the music and the rhythms; and the pleasure that he personally takes in performing the songs is one of the evening’s signal attributes and chief assets. Though the show doesn’t have much substance, or offer as rich an experience as one might wish, his voice is such a lyrical, sturdy baritone, and his personality so completely disarming (I’d be hard put to name a performer more likeable) that the music is a pleasure to listen to and his joy in celebrating these songs is irresistible.
James’s collaborators have embraced his it’s-about-the-music-and-rhythms premise—mainly to marvelous effect, a couple of times ill-advisedly. Musical director Dan Lipton supplied the arrangements and accompanies on piano; the other instrumentalists are Damien Bassman on drums, Greg Joseph on percussion, Nicholas D’Amato on bass, Erik Della Penna on guitar, Paul Vercesi on saxophone, and Bob Millikan on trumpet. Clarke Thorell and Haven Burton provide back-up vocals, and the show was directed by Carl Forsman.
Most of the songs are upbeat or optimistic—for example, “Take It As It Comes” (Steve Winwood, Will Jennings) and Billy Joel’s “Worse Comes to Worst.” These are a perfect match for James’s sunny spirit. While “All Will Be Well” (Gabe Dixon, Dan Wilson) also delivers a positive message, it is a ballad with greater emotional dimension, and accompanied by piano only, it provides a nice change of pace.
Even when a song’s lyric is not so positive, James’s cheerfulness usually holds sway. The words to Tom Bahler’s “Julie, Do Ya Love Me” express sadness at the singer’s having parted from Julie, but James seems quite happy nonetheless. (But, then, so did Bobby Sherman in his hit rendition.) Though the lyric to Billy Joel’s “Everybody Loves You Now” has a snarl and a bite to it, James smiles cheerfully through most of the song, and, tellingly, he said right after singing it, “You have no idea how fun that was for me.” On the other hand, the duet “Mockingbird” (Inez and Charlie Foxx) is unabashedly about the music and the arrangement; sung with gusto by James and the opening night guest artist, Lauren Kinhan, it was a total delight.
On a few occasions James sheds his unbridled brightness. He brings emotional depth to Billy Joel’s “She’s Got a Way”—but unfortunately the too-insistently rhythmic accompaniment undermines him. On the Squeeze song “Tempted” (Chris Difford, Glen Tilbrook) he communicates the torture and pain that follow losing a lover—though the back-up singers, especially Burton, remain blissfully chipper. He performs “I’ll Be Waiting” (Adele Adkins, Paul Epworth) with persuasive commitment, and he brings passion and intensity to “That’s All” (Genesis: Phil Collins, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford). Best of all—in part because the song says more than many of the program’s other selections—is Kate McGarrigle’s “Saratoga Summer Song” (arranged by Rufus Wainwright); here we get to see Brian d’Arcy James, the actor, at his best. More, please.
Roy Sander has been covering cabaret and theatre for over thirty years. He’s written cabaret and theatre reviews, features, and commentary for seven print publications, most notably Back Stage, and for CitySearch on the Internet. He covered cabaret monthly on “New York Theatre Review” on PBS TV, and cabaret and theatre weekly on WLIM-FM radio. He was twice a guest instructor at the London School of Musical Theatre. A critic for BistroAwards.com, he is also the site’s Reviews Editor; in addition, he is Chairman of the Advisory Board of MAC.
