On a rather foggy sunday, after deciphering subway transfers, I visited the 92Y. There, I attended a concert program which was the first in the 2013 Lyrics and Lyricists series. The subject: W.S. Gilbert and how his lyrics inspired hits from the great american songbook. The artistic director and pianist was Rob Fisher, best known as the music director for Tony Award winning revivals of
Chicago,
Hair, and
Anything Goes. Sitting at the adjacent piano was Mr. Ian Axness, who also played percussion. The host was none other than famed lyricist Sheldon Harnick (
Fiorello!,
Fiddler on the Roof,
The Apple Tree). Having been a guest of the series for many years, Mr. Harnick decided to showcase the comic and lyrical genius of Gilbert and Sullivan. The first act consisted of songs from the duo. The second half involved lyrics by Mr. Harnick and other lyricists who claimed they were inspired by Gilbert, including Cole Porter, Noel Coward, Lorenz Hart, and Ira Gershwin. There was also an excerpt from Sondheim, although he stated he never had inspiration from Gilbert.
The show began and ended with 'Hail, Poetry" from
The Pirates of Penzance, sung beautifully by the 8 eight person ensemble. This four lead vocalists were Jason Danieley (
Curtains), Jenn Gambatese (
Tarzan,
All Shook Up), David Garrison ( TV's
Married with Children,
Silence! The Musical), and Mary Testa (
On the Town,
42nd Street,
Xanadu). The other singers who joined in as an accompanying quartet were Ross Benoliel, Christine DiGiallonardo, Michael Marcotte, and Lindsay O'Neil.
In the first half, Sheldon Harnick spoke about Gilbert's life and the style of his writing and inspiration, even suggesting that Gilbert's mother was the inspiration of Katisha in
The Mikado. He even quoted from Wikipedia, where all the Gilbert and Sullivan articles are edited by a Mr. Sam Simmons, who I and Mr. Harnick met after the show. Some highlights from this section are Mr. Garrison's rendition of The Nightmare Song from
Iolanthe, Mr. Danieley singing the comedic "A Tenor, All Singers Above" from
Utopia, Limited, Mr. Harnick singing from
Yeoman of the Guard, and "Brightly Dawns our Wedding Day" from
The Mikado sung by the quartet. Ms. Testa was also enjoyable singing "When Frederic Was a Little Lad" from
Pirates and joining Mr. Garrison in "Beauty in the Bellow of the Blast" from
The Mikado. Mrs. Gambatese also presented great talent singing "The Sun whose rays are all ablaze" from
The Mikado.
The second half was no less entertaining than the first. Thanks to Sheldon Harnick, I am inspired by "The Suave Young Man in the Trench Coat" to be that man. Everybody brought out their comic prowess. Mr. Garrison and Ms. Testa, wearing an electrical tape mustache, sang a duet version of Noel Coward's "The Stately Homes of England". Ms. Testa returned to sing "Mr. and Mrs. Fitch" from Cole Porter's
Gay Divorce, complete with cymbal crashes at mention of the B-word. Mrs. Gambatese shined in the hilarious "To Keep my Love Alive" from Rodgers and Hart's
A Connecticut Yankee. Mr. Garrison brilliantly channeled Danny Kaye in "Tchaikovsky" by Gershwin and Weill, and singing all three witnesses with hilarious accents in Harnick's "Little Tin Box" from
Fiorello
!.
All in all, I am glad that a google search brought me to this concert. The $25 discount ticket was also a good incentive. That's the lucky thing about being under 35. But like most programs of this nature, I was among the few young people in a crowd of senior citizens. This did not hinder my enjoyment, minus when the couple next to me were talking while Mr. Harnick spoke. It upsets me though how people my age are really missing out on these great opportunities to meet great people that made our world great. My only other complaint was my seat, A101. It was right in front of Mr. Harnick's station, but large speakers at the foot of the stage blocked my view of Mr. Fisher's piano and some of the ensemble. Otherwise, I commend the 92Y on their great programming and hope people will attend the rest of the season to learn about other great Lyrics and Lyricists.