Jason Alexander at Tanglewood Yada Yada Yada
No more George Costanza
By: Philip Kampe - Jul 18, 2014
Jason Alexander, all of 5 feet five inches tall, brought down the house at Tanglewood this past Sunday afternoon with his shtick and appealing sense of humor combined with upbeat renditions of Broadway classics.
Who knew that George Costanza, as we once knew him,, star of ‘Steinfeld’, was an adolescent Broadway star in the Stephen Sondheim, Tony nominated ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ (1981).
Who knew that Jason was a Tony winning star in Jerome Robbins ‘Broadway’ (1989-1990)? Or that Jason wanted to become a magician at a young age?
Jason Alexander explained that after ‘Seinfeld’s’ successful run had ended, he was typecast for George Costanza and was not employable on Broadway. He had to come up with a new routine, one that the enthusiastic audience witnessed during his 45 minute set at Tanglewood (Lenox, Ma.).
His mesmerizing act consisted of humor, dance and song. Jason had the crowd on their feet, watching his every move.
The audience learned that Jason has been married for over thirty years, that Jason loved his father dearly and paid tribute to his dad by singing William Finn’s, ‘Anytime (I Am There)’ from Elegies and that Jason believed Stephen Sondheim was his musical god.
What is also interesting to learn was that Jason Alexander sang with the Boston Pops, the first year Keith Lockhart conducted the Pops. Once, again, they were reunited, this time on the Tanglewood stage.
Jason Alexander has found his new outlet—comedic satire mixed with song. He is as an entertaining performer that combines both old world melodies with new world humor. His sidekick was none other than Boston Pops bandleader, Keith Lockhart, who uses tongue and cheek humor with his baton and his glare.
Together they are the ‘Laurel and Hardy’ of Tanglewood, one with facial and body expressions and the other with witty lines.
The highlight of the show came when Mr. Alexander poked fun at the Broadway stage by donning wigs and disguises, mocking more than a dozen Broadway plays.
It is obvious that the stage is home to Jason Alexander.
Good bye George Costanza.
Philip S. Kampe may be reached at WineFoodTravelArts@yahoo.com
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