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Audra McDonald at Tanglewood

Broadway in the Berkshires

By: - Jul 19, 2010

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From packed to the rafters Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood, four time Tony Award winner, Audra McDonald, informed us that tonight she will perform for the Obama family.

Considering that the audience stretched out to the lawn and up the hill of  the open ended concert hall she created an enticing intimacy. An evening of Broadway show tunes, some familiar, many not, was interspersed with warm insights to her feelings, family and private life.

We learned of the harrowing travel from Mexico City the day before. This included flying through a spectacular electric storm. Which she then encountered while driving  from New York to Lenox.

She may have been fatigued, given the pace of her schedule anyone would be, but you would never know it based on a performance to which she gave 110%.

In addition to being one of the greatest and most diverse talents of her generation, McDonald also revealed her warmth, passion and humanity.

Through the course of the evening we learned of mother/ daughter conundrums with her nine year old Zoe Madeline. She is raising her as single Mom. It seems that the child is not very interested in Audra’s singing. Or acting. When a school group planned to see a video of Annie she asked “Mom are you still in it?”

She mentioned losing her father several years ago in an airplane crash. Songs were dedicated to him. At one point her long term accompanist, Ted Sperling, yielded the piano to her. She stated that she would have something to explain after the song. Audra then told us that it was her first time playing piano before an audience. She was learning piano because it was something her Dad had urged her to do.

There were comments on recently turning 40 as well as the shock of how quickly her daughter is growing up.

While the between songs dialogue was quite wonderful, and revealed insights to her feelings and persona, it was the music that proved to be sublime.

As a Julliard trained singer she has meticulous technique. Her rendering of lyrics were always clear and articulate. Primarily she is a narrative singer and a great interpreter. At the end of the evening she sang "Some Days" by Steve Marzullo, with lyrics by James Baldwin, in memory of Lena Horn who passed away this year. She commented on sharing a commitment to Horn’s dedication to Civil Rights.

The comparisons to Horn were insightful. In many aspects Audra is a reincarnation of Lena. There are the same stunning looks and dramatic flourishes. A difference, Lena could swing a jazz tune, while Audra opts not to. At least during this performance.

McDonald is arguably the greatest Broadway singer of our time. If you like show tunes then Audra is your gal.

The set started with “When Did I Fall in Love” from Fiorello with lyrics by Sheldon Harrick and music by Jerry Beck.

There was a chorus of excited applause when she announced the next selection by composer Jason Robert Brown. The audience was thrilled with her rendering of “Stars and the Moon.”  From there she eased into a standard “It Might as Well Be Spring” by Rogers and Hammerstein from the 1945 film State Fair.

During a birthday tribute to Bill Cosby  he was less than thrilled with “My Man Bill” from Kern and Hammerstein's Show Boat. The comedian took offense to some of the lyrics and stood up and made a time out gesture during the performance. He later got a bit of payback. She related taking a spill during a concert which made the papers in New York. “The stage broke my fall” she commented about ending up in a hospital. While there a huge package arrived. It was an enormous pillow from Cosby. It came with a note  advising her to use it the next time she was on stage.

At an incredibly fast clip she slammed through an amusing song by Frank Loesser “I Can’t Stop Talking About Him.” It was written for Fred Astaire and Betty Hutton's 1950 film Lets Dance. After which she took  a swig from a bottle of water.

Recently she was in Utah performing in 100 in the Shade a musical version of Rainmaker. She told us about playing a plain girl, Lizzie, longing for love, who has never been kissed. When she does meet a man she sings to him “All I Want Are Simple Little Things.”

Audra related that initially Harold Arlen planned to be a cantor. Instead he changed his mind. From the landmark 1940 film with an all black cast Cabin in the Sky she sang his “Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe” with lyrics by Yip Harburg.

In addition to standards McDonald introduced new songs including ones being developed in collaboration with Michael John LaChiusa. They are working on a musical to be produced in the next couple of years. It is based on a book Marlene Dietrich’s ABC (1961). Dietrich was invited by the publisher to write about whatever pleased her. She decided upon taking the alphabet and expanding on words suggested by a letter. Audra told us the musical will be about her discovering the book.  She sang a song inspired by “V.” Then one for “M” which proved to be a witty take on “Marriage.”

In a dedication to her father she sang about an angel in a song written by the young composer Gabriel  Kahane.

“It seems that we just celebrated the 75th birthday of Stephen Sondheim and now we are celebrating his 80th” she said. From A Little Night Music she sang “Ordinary Mothers.” It was to be the first of several songs by Sondheim who is clearly among her favorite composers.

Seated on a stool she took the tempo down with a lullaby. Then brought us up again with a rousing “I Could Have Danced All Night” from My Fair Lady. She interrupted the song to invite us to sing along. Everyone chimed in including me. My debut at Ozawa Hall. What fun.

Then it was back to Sondheim with “What Can You Lose.” She asked if anyone knew where that song was from. It surprised her when someone correctly identified it from the film Dick Tracy. Then she asked who sang it? Again, a quick answer, Madonna. She continued with "There Won't be Trumpets" from his famous flop Anyone Can Whistle.

It was time to go. She returned with “Edelweiss” from Sound of Music. She announced that it was her last song. But followed with “One More” after thunderous applause. It was the tribute to “My hero, Lena Horn.”

By then we were content to slip off into the night. A traffic jam actually. But with lingering memories of one of the great highlights of what is proving to be a fabulous season at Tangelwood.