by Candace Leeds
It is tough to lure a dedicated upper eastsider all the way down to 22nd Street – and west of Fifth Avenue to boot! But the new revue, RENDEZVOUS – An Evening with Edith, Jacques, Charles and Friends, was well worth the trip. The show had a three- performance run at the cozy cabaret space, Metropolitan Room, which has a regular schedule of musical performances each week – and very reasonably priced.
But, you eastsiders are in luck – RENDEZVOUS is coming to Feinstein’s – that glamorous nightclub at the Regency Hotel, on Park Avenue and 61st, on two Monday evenings, June 11 and June 18.
What makes this show special is that every song was carefully selected for its lyrical and melodic qualities. The songs of Brel, Piaf and Aznavour are compelling and haunting, with great emotional impact. When performed by truly great cabaret singers, they haunt, dazzle, and delight. While the singers in RENDEZVOUS are talented stage veterans, they lacked some of the interpretive depth that more seasoned artists can bring to this powerful music. However, they offered a spirited and quite enjoyable presentation. The four singers, Philip Anderson, Carmen Lamar, Brenda Bush and Greg Purnhagen, are attractive and accomplished, giving lively performances to a clearly delighted audience. Each of the singers has a strong musical background. Philip Anderson debuted at Carnegie Hall singing Handel’s Messiah, but is clearly well suited to musical theater. He was especially effective in his interpretation of the Brel song, Jackie. The lovely ladies, Carmen Lamar who has performed at many NYC venues and Brenda Bush who recently appeared as Marilyn Monroe in The Marilyn Project at the DUO Theater, both have strong stage presence and voices suited to the music. The forth in the group, Greg Purnhagen, has performed with such avant-garde luminaries as Philip Glass, Bjork and Meredith Monk.
The show features great Brel, standards like I Loved, Marike, Sons of, Madeleine, Jackie, and Carousel, as well as Azenavour hits, What Makes a Man a Man, and Yesterday When I Was Young. The great Piaf songs include La Vie En Rose, and her signature song Non, je ne regrette rien. After the show’s debut, to inject some vanity into the presentation, Ms. Moyer added songs from some “friends” (Stephen Sondheim, Cole Porter, and Michael LaGrand) -- all choice selections which we know and love, such as Windmills of My Mind, The Last Time I Saw Paris, I Love Paris, and more. The cast left us with the powerful Brel song, If We Only Have Love, -- and did walk out feeling love after an entertaining evening.
Producer Terry Moyer conceived and developed the show with hopes for a long run in New York and other cities – and judging from the audience response – including my curmudgeon husband who is very hard to please, RENDEZVOUS may be around for a long while. Ms. Moyer, who started at a young age as a performer, has a great love of the music of Brel, Piaf and Aznavour. She was having lunch with one of the original cast members of the play Jacques Brel is Alive and Well…and told him that she thought someone should bring this kind of music to a new generation. She then realized that she didn’t want to neglect Piaf and Aznavour’s songs, so she conceived of the idea of RENDEZVOUS featuring the music of all three.
 “Having been a performer, I really feel there is a need for quality music and real talent above and beyond the glitz of current pop culture,” she said. “RENDEZVOUS is my way of trying to make a difference in the arts and entertainment field.” Ms. Moyer chose the songs, wrote the script, auditioned for a cast, and debuted the show at a cabaret called Helen’s. “A friend involved with special events encouraged me to continue because, she said, ‘this show has legs!’”, said Ms. Moyer. Her friend was right – because after Helen’s, the show went on the play at a major performing arts center Westchester, then to the Metropolitan Room, and next to Feinstein’s this June.
To enjoy this delectable RENDEZVOUS with Jacques, Charles and Friends this June, you can reserve your seats at Feinstein’s by calling 212-339-4095.
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