SHADE-O-METER RATING

5 OUTTA 5 WERKS: “10s ACROSS THE BOARD – LEGENDARY STATUS”

Who’s Audra McDonald? She’s an actress and a singer. At six Tony Awards, she’s won more of them than anyone other performer, and she’s the only performer to have won in all four acting categories. What’s the Au-Rene Theater? It’s the main theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. It holds about 2,600 people, and it has three levels. How was the venue? Elegant. How was the parking? They have valet, or you can park in the garage for $12. The garage is about a block away.

Sing Happy features many songs that are either new to McDonald’s repertoire, or have never before been recorded by her, such as “I Am What I Am” from La Cage aux Folles, “Vanilla Ice Cream” from She Loves Me, and “Children Will Listen” from Into The Woods. The CD also offers a sneak peek at the repertoire she’s performing on her North American concert tour.

Does the venue serve liquor? Yes, and there are multiple bars (guess they must want people drunk). We got one double chardonnay for $19. How were the drinks? There was nothing special about it. Does the venue serve food? They have some snacks. How was the food? We didn’t get any. Where were the seats? At the back of the orchestra. Was the show sold out? It was about two-thirds full. Was there an opening act? No.

How was the concert? A representative from the venue gave a short speech about upcoming shows, and then the concert began when a trio of musicians (a pianist, a drummer, and a bassist) came out, followed by McDonald a moment later. McDonald walked onto the stage without fan fair, and then immediately launching into her first number, “When Did I Fall in Love,” from Fiorello!. As this was a rescheduled concert from March, one of the first things that McDonald said when she spoke was to apologize for the delay, explaining how she loves her kids, but she doesn’t love their germs. “You wouldn’t have wanted to hear me then, because I would have sounded like Bea Arthur. But that’s not a criticism of Bea Arthur, because I love her.” For those who were not familiar with McDonald’s personality, and, in direct contract to the loftiness of her voice, she had a surprisingly homespun charm about her. She also joked and laughed about how her recent concert in Los Angeles was rainy, and how “the clouds have followed her” to Fort Lauderdale. But enough talk about her personality; let’s get into the music. It would be a mistake to interpret McDonald’s undramatic entrance as symbolic of a concert where the audience heard something that was anything less than extraordinary. The concert was primarily composed of musical theater standards such as “Summertime,” “I Could Have Danced All Night,” and “Climb Ev’ry Mountain.” McDonald also showcased new composers with Jason Robert Brown’s “Stars and the Moon,” amusingly prefaced with, “I think that we need to nurture new composers so that I still have a job.” As McDonald would appear to be the vocal heir-apparent to Barbara Cook, it was no surprise that Cook’s legacy figured prominently in the concert: “She was my mentor. I learned so much watching and performing with her.” McDonald sung several numbers that Cook was known for, including the difficult, “Vanilla Ice Cream” (and if there were one number that got the loudest applause, this was it). It was also obvious that McDonald inherited Cook’s humbleness and wit with the anecdote, “Kids, they keep you grounded. When I called my oldest daughter after The Sound of Music Live! to see what she thought of it, she responded, ‘Mommy, where are the dryer sheets?’ So that was my review.” But what also makes McDonald so great is her vocal versatility, and she showed off her talent in jazz with “Cornet Man” from Funny Girl. And in the vein of that tradition of jazz and big bands, the encore for the evening was not a soprano classic but “Over The Rainbow,” which she dedicated to “Miss Judy Garland.”

How was the crowd? Mostly middle-aged. What could have improved the concert? Given that most middle-aged people are not as enthusiastic as, lets say, a pack of teenage Shawn Mendes fans, the concert would have probably been more exciting if it was sold out and in a smaller venue. Regarding the venue, it has too many ushers—they’re mulling about all over the place. For, example, when I went to use the restroom halfway through the show (there was no intermission), I was faced with a line of about 20 seated ushers, and they all turned their heads towards me in unison, a la the The Stepford Wives, to see what I was up to. My only critique about McDonald herself is that I would have liked to of heard at least one number from Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill. Given her notoriety in the show, It was a bit disappointed that she didn’t do any numbers from it. But a review can’t be based on what was omitted but what was presented. And in that regard, McDonald’s voice sparkled to such a degree that she really is second-to-none.

What was surprising about the show? It was hysterical and slightly shocking to hear McDonald cover the Kate Miller-Heidke song, “Are You Fucking Kidding Me? (The Facebook Song).” When McDonald operatically enunciate the lyrics, “And so you want to be my friend on Facebook? Oh you fucking, fucking fuck. Click, ignore,” one knew that he or she wasn’t in Kansas anymore.

The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is located at 201 S.W. 5^thAve., in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Tony Award nominee, Drama Desk Lifetime Achievement honoree and two-time MAC Award winner, Charles Busch, discusses his legendary career—including a chance encounter with Greta Garbo—before returning to the stage in South Florida and Chicago

Where did you grow up? In New York City. If you had to live somewhere other than New York, where would it be? I recently went out to dinner with a great group of people after a show in Birmingham, Alabama. We had such a fun, campy time, and I realized that it doesn’t really matter where you live if you have a group of dear friends. I think I may be learning to be less of a New York snob. What’s your claim-to-fame? To be considered truly famous, everyone’s mother needs to have heard of you. But I feel that my forty years of work as an actor, playwright and performer has endeared me to several generations of wonderful people. How would you like to be remembered? That I added a little color to an increasingly grey world. Will you ever retire? As long as I have energy and a decent memory, I’ll be out there slingin’ the one-liners and tossin’ the hips. I also still get great pleasure out of writing. I hope that enthusiasm never wanes. Who’s your favorite female performer from the 1930s and 1940s? Judy Garland. I continually learn about honesty and style from studying her performances. Who’s your favorite male performer from the 1930s and 1940s? James Cagney. He was a dynamic actor and performer. He also reminds me a lot of my father.

Charles Busch Live at Feinstein’s / 54 Below – $11.99

Who’s your favorite female contemporary performer? Miley Cyrus. I’m glad that she’s grown out of her youthful rebellious phase, and I think that she has the talent and charisma to be truly great. Who’s your favorite male contemporary performer? I find Bruno Mars very interesting. What’s your favorite contemporary film? I’ve seen The Disaster Artist twice this week, and I love it. What playwright do you admire? Charles Ludlam and Tennessee Williams. I worship them both. Specifically, when I was 17-years-old, I saw Ludlam onstage in Eunuch of the Forbidden City, and I saw at that moment that anything was possible in the theater. What story needs to be told that hasn’t been told yet? How the lesbian community—particularly, in San Francisco—rallied and took care of gay men during the height of the AIDS crisis in the eighties. What’s your dream role? Peter Pan. Did you ever run into Greta Garbo in New York? Twice, as a teenager, I saw her striding up the street. One time I followed her into an empty store, and just being in her presence made me so light-headed that I finally had to run out. When she was in New York, It was like having a mythical unicorn in our midst… What politician don’t you like? They’re too many to list.

What’s your favorite drink? Jack Daniels with ginger ale. Or, a chocolate milkshake. What’s your most treasured possession? An original seven-foot nineteenth century poster of the great actress Sarah Bernhardt, by the artist Mucha. I had the small $4.95 print of it in my bedroom as a kid, and now I have the real deal. Still, if there was a fire, I wouldn’t risk my life trying to save it. Do you believe in ghosts? I would like to. There are so many people I would love to see again. Either living or dead, who would you like to have lunch with? The late film director, George Cukor. What’s the last thing that you looked at online? A video of a dog befriending a baby deer. I’m a real sucker for cute animal videos. What’s the best place that you’ve visited, and why? Locarno, Switzerland. I was showing a movie of mine at a film festival, and I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the city. And I was also surrounded by a gorgeous group of gay men who found me fascinating. Heaven. What did you learn from your parents? My mother died when I was seven, so I don’t remember her well. My father introduced me to the magic of the theater. And for that, I’ll always be grateful. What’s your best characteristic? That I can throw myself into someone else’s fantasy of who they would like to be.

How do you enjoy spending your time? I’m so lucky that my work is also my great passion. I just love sitting at the computer working on a script; particularly, the editing and fine tuning. What celebrity do you have a crush on? Harry Styles and Mark Ruffalo. I have very eclectic tastes. Who do you admire? All of the people who are out in the cold demonstrating and resisting. If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be, and why? My Aunt Lillian, who raised me and saved me when I was at a terrible crossroads. I’d want her to know that things worked out and that all of her hard work and devotion paid off. Where would you go in a time machine, and why? To see Judy Garland at Carnegie Hall in 1961. What would your last meal be? The ridiculously obscenely expensive caviar that I’ve only read about, and a huge steamed lobster. What do you worry about? Losing my mind. If you were a musical instrument, what would you be? A small and very stylish old spinet piano, like the one in the movie Casablanca. It’s a bit old-fashioned, but you can play any tune on it.

Are you more like a sheep or a wolf? A wolf. I hate to say it, but a career of any success does leave some blood on the floor. Who depends on you, and for what? My sister, who’s currently living with me. She had some recent health issues, and for the first time, I’m learning to anticipate someone else’s needs. Who are you closest with? My sister, my nephew and a very intense circle of four, maybe five, friends. I’m very fortunate. What music do you listen to when you’re upset? Upbeat stuff, like The Andrews Sisters, The Supremes and Burt Bacharach. What’s on your bucket list? I want to make another movie! What’s your greatest regret in life? I deeply regret a few selfish and insensitive blunders that I’ve made. But I’d like to think that I’ve learned something from them. What’s something that you never told anyone else? That I live for the anecdote and to entertain. In doing so, I’ve probably told every outrageous and intimate episode of my life to either an individual or an audience. Where can we see you? I’ll be at Palm Beach Dramaworks on January 12 in West Palm Beach, and at Pride Films and Plays on January 21 and 22 in Chicago.