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Affable Jim Speake Celebrates Cy Coleman's Songs in Chelsea Cabaret Show |
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by Bruce-Michael Gelbert | >> see bio |
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Jim Speake
photo by - Joseph R. Saporito
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Jim Speake, whose singing, acting and energy enhanced theatrical productions in Cherry Grove ("The USO Show") and Fire Island Pines ("The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas") this past summer, took center stage at the Metropolitan Room in Chelsea on November 10 to entertain us and display his vocal range and versatility in varied repertory by Cy Coleman. Jim billed the afternoon cabaret show as "I'm a Brass Band!" and joyously saluted music itself in that song from "Sweet Charity" and in more than a dozen others. Lennie Watts directed, Steven Ray Watkins served as musical director and pianist, with Matt Wigton on bass, Fred Kennedy on drums, and Michael Barbieri on sound and light.
Our singer grabbed our attention immediately with an exuberant pairing of "Hey! Look Me Over," from "Wildcat," and "Hey There, Good Times," from "I Love My Wife." Jim confessed an affinity for compositions of Coleman, from the Bronx, though himself hailing from a cattle and cotton farm in Alabama, where "keep your calves together has an entirely different meaning than it does in the Bronx." He played a bit of a recording he made at age four of Harry Warren and Al Dubin's "Shanghai Lil," from Busby Berkeley film "Footlight Parade," as evidence of an early encounter with the sort of person of 'easy virtue' that some of Coleman's musicals concern.
Jim wrapped his agreeable voice around a knowing "I've Got Your Number," from "Little Me," and sincerely confided he had feeling for the philosophy, like the protagonist of "The Will Rogers Follies," of "Never Met a Man I Didn't Like." Looking at some of those louche figures who live "The Life," Jim pointedly, lyrically advised, "Use What You Got" and, like Coleman, Neil Simon and Dorothy Fields' Charity, wistfully queried, "Where Am I Going?" In songs from "Barnum," Jim embraced maturity in "Thank God I'm Old," ending with a strong high note, and thoughtfully reflected on "The Colors of My Life."
Coleman collaborated with lyricist Carolyn Leigh on a number of musicals, including "Wildcat" and "Little Me," but they also wrote songs independent of any musical and, drawing on these, Jim gently cast his spell in "Witchcraft," optimistically anticipated imminent love in "I Walk a Little Faster," and ruefully averred that he'd learned life's "Rules of the Road."
Jim expressed gratitude to his colleagues with "I'm Nothing Without You," from "City of Angels;" jazzily declared "It's Not Where You Start (It's Where You Finish)," from "Seesaw," with a bright, high climax; and, returning to "Little Me," closed with an affable toast: "Here's to Us."
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