Patti LuPone Sizzles in Waltham Concert

"The Lady with the Torch" 

Conceived and directed by Scott Wittman; musical direction by Chris Fenwick

 

Additional Performance: Sunday, November 19 at 2 p.m.

Box Office: 781-891-5600 or www.reagleplayers.com

 

The legendary Patti LuPone gave a packed audience of diva devotees exactly what they wanted – and more – on Saturday, November 18, in a concert at the Robinson Theatre in Waltham, Massachusetts. Appearing in conjunction with the Reagle Players Celebrity Series, the star of 24 Broadway and London productions including "Evita," "Les Misérables," "Anything Goes," "Sunset Boulevard" and "Sweeney Todd" performed 13 songs from her latest album, "The Lady with a Torch," plus 17 others in a two-hour two-act concert.

 

LuPone's program, conceived and directed by the very talented Scott Wittman and first performed to a sold-out audience at Carnegie Hall, takes her listeners on an alternately comic and touching journey through the ups and downs – well, downs mostly, since these are torch songs – of unrequited love. She smartly mixes blues numbers like "Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry" and "Nightlife" with sorrowful ballads like "A Cottage for Sale" and "The Other Woman." Then with a rapid and playful change in mood she takes pointed aim at the men who done her wrong, presenting almost maniacal interpretations of "Who's Sorry Now?" and "I Wanna Be Around" as a tribute to her feisty grandmother. Her glee in gaining musical vindication in these numbers is priceless.

 

Most of the time, LuPone lets the music tell the story, moving effortlessly from novelty songs like "Primitive Man" and "I Regret Everything" to show-stopping ballads like "So in Love" and "Body and Soul." Occasionally, though, she peppers her transitions with sharp comic banter that lets her great wit and smart attitude shine through. She is brash when singing and talking of getting revenge and vulnerable when lacing her songs of despair with tenderness and optimism. This is one truly versatile performer who clearly relishes bringing new life to old songs.

 

"The Lady with the Torch" is a full but intimate concert that lets the audience get to know the warm and personable side of this powerhouse singer and actress. Accompanied only (but beautifully) by her musical director Chris Fenwick on grand piano, LuPone embraces her fans every bit as much as they embrace her. She still belts and vocally slides her way through the more animated numbers in trademark fashion, but it is her fun-loving, affable nature that takes center stage throughout this program. Even when a problem microphone had to be replaced in the middle of Act II, LuPone handled it with grace and humor.

 

Patti LuPone may have started out her evening singing "By Myself," but by the end of the night in Waltham the lady with the torch had hundreds of cheering people in the palm of her hand.

 

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