Fyvush Finkel returned to Mr. Finn's Cabaret at Barrington Stage Company last night and BroadwayWorld was there.
Ninety-three year-old Fyvush Finkel, the Emmy and Obie Award winning actor/singer/comedian proudly announced to the audience at Mr. Finn's Cabaret, "I have already lived half my life"! The overflow crowd in the cabaret located in Barrington Stage's Blatt Performing Arts Center cheered. After a spectacular musical display of virtuoso xylophone and piano playing by Mr. Finkel's sons Ian & Elliot and acting, singing, story telling by Fyvushe, the Berkshire crowd was wishing that first announcement was true. These are the kind of performances that stay with an audience forever. I'm sure cell phone conversations and photos are traveling around Pittsfield and the internet this morning from folks commenting how fortunate they were to be present at William Finn's Cabaret last night. One of Fyvush's stories was about the first time he met his future father-in-law who told him....."Fyvush, no daughter of mine is going to marry an actor"! Dismayed Mr. Finkel invited the irate father to one of his performances. Fyvush sang and acted his heart out, gave it his all, and after the performance his sweetheart's father rushed back stage, hugged Fyvush and said....."Fyvush, I give you permission to marry my daughter, you ain't no actor"!
One of the best entertainment experiences one can have is being at a Finkel family performance and Fyvush,.... not to worry.....you are some actor!
The excellent musicians in the FInkel band were Robert Kershaw. guitar, Ed Sterbenz, bass, Tony Tedesco, drums, Ian Finkel,xylophone, and Elliot Finkel piano.
Photo Credit: Stephen Sorokoff
Ed Sterbenz, Elliot Finkel, Tony Tedesco, Robbie Kershaw
Elliot Finkel, Fyvush Finkel, Ian Finkel
Fyvush Finkel, Stephen Sorokoff, William Finn
Mr. Finn's Cabaret
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