BWW Reviews: JASON ALEXANDER with Baltimore Symphony - What a Gifted Performer

Last week-end the Baltimore Symphony presented "An Evening with Jason Alexander" and what a concert it was.

Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly was unable to attend due to an illness and taking over was Michael Krajewski who is a busy man. He is Music Director of the Philly Pops, and Principal Pops Conductor of the Houston, Atlanta, and Jacksonville Symphonies. However, he is no Jack Everly. Missing was Everly entertaining personality and humor.

The first half of the concert (lasting thirty minutes) was a tribute to the plays of the late great Jerome Robbins. What a way to start the evening with the Overture to GYPSY, what many consider the best overture of all time. Next was the Overture to PETER PAN (not mentioned was the recent PETER PAN LIVE! on NBC) followed by the wonderful "March of the Siamese Children" from THE KING AND I soon to be revived at Lincoln Center with Kelli O'Hara. Finally, there were two delightful Overtures from BELLS ARE RINGING and WEST SIDE STORY. I noticed the Pops once again featured the great Jon Kalbfleisch, Resident Musical Director at Signature Theatre, on piano. The BSO sound spectacular.

Following a brief intermission, out stepped Jason Alexander, best known for his role as George Constanza in the hit television series "Seinfeld". (Alexander would banter he never needs to work again due to the reruns.)

Accompanying Alexander was the talented pianist Keith Harrison (who played Jerry Lee Lewis in the LA production of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET). Vocalist Kate Fisher also joined Alexander on a couple of numbers.

Alexander commented that Mandy Patinkin was scheduled for this concert initially but had to beg off. (Was it because he was in LA for the Screen Actors Guild Awards?) Alexander then added, "So the BSO went to the book of Jewish entertainers and found me under "A". His first number was one he wrote which emphasized what a "humble" person he was. A great way to open the show.

Few in the audience may have been knowledgeable about the fact that Alexander is a Tony winning actor for the musical JEROME ROBBINS BROADWAY which I was fortunate to see. But seeing him live by himself was just plain astonishing.

He reminisced about the first show he saw, THE MUSIC MAN and he knew he was hooked. He did "We Got Trouble" and was amazing.

He truly wanted to become a rock star but due to his height knew that would be a problem. He really wanted to be Billy Joel (who by the way will be performing at Baltimore's M & T Bank Stadium July 25). He donned a leather jacket and sang three Joel classics from MOVIN' OUT. His version of "Italian Restaurant" when he actually stood on the piano and sang with Harrison brought down the house.

His love of Broadway really began when he was just 13 and saw PIPPIN (coming in June to the Kennedy Center and the Hippodrome Theatres). He commented "It changed my life". He did "Corner of the Sky" and turned it into a waltz. "It was an epiphany. Theater is an illusion and so was PIPPIN. Nothing is real. You can move an audience", he commented.

He attended Boston University but at the age of 20 dropped out when he got his first Broadway show, Stephen Sondheim's MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG which opened on Nov. 16, 1981 and closed in two weeks. He had a quite a thrill working with Hal Prince and Sondheim and a great cast. "It is a glorious score and I was proud to sing it. He sang three songs - "Had a Good Thing Going", "Now You Know", and the classic "Not a Day Goes By" which brought goose bumps.

He did THE RINK by Kander and Ebb which starred Liza Minelli and become good friends with her.

Then seven lucky "volunteers " from the audience joined him to re-enact a scene from BELLS ARE RINGING called "Ring them Bells". Each volunteer was given a hat to wear and bells to hang around their necks. The hats included a bowler hat, a matador hat, and a black Hasidic hat with payis around the ears. The audience roared as they all did a "Kick Line" together at the end.

The evening turned serious as Alexander reminisced about his parents. He mother turns 91 next month but his father passed away at the age of 91. He dedicated William Finn's "Anytime" to his father and at the end pointed to the sky and mentioned his Dad is watching over him.

Alexander hopes to return soon to Broadway. He ended the evening with a medley of the roles that though maybe inappropriate for him, he wish he could do and so he did them using props. He wore a crown of thorns for JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, held a toy boat for "Old Man River" from SHOWBOAT, put on the Phantom mask from PHANTOM OF THE OPERA singing the famous lyrics, put on a black shaggy wig and sang from HAIR, did "Bring Him Home" from LES MISERABLES, had a broom for WICKED, wore a crown for EVITA, held a photo of Larry David for his resume from A CHORUS LINE, had a cowboy hat from OKLAHOMA, from FUNNY GIRL did "Rain on My Parade", put on red wig for ANNIE, sang "Memory" from CATS, did "I Feel Pretty" from WEST SIDE STORY, did an impression of Effie White singing "And I Am Telling You" from DREAMGIRLS, and ended with "The Impossible Dream" from MAN OF LA MANCHA. A huge standing ovation ended this incredible evening which I will never, ever forget. If you get a chance to see Alexander in person, do not miss him. It was one of the best concerts I've ever seen.

And good news for Meyerhoff theater goers, now open across the street is Ryhleigh's Oyster House. What a welcome relief for a bite to eat prior to or after a BSO concert. They feature a wonderful happy hour until 7 p.m. with $1 oysters and $3 drafts and other specials. Try the delicious Cream of Crab soup (very similar to She Crab soup from Virginia Beach) and their calamari. Visit www.ryleighs.com.

cgshubow@broadwayworld.com

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