Dec. 18: Sharon McNight: Feinstein’s at the Nikko
Sharon McNight
December 18 at 8 pm
Feinstein’s at the Nikko
222 Mason Street, San Francisco, California 94102
http://www.hotelnikkosf.com/feinsteins.aspx
Here’s our own Joel Benjamin’s review of Sharon’s previous Holiday show:
Sharon McNight’s attitude toward Christmas, it goes without saying, is slightly twisted. She’s no Scrooge by any means, but neither is she Santa Claus.
“No Chestnuts” (Barry Levitt/Peter Napolitano) set the sour-on-Christmas mood followed by a parody of “White Christmas”— “Try Looking Like a White Christian” — and singing the lyrics of “O Little Town of Bethlehem” to the melody of “House of the Rising Sun.” Both were sardonic takes on holiday themes, as was “The Twelve Days After Christmas” (Frederick Silver), which begins with the line: “The first day after Christmas, my true love and I had a fight.” And, of course, imbibing a bit too much was touched upon in her own re-do of “Deck the Halls” as “Deck Martinis”!
Slightly warmer emotions came in Craig Carnelia’s “Come On, Snow,” about a child wishing for a snow day, and David Friedman’s “My Simple Christmas Wish.” But, even after more songs about the darker side of the holiday and hilarious evocations of Mae West and Bette Davis, she finally gave in and used her ample vocal gifts on a soaring “Home” from The Wiz.
Helped by her witty and deft Musical Director/pianist, Ian Herman, McNight put on a generous, full-bodied show.
Category: Pick of the Week, Regional, San Francisco, San Francisco Pick of The Week
