Rita Wilson

Rita Wilson

Café Carlyle, NYC, February 23, 2016

Reviewed by Elizabeth Ahlfors for Cabaret Scenes

Stepping on the Café Carlyle stage looking energetic and high spirited, Rita Wilson delivers an intensely personal show mixing songs of despair and optimism, reflecting the music of life. In her second engagement at the club, she opens with “Cryin’, Cryin'” (Darrell Brown/ Dan Wilson/Rita Wilson), one of many original songs on her upcoming album, Rita Wilson.

“Nothing like kicking off a night with sad songs,” she quipped, indicating that ahead was a snapshot of the ups and downs of life. “Life throws everyone curveballs, but that’s what I like to sing about.” Last year was what she calls her year of survival when she was diagnosed with cancer and had a double mastectomy and reconstruction surgery. In the same period of time, she was starring on Broadway in Larry David’s play, Fish in the Dark. “I survived a major health issue and I survived six months with Larry David.”

Wilson, svelte and vivacious at age 59, commented, “I’m half Bulgarian and half Greek, so I guess that makes me bleak.” Wilson is far from bleak, despite her devastating period in 2015. She leaps into life and opportunities, is currently releasing her second album and touring the country. Taking the Carlyle stage with ease and confidence, she offers mostly original songs in a folk-rock mood and a smoky tone. Included is a loving tribute to her husband, Tom Hanks, “Every Day,” after commenting, “Before I met my husband I never thought I would fall in love.” Hanks had taken a seat at the back of the room, entering and leaving in dimmed lighting.

The peppery and up-tempo “Girls’ Night In” (Rita Wilson/Nathan Chapman and Stephanie Chapman) is a good-time tune of girlfriends getting together to dance, act silly and laugh. Talking about trying Botox one time, she turned to deliver a hilarious take on The Weeknd’s “Can’t Feel My Face,” facial expressions included.

As spirited as Wilson is her band—Rob Monsey on keyboards, drummer Rich Mercurio, Steve Fekete on guitar and backup vocals and Lee Nadel on bass.

Rita Wilson’s appearance at the Café Carlyle runs through Mar. 5.

Tags: American Songbook, Botox, Broadway, Broadway Musicals, Bulgarian, Cabaret, Cabaret Reviews, Cabaret Scenes, Café Carlyle, Can't Feel My Face, cancer, CD, Clubs, Composers, Cryin' Cryin’, Dan Wilson, Darrell Brown, double mastectomy, Elizabeth Ahlfors, Every Day, Fish in the Dark, Girls Night In, Great American Songbook, Greek, Jazz, Jazz Singers, Larry David, Lee Nadel, lyricists, Musicals, Musicians, Nathan Chapman, Nightclubs, NYC, Popular Song, reconstruction surgery, Revues, Rich Mercurio, Rita Wilson, Rob Monsey, Show Tunes, Singers, Songbook, Standards, Stephanie Chapman, Steve Fekete, Supper Clubs, The Weeknd, Tom Hanks, Venues, Vocalists

Category: Cabaret Reviews, New York City, New York City Cabaret Reviews