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Craig Rubano: Finishing The Act

At: The Laurie Beechman Theater

Reviewer: David Roberts for Theatre Reviews Limited

Craig Rubano has everything going for him. Since this reviewer first saw him on Broadway as Marius in "Les Miserables" Mr. Rubano has maintained his beautiful voice, fine-tuning it to a sensual, haunting instrument one could listen to for hours. His is a voice and a presence one would definitely return to hear and see after the end of any first act of any theatrical performance.

Finishing first acts is the subject of Craig Rubano's recent run at the West Bank Café's Laurie Beechman Theatre and of his new CD by the same name as the cabaret show: "Finishing the Act: Act One Finales from Broadway." (AF Records HR 13680)

After sorting through innumerable first act finales, Mr. Rubano has come up with a dozen songs (thirteen on the CD) that he feels are worthy of special mention and special attention by his new show which will hopefully have a local run somewhere after its close at the outstanding Laurie Beechman.

Backed up by an incredible five piece ensemble, Mr. Rubano treats the audience to "Give My Regards to Broadway" (George M. Cohan/rev. Mary Cohan); "Anything Goes" (Cole Porter); "The Impossible Dream" (Mitch Leigh/Joe Darion); "I'm Flying" (Mark Charlap/Carolyn Leigh); "Where Do I Go?" (Galt MacDermot/Gerome Ragni and James Rado); "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" (Richard Rogers/Oscar Hammerstein II); and "Father to Son" (William Finn).

Other than the odd "Dream Ballet" which consists of songs from nine Broadway musicals, the show works very well and gives the audience the opportunity to enjoy Mr. Rubano's impressive high energy talent and delicious bits from his quite interesting life.

But the voice is the thing! And Craig Rubano has a voice one savors and remembers. This artist's voice and Christopher Marlowe's arrangement of "Anything Goes" is an unabashedly sensual interpretation of the often blandly sung "Anything Goes." Rubano gives Porter a spin that "sweeps us up" to where the lyrics meant us to be.

Mr. Rubano adds Spanish lyrics (Carlos Viniegra) to his rendition of "The Impossible Dream" and the result is powerful. The audience hears a clear, soaring falsetto in "I'm Flying" and a tender, sweet clarion strain running through Christopher Marlowe's beautiful arrangement of William Finn's "Father to Son." Though Finn's father urges his son to "sing for himself as we march along," Craig Rubano thankfully chooses to sing for all of us as we journey through life.

In a sense, Mr. Rubano has come to one (of many) ends of a first act in his career. There is every reason to return to see his second act, wherever or whenever that begins. One would hope very soon. And when the curtain rises on that second act, this critic's only wish (we're allowed three aren't we?) is that Mr. Rubano continues to travel inward to the nooks and crannies of his varied and deep experiences and emerges willing to connect what is clearly at his center to the songs he will choose to sing. This stronger connection to the material he sings can only make an already stunning performer even better. Make that two wishes (critic's prerogative)! Go see Craig Rubano at the West Bank Café's Laurie Beechman Theatre.

And be sure to purchase the debut CD where Craig Ruban is joined by Catherine Hickland, Andrea McArdle, Alice Ripley and Marsh Hanson for some very good listening. That was three wishes.

Reviewed on Sunday, February 27, 2000

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Directed by Scott Barnes. Musical Director, Alex Rybeck. Movement Master, Laurent Giroux. A Robert Lang Production at the Laurie Beechman Theater at the Westbank Café, 407 West 42nd Street. Performance schedule: Saturday, March 18th at 8:00 p.m.; Sunday, March 19th at 7:00 p.m.; and Monday, March 20th at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $20.00. A one-drink minimum is waived with dinner at the Café. Reservations: (212) 695-6909. Visit Mr. Rubano's website at www.craigrubano.com.

WITH: Alex Rybeck, piano (Mark Hummell on March 18th); Richard Sarpola, bass; Warren Odze, drums/percussion; Greg Utzig, guitar; and Dan Willis, alto sax/clarinet/English horn; flute. Music preparation by Ryan Shore.

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