Yes, yet another online charity concert, all recorded by the artistes in isolation in their own homes to either backing tracks or accompanying themselves. This particular concert was conceived and produced by both Playbill and The Broadway League and the concert was championing and supporting the Latino community on Broadway through the charities Broadway Cares and Broadway Bridges.
This was a concert by Latino performers celebrating their identity and their place in American Musical Theatre, especially on Broadway. As well as having a compere for the concert, Andrea Burns, most of the songs showcased had added intros from others in one way or another connected to the piece either as writer, performer or family. This did lengthen the concert somewhat, and lessened the impact of each item and the aim of the concert as a whole, although it was nice to hear from people such as Gloria Estefan, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Chita Rivera.
Starting with 'In The Heights / Carnaval Del Barrio' from the Musical, 'In The Heights', it was clear that this was a very skillfully, lovingly, and carefully put together concert. There was clever and well executed choreography, there were costumes, professionally recorded backing tracks, and the editing and montaging of all the performers from their places of self-isolation was slick and clever.
The second item in the concert was a little of a curiosity for me, as it was a translation into Spanish by Lin-Manuel Miranda of the plaintive song from 'West Side Story', 'A Boy Like That', titled now, 'Un Hombre Asi'. This was followed by the equally beautiful (in English) 'I Have A Love', and the songs were sung with passion and sincerity by two very talented performers, Karen Olivio and Shereen Pimentel.
Among the standard repertoire; ie; Musicals which have been made popular and available in the UK, then my favourites came from Robin De Jesus singing, 'Dressing Them Up' from 'Kiss Of The Spiderwoman', three songs from the Paul Simon musical, 'The Capeman', and the interesting curiosity of Antonio Banderas and the original company performing, 'One' in the first Spanish language production (in Spain) of 'A Chorus Line'.
This concert also introduced me to many completely unknown Musicals, most of which have yet to make their way across the pond. From these, my favourites were - and again, please excuse my obvious subjectivity here, but I simply cannot list and comment on them all: 'Exodo' from 'Arrabal', 'Everyday' from 'Lives In Limbo', 'Tradicion' from 'On Your Feet', and my absolute favourite from the whole concert was the 2019 original cast coming together in an American style hoedown of a piece which had my feet tapping, my body swaying and a big smile on my face, 'As I Go Passing Through' from 'Passing Through'.
This 100 minute concert, streamed via YouTube, was very professionally executed, but despite it being for charity, there was generally too much chatter and 'hard sell' which distracted from the mostly excellent performances.
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 4/10/20
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