Appearing with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra last weekend, Broadway legend Patti LuPone dropped in with much to sing and nothing to promote but herself. Performing the concert from her 1999 solo debut at New York City's Carnegie Hall, "Coulda, Woulda, Shouda," LuPone presented a package of tunes for which she could have, would have and should have performed in her bright and illustrious stage and screen career.
Accompanied by famed New York music director Rob Fisher, LuPone's act also came right from her starring role in Broadway's current smash revival of "Noises Off." Perhaps famously known within the performing industry as a diva (a truly deserving title), her credits are numerous and her talent soars. She pushed her self-admitted throne to the side for a carefree evening of indulgence.
Finally addressing the crowd after an opening bow that could have ended with a standing ovation, but didn't, LuPone belted the tango-tinged "An English Teacher," from "Bye, Bye Birdie," adding comic highlight to the already upbeat song.
When describing her childhood desire to play Peter Pan, she crystallized her frustration with a diva-liscious quip, "I could have been Mary Martin, I could have been Sandy Duncan! But no, you made me Ethel Merman!"
It seems especially worthy to note her often-funny bow and thank you. After each and every song, what is expected to be held to a drawn out final note, ends up being cut short so she can dip her body ever so slightly as to say "thank you" without being overly gracious. That, and a mumble of "thank you," complete with a swish of water, ends as the orchestra wraps up the song, ready to start another show-stopping number.
Before jumping into "Don't Rain On My Parade," LuPone reminisced about auditioning for the famed Julliard School of Drama, joking about her childish audition song, of which the director said afterward, "I'm not sure that's what Shakespeare had in mind." She says with a curtsy, "I got in!"
However bumpy she makes her road to success appear, the shining moment of the evening came with her famous rendition of "Don't Cry For Me, Argentina," which finally did elicit a well-deserved standing ovation. Catching actual tears, or so they appeared, in a tissue, LuPone exited the stage, thanking conductor Fisher and the orchestra for a third time.
Wrapping up a program short even for a Buffalo crowd, LuPone returned for a small handful of non-theater songs, rounding out with Stevie Wonder and a welcomed impromptu a cappella swan song, which the crowd adored. She certainly loves her finales.
"She sure can belt them out. She was fantastic," said Bob Willer of Grand Island. "She's a comedienne, an actress and a powerful singer," Willer's wife Carol put it, summarizing what was a delightful and commanding performance.
The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of assistant musical director Ron Spigelman, performed a set of classic musical theater songs about "women we wish we knew," as he put it, to open the evening's program.
In a wonderful departure from what seems to be Buffalo's rat trap of legitimate guest performers, Patti LuPone brought back to town that charisma, that shine and that talent that made her a star.
