Review: Seattle Men’s Chorus Santa Baby at Benaroya Hall
Whenever Seattle Men’s Chorus opens their holiday show it’s sure to be a star studded event and this year is no exception.
“Santa Baby” kicked off their season during Thanksgiving weekend and featured the amazing and powerful voice of Betty Buckley from Broadway’s CATS (and TV’s Eight is Enough). She was accompanied by her talented pianist Kenny Werner.
This year the show begins with references to Phantom and backed up by Benaroya’s glorious Watjen Concert Organ and featured the usual campy skits with chorus members dressing up and playing all the parts. Also featured is an energetic Bollywood inspired carol celebrating the repeal of India’s long time anti-gay law. The chorus presents a warm and hilarious visit to the classic TV holiday specials with appearances from The Muppets, the characters from Star Wars and even The Partridge Family. Also, Michael Jackson’s “Thiller” Christmas seemed perfectly choreographed.
I was very happy to see the return of “Silent Night” which is such an emotional song that it had people stepping out to the lobby trying to hold back tears probably from the memories of loved ones from past holidays. And of course, the highlight of the evening was at the very end with Betty Buckley’s encore in which she performed “Memory” from CATS like only Betty can. Sadly if you missed it, Betty Buckley was featured only in the first two concerts and will not be appearing in any other performances during December.
You will laugh, you may cry but surely you will be entertained. Don’t miss The Seattle Men’s Chorus celebration of thirty years. They have several concerts at Benaroya this year through December 20, 2009 and they have $20 tickets available on the day of show for Monday December 14, 2009 if you donate one non-perishable food item. For more info and tickets, visit www.flyinghouse.org.
