Don’t Tell Mama, a piano bar and cabaret venue, just wrapped up its weeklong run of the show 3 Tenors…In Search of an Act 2. The show is the second coming of a trio that includes veteran performers Bill Brooks, Edd Clark, and Steven Tharp. Paul Stephan is the musical director and arranger and grounds the group on stage as the pianist. The group originally formed in 2005, bringing together these three solo artists to do a run of 3 Tenors… in Search of an Act. That show had a successful run that included 30 performances and a Bistro Award.
Seeing this show will make the viewer wonder why there was a six-year gap for this trio. The answer is pretty simple—each of the men has his own career, among other obligations. But the good news is, they came back for a run and will hopefully be coming back for more. All of the songs were entertaining, either because of their comedy or because of their emotion. Several of the songs featured all three performers, and those tended to be the funnier pieces, either because of the actual songs or because of the playful nature of the three guys on stage. Predictably and humorously, they made a to-do about this being a reunion. The solos, on the other hand, were more emotional and were also the songs that highlighted the undeniable singing talents of all three.
Cabaret shows in general are intimate, and this show finds a way to be noticeably intimate, as the three men joke together on stage as if they’ve been friends since grade school. The solos showcase each performer’s unique style and highlight their differences. Brooks has a background that mainly includes Broadway and cabaret, while Tharp’s experience is almost entirely opera. Clark has a more varied history that is heavy in opera and musical theatre. The three are cohesive on stage, moving around easily and making smooth transitions between songs.
Don’t Tell Mama’s cozy theatre is located in the heart of the theatre district, on West 46th Street. The theatre space is traditional—there are three rows of tables, two along the walls and one down the middle. There is one hostess/waitress who seats guests and then takes drink orders. The first drink is delivered before the show starts and the empty glass or bottle is stealthily swapped out for a full one about halfway through the show.
These 3 tenors are extremely likeable, both on stage and off. In addition to their four regular shows, they presented a special benefit performance on Saturday night for New Alternatives, a New York City organization with the mission of improving the lives of LGBT homeless youth. (See our story on New Alternatives). The 3 tenors picked New Alternatives as the beneficiary for their performance because of their dedication to LGBT youth, and promoted the fundraiser during their other shows. Further showing off their down to earth qualities, the guys invited the audience to join them and to say hello at the bar after the show.
Keep your eyes and ears open for the third coming of these three guys. Successful solo performers, they seem to have found the right counterparts for each other, not to mention the right venue for their group. The cabaret setting allows them to showcase their singing talents while maximizing their ability to connect with the audience through comedy. Let’s just hope it’s not another six years before we see them again.
