Lea Salonga shines in ‘New York in June’ at Café Carlyle
By Sandi Durell
With a smile and personality that could melt Old Scrooge instantly, Lea Salonga is right at home in the intimacy of the beautiful Café Carlyle where she is currently ensconced, returning for her second year. Her real home is in the Philippines with her husband and five year old daughter.
In a delightfully intertwined medley of “Orange Colored Sky,” “The More I See You” and “How About You?” the clarity and purity of her lovely soprano make it easy to listen.
Since she tours worldwide, the appropriateness of Johnny Cash’s “I’ve Been Everywhere” displayed not only a list but the ease with which she can mix varieties of material, including songs in her native tongue, evident throughout the evening.
Salonga made her mark on Broadway in her Tony Award winning performance in Miss Saigon, also garnering the Olivier, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Theatre World Awards. She was the first Asian to take on the role of Eponine in Les Miz.
It’s obvious she’s a crackerjack at beautiful ballads like “Love, Look Away” and a good pairing of a meaningful rendition of “How Do You Keep The Music Playing?/How Deep Is The Ocean?” – but also shows great wit and style with Rupert Holmes’ cleverly worded “Nearsighted.”
Included are a slow “Nice Work If You Can Get It” and the rapid-fire of Sondheim’s “Everybody Says Don’t.”
Salonga has a beautifully flowing voice but works too hard at patter which, at times, comes across as though she is reading a script. That aside, she presents a thoroughly enjoyable evening of song.
She is preparing to workshop a new musical “Allegiance,” with George Takei, about a Japanese-American family during WWII and their internment.
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She is accompanied by Larry Yurman, Musical Director/Arranger with John Miller on bass and Jack Cavari on guitar. www.thecarlyle.com 212 744-1600
