THE HANGOVER REPORT – Farah Alvin & Eden Espinosa: A pair of big Broadway belters thrill in a GR42 doubleheader

Last night, I did something I hadn’t done since the pre-pandemic days – that is, to indulge in a cabaret doubleheader. The venue was the Green Room 42, one of the first cabaret venues to present live shows when they were allowed to come back – with heavy restrictions – in early April. I’m thrilled to report that the club has since brought back food and beverage service before and during its shows (happily, the venue’s tradition of not enforcing minimums remains intact), as well as continued to loosen mask and social distancing policies. After some rather dark days, it’s deeply encouraging to see things blossoming back to relative normalcy.

Farah Alvin performs at the Green Room 42.

The 7pm slot was graced by big-voiced Farah Alvin, whose Broadway credits include the revivals of Grease (the one with Rosie O’Donnell, to be precise) and Nine, as well as the new musical It Shoulda Been You. During the pandemic, Ms. Alvin sought solace in 1970s American pop culture, which is the inspiration for Farah Alvin B-SIDE, her latest cabaret act. There’s something refreshing and endearing about the musical theater actress’s open-hearted vocal style and onstage banter. Indeed, Ms. Alvin’s upbeat, girl-next-door persona seems a throwback from another era and a particularly good match for the unabashed sentiments of the 1970s pop songbook, which she clearly has a genuine affinity to and affection for. Throughout the act, Ms. Alvin’s powerhouse belt was on full display and was especially potent in a disarmingly direct rendition of “Life on Mars?, as well as a gutsy take on “Solitaire”, the evening’s 11 o’clock number.

Eden Espinosa performs at the Green Room 42.

Then after a quick cocktail interlude at the West Bank Cafe (an establishment, beloved by industry folks, that has thankfully weathered the pandemic, but just barely), I returned to GR42 to attend Eden Espinosa’s show at 9:30pm. In contrast to the jovial vibe thrown off by Ms. Alvin, Ms. Espinosa – best known for having headlined Brooklyn, Wicked, and Rent on the Great White Way – is a sassier personality who (in-) famously uses a more contemporary, riff-heavy approach in her song interpretations. Her show is also more loosely and organically structured, relying instead on audience interaction and spontaneous musings to fuel the evening (her impromptu rendition of “Maybe This Time”, which was suggested by yours truly, was a highlight of the show). However, despite their inherent differences, these musical theater contemporaries do share striking similarities – namely, comparable career trajectories, as well as belts of thrilling power.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED


FARAH ALVIN / EDEN ESPINOSA
Cabaret
The Green Room 42
Each approximately 1 hour, 15 minutes
Check the GR42 website for the venue’s schedule

Categories: Cabaret, Music, Other Music

Leave a Reply