Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Chris Thile’s personable THE MANHATTAN VARIATIONS champions the city and a good cocktail

• By drediman
• August 16, 2024
• No Comments

On an absolutely gorgeous summer night earlier this week, I had the opportunity of catching Chris Thile’s stab at a solo musical — The Manhattan Variations — at “The Amph” on Little Island. If you haven’t yet seen a show at this comfortable new state-of-the-art outdoor venue on the highly Instagram-able man-made island, I’d highly recommend that you make it a priority to do so. Indeed, set against the stunning backdrop of the Hudson River — these performances commence right around sunset and conclude under the stars — there are few more pleasurable experiences to be had in the city during the dog days of summer. To boot, the price is right with all tickets priced at just $25.

But back to the performance at hand. For those of you unfamiliar with Thile, he was responsible for reviving A Prairie Home Companion, re-inventing the iconic radio show for contemporary audiences in the form of Live from Here. Co-created and directed by wife Claire Coffee, The Manhattan Variationsshowcases Thile’s talents as an accomplished bluegrass mandolinist. Now in his mid-40’s, he still exudes a defiantly youthful quality, which was fully evident in his performance. In short, the highly personable piece is a collection of autobiographical songs that chronicle his New York experience — arriving in the city as a young man, acclimating to its distinct energy and flow, and finally finding a place in its arms. Like many young people who try to make a life for themselves in the city, this translates to many a late night out and about meeting an amalgam of characters. For Thile in particular, this means spending plenty of time in the tiny Lower East Side cocktail bar Milk and Honey, where he meets some of his closest friends and comes to feel a true sense of community.

Ever the infectious and natural storyteller — and a poet at heart — it’s only fitting that Thile would lend his talents to musical theater — or his distinctive version of it. He’s also an instinctual musician, meandering his way through songs in a way that feels organic and spontaneous, almost as if creating them on the spot. Even if his songs do sound a bit similar at times, his evocation of setting and character — and a good cocktail — is invariably vivid and alive. For extra measure, the tireless singer also treated the adoring sold out audience by performing an encore set of some of his hits, including a heartfelt rendition of “Julep”. Throughout it all, Thile overcame the inescapable ambient noises from the surrounding city like a true pro.

RECOMMENDED

THE MANHATTAN VARIATIONS
Off-Broadway, Musical
The Amph at Little Island
1 hour, 20 minutes (without an intermission)
Through August 18