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A CurtainUp Review
Porterphiles
A new revue of unknown/unpublished Cole Porter songs

by Carolyn Balducci

You are mine tonight
My heart is as light
as the white wings of the dove.

---"At Last in Your Arms" by Cole Porter from Balalaika (unproduced film)
Lynne Halliday, Russell, and  Stephen Zinnia<
Lynne Halliday, Russell, and Stephen Zinnia
(Photo: Carol Rosegg)
Composer and lyricist Cole Porter(1891- 1964), one of the most influential and popular of American songwriters, wrote more musical scores for the stage and screen than seems humanly possible -- over thirty Broadway and Hollywood musical comedies. By 1944, he had five smash Broadway hits -- DuBarry Was a Lady, Panama Hattie, Let's Face it, Something for the Boys, and Mexican Hayride - plus a number of Hollywood musicals.

Porter's other hits were Anything Goes, Gay Divorcee and Can-Can. His urbane lyrics combined with memorable melodies transformed the American musical theater. Kiss Me, Kate (1948), his masterpiece, included songs like "Another Op'nin', Another Show", "Wunderbar"," So in Love" and "Too Darn Hot." Other like "You're the Top", "Night and Day" and "Begin the Beguine" have became timeless standards, performed by artists as disparate as Ella Fitzgerald, Michael Feinstein and Iggy Pop.

Porterphiles, now playing at the York Theater, captures 30 of Porter's previously unproduced songs in a revue threaded together around the ups and downs of friendship and love among a threesome who are splendidly interpreted by Ricky Russell, Stephen Zinatto and Lynne Halliday.

A fourth presence on stage is the vivacious Judy Brown plugging merrily away at the piano. It was Brown who harvested this revue from a crop of over 400 unproduced songs. Several had been cut from productions, while others were part of shows which never saw the light of the Great White Way.

Many of these songs deserve to go into the classic Porter repertoire. The exquisite "At Last in Your Arms, "Kathleen" and "We Shall Never be Younger" rank melodically and emotionally with "Begin the Beguine". Others, such as "The Extra Man", "That's Why I Love You","t; I Wrote a Play", "Tequila" and "Coffee" would contend with "You're the Top" in tempo, zest and humor.

The performers mesh perfectly in duets and trios, and know how to deliver their solos. Lynne Halliday exudes a playful sensuality, especially in her slithery Tallulah Bankhead-like rendition of Pets. Ricky Russell makes a very personal connection with the audience when singing "I'm Yours. " Stephen Zinnato almost stole the show with "I Wrote a Play." The combined force of singing, dancing and acting talent makes this wonderfully entertaining Holiday fare. Don't miss it!

Porterphiles
Conceived by Judy Brown Musical Director: Judy Brown Directed by
Cast: Lynne Halliday, Ricky Russell and Stephen Zinnato
Musical Staging: Barry McNabb.
Set Design: James Morgan
Lighting Design: Mary Jo Dondlinger
Costume Design: Margiann Flanagan
Running Time: 2 Hours including one 15-minute intermission
York Theatre Company, Citicorp Center 619 Lexington Ave (at 54th and Lexington) 212/239-6200
Tue - Sat @8PM, Wed & Sun @2:30PM--$45.12/3/02 to 1/12/03; opening 12/18/02
Reviewed by Carolyn Balducci
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metaphors dictionary cover
6, 500 Comparative Phrases including 800 Shakespearean Metaphors by CurtainUp's editor.
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