In Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin, Felder transforms into this American composer, telling his life story
and playing his songs. Berlin has a long list of legendary compositions with a
resume of 18 Broadway shows, 16 featured films, 232 top 10 hits and 10 number
one hits. This was a night to
meet the man behind the music- a man who
loved music and America, a man with a philosophy that “if you can sing you will
never give up” in life.
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| Felder looked, sounded and gave an intimate encounter with Irving Berlin |
Reflection
Felder,
an accomplished pianist not only looked, sounded and could play the music of Irving Berlin, but his portrayal gave the audience an
intimate encounter with this great
musician. The play opens in Berlin’s living room with a baby grand piano, front
and center, on Christmas eve. Fedler as
Berlin took us on a historical ride as he tells the stories behind Berlin’s
music from 1880’s to 1980’s (watch here).
Berlin
lived a song filled life for over a century. His family escaped Russian persecution
immigrating to America where their family of six shared one room in NYC. His
father, a canter, instilled the love of music in his soul. Although he had no formal
training, this self -taught artist navigated through life by writing songs.
The audience sang along to his first hit
Alexandra’s
Rag Time Band, that established him as an international song writer for
most of the 20th century.
I did not know much about this composer but Felder’s
research gave us a vivid glimpse of the
man who had a resume of over 1000 compositions. Felder animated the stories behind
music often times with punches of humor. Even if you did not know some of the songs,
you enjoyed celebrating Berlins life that epitomized the American dream. He was
a man that went from singing on the street corner and a singing waiter in Chinatown,
to finding successes in Hollywood (composing musicals for dancers Fred Astaire
and Ginger Rodgers) and on Broadway (Annie Get Your Gun).
Felder in
this one man show within minutes had you
believing that you were having an encounter with Irving Berlin. We laughed with
him, felt the sadness of the passing of his first wife, felt excited when he found love
again with socialite, Ellin Mackay and more.
The show portrayed
the binding thread of Berlin ’s lifelong heartfelt affection for writing
songs and his desire to gift his songs to the country that he loved. He served in World War I composing, Hate to Get Up in the Morning and donated all the proceeds to Army Relief . I was surprised that
he authored, God Bless America, and
again gave back all the proceeds to Boy Scouts of America.
Felder gave us all an amazing ride of this showman’s
life as he skillfully played the songs live. Ending as a 101 year old Berlin,
Felder reminded us that just like in the love song Always, written for his second wife of 62 years, Berlin “always” had a song in heart that expressed
the “American experience” of the time.
(Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin runs from December
19-30, 2018 at the O’Rielly Theater. For tickets go to ppt.org. PPT's next show should be a new experience, the Shakespeare classic The Tempest, with an all female cast and film and Broadway celebrity, Tamara Tunie.)
Spiritual Source
Though he my stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.
(Psalm 37:24)
Other Sources
Though he my stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.
(Psalm 37:24)
Other Sources
