City Cabaret Library and Reviews
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Mary Cleere
Haran “SINGS DORIS DAY” October 16 –
27, 2007 |
Doris Day, usually pinpointed as
sparkle and verve, sang with a uniquely personal approach. She often said that when she sings, she is
singing to just one person.
After years of studying and admiring the star, Mary Cleere Haran brings
her own intimate vocal style to her tribute to Doris Day at Feinstein's at the
Regency. Since Haran's style always
includes witty and informative commentary, she boosts this show with memories
of interviewing Doris Day in 1991, while working on a PBS documentary, A Sentimental Journey.
Haran recognizes how unappreciated Doris Day
is, despite the fact that Day was the most popular and valued box office film
actress during the middle of the last century.
She not only starred in musicals during the genre's Golden Age, but she
appeared in film dramas, and she ended her career with comic flair in films
like Pillow Talk and later a
television series. She recorded hit songs, like It's Magic, from her first film, Romance on the High Seas, Secret Love from Calamity Jane, and Teacher's
Pet from the film, Teacher's Pet. Mary Cleere Haran did not include any of
these songs, but those she did choose define the many moods of Doris Day and
the circuitous, unhappy path of Day's life through the band days, the film era,
and her four failed marriages. Doris Day
was portrayed back in the day as the girl next door, yet Haran delivers two Rodgers
and Hart songs that sadly reveal what lay behind the façade, Little Girl Blue and Why Can't I?.
Songs like the upbeat Day by
Day, Day In, Day Out, and a
cheeky Shanghai, displayed the
optimistic spirit that kept Day going despite the troubles in her life. Perhaps,
Perhaps, Perhaps is a reminder of that often hidden side of Doris Day, the
one under a knockout figure and a husky sensuous vocal tone. Haran's luscious low tones bring out the
romance in songs like Imagination and
the nostalgic Sentimental Journey,
Day's first hit song and still a touchstone for the soldiers of World War
II.
Haran became entranced with Day when, against her wishes, she was
convinced to see the Ruth Etting very loose biography,
Love Me or Leave Me. A series of songs from the film are
included, although not the title song. Haran did perform a standout I'll Never Stop Loving You, which was written for the film.
Another poignant highlight came after Haran's comments about her
conversations with Day, a pairing that sums up both the show and Day's professional
and personal life; Haran's
combination of Toyland with Que Sera, Sera, was redolent of the
thoughtful ironies of life and its unexpected turns.
Smart, witty, and
multi-faceted Mary Cleere Haran is not to be missed for her appreciation and
her empathy for the many sides of Doris Day.
The show was
directed by Richard-Jay Alexander, and also featured musical
director Don Rebic
on piano, Chip Jackson on bass
and Jim Hirschman on guitar.
Elizabeth Ahlfors
October 17, 2007
Send suggestions and comments to
ahlfors@citycabaret.com