A rambunctious rendering of songs by all-time favorite-in-every-genre composer and performer Billy Joel finds The Uptown Boys in sync with the Master’s rhythms, rimes, recitals at Florida Studio Theater’s Court Cabaret. They may be rooted in New York experience and psychology, but Sarasota audiences don’t hesitate to clap and hum along as if every song also “belongs” to them.
Against a beautifully draped background, lit with changing imposed designs or monotone but in changing colors, a trio illustrates their experiences with Broadway music and motion. They nicely stick to their costumes of mottled-gray formal jackets, white shirts, black ties and trousers, allowing them physical freedom in their many choreographically energetic routines.
High-energy highlights include “Movin’ Out“ early on and a much later “Rock Medley” of Billy Joel’s “You May Be Right,” “Still Rock and Roll to Me,’ “Easy Money,” and “Christie Lee.”
In Act I. Michael Fasano takes the lead at first with slower songs like “Only the Good Die Young.” Sergi Robles is the next “leader” and Hank Von Kolnitz is the last—but there’s not a song without cooperation among all eventually. Each of the men has his own personality in singing such numbers as “Tell Her About It” and the almost- crooned “For The Longest Time.”
Probably the best of Billy Joe’s ‘70s hits, “Piano Man” comes near the close of Act I. Surprise: the piano is on record. It gets wonderful results from the close workings together of The Uptown Boys with FST’s sound tech. “River of Dreams” (1993) brings the Boys all the way downstage on stools.
A “Love Medley” is the beginning highlight of Act II, with three songs from three decades: Sergi doing “She’s Always a Woman,” Michael with “She’s Got a Way,” and Hank’s substantial “To Make You Feel My Love.” From a Broadway show, the Boys perform “You’re Only Human (Second Wind)” as it might have been done in 1985.
After the above- mentioned “Rock Medley” comes another group of songs, each featuring one of the Uptown Boys. “We Didn’t Start the Fire” ends a very lively revue, again featuring a spontaneously clapping audience. Considering the many different genres of Billy Joel’s iconic songs (pop, folk, doo-wop, different kinds of rock & roll, even ballads), there is something for everyone to like at FST’s Court Cabaret as summer moves toward fall.
