 Linda Eder & Michael Feinstein - "Some enchanted evening… you
will see a stranger, you will see a stranger across a crowded room… and somehow
you'll know, you'll know even then… that somewhere you'll see her again and
again…"
And that is how perhaps one of the most entertaining evenings of my life began.
It was Friday, August 5, 2005, and I was witness to the premiere engagement
weekend of Linda Eder and Michael Feinstein's Two For The Road concert tour at
the South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset, Massachusetts.
If I had to describe the show in under ten words, I'd say "out-of-this-world
concert-comedy fusion." Linda was wonderful; Michael was wonderful; but put them
together and the stage ignited. Their voices, intertwined in glorious harmonies,
cast a spell on the audience. Smiles prevailed and gales of laughter swept
through the tent. Hushed happy sighs of recognition and delight sprinkled the
evening as Linda and Michael performed duet after beloved duet. In a word, it
was enchanting.
And so it was apropos that this concert, on a sweltering yet exhilarating night,
began with the duo singing Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Some Enchanted Evening"
from the musical SOUTH PACIFIC. They received thunderous applause and then
paused to welcome the audience. The comedic, light-hearted and fun mood of the
evening was immediately set as Michael commented, "For those of you expecting
Steve and Eydie, my name's not Steve, I'm Michael," with Linda adding, "and I'm
not Eydie, I'm Eder!"
They went on to perform a jazzy duet of "Teach Me Tonight," followed by a medley
of Stephen Sondheim's "Old Friend" and Cy Coleman/Carolyn Leigh's "I Wanna Be
Yours," that brought down the house. Next was a show-stopping "torch song medley
duet" of Harold Arlen's "Stormy Weather" and "When The Sun Comes Out."
Linda excused herself so that Michael could perform a few solo numbers. Taking a
seat at the piano, Michael accompanied himself on an emotionally charged and
exquisitely sung version of Rodgers and Hart's "My Romance." The entire audience
grooved along with a rockin' performance of Jerry Lee Lewis' "Great Balls Of
Fire" that sent the Richter scale into overdrive.
With Michael still on the piano, Linda returned to the stage and took a seat on
the piano bench next to him. They performed a duet of Henry Mancini and Leslie
Bricusse's "Two For The Road." It was a dulcet ballad sung with pristine clarity
that touched the heart.
Act I wrapped up with a fantastic marathon medley of famous duets, full of
energy, humor and fervent harmonies — "Side By Side/Wherever You Go/I Got You
Babe/The Beat Goes On/Where Is The Love/You're Just In Love/When I'm Calling
You/True Love/This Could Be The Start Of Something Big/Sisters/Something
Stupid/Mockingbird/I Wish I Were In Love Again/Side By Side."
The second portion of the show kicked-off with another wonderful duet medley,
"Me And My Shadow/If I Had You/Blue Skies," after which Linda and Michael
performed a mesmerizing rendition of Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now."
Then Michael announced it was time for his favorite part of the show, "a chance
to listen to Linda sing." With that the crowd went wild and Linda went on to
perform three solo numbers. The first was a medley off the new album, "Almost
Like Being In Love/This Can't Be Love." The new swing arrangement was dynamic
and spirited. The crowd was on their feet for a standing ovation before the song
even ended.
Next was Linda's version of the classic Michel Legrand song "What Are You Doing
The Rest Of Your Life." Here Linda's voice exuded an effervescent quality —
softly carrying the melody through the air and sending tingles down my spine.
Linda then sang "Don't Rain On My Parade" with a voice of unmatched magnitude.
Again a deafening standing ovation ensued.
Michael retuned to the stage and wished Linda, "Good luck with your career!"
which was met with a boisterous and knowing laugh from the audience. Another
well-known and loved Michel Legrand song, "How Do You Keep The Music Playing,"
was next, and just when I was convinced the concert couldn't possibly get any
better, it did. A mind-blowing, sensational, so incredibly bliss-ridden duet
medley of Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra songs was the pièce de résistance.
Linda and Michael were luminesce as they frolicked through these legendary songs
— "The Best Is Yet To Come/Zing! Went The String Of My Heart/Come Fly With
Me/Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody/That's Life/The Trolley Song/I've
Got You Under My Skin/The Boy Next Door/I've Got A Crush On You/San
Francisco/New York, New York/Just In Time."
A stirring duet of "I'd Rather Leave While I'm In Love" topped this precious
evening, with "The Glory Of Love" as an encore performance. Fans leapt to their
feet, screaming, beaming… and no doubt left dreaming of the Two For The Road
Show.
I left the tent that night with a new-found appreciation for the art of the
"duet." Such a night of unadulterated entertainment is rare now a' days… and I'm
sure everyone who experienced Two For The Road, like me, simply can't wait for
Linda and Michael to "duet again."
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