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CABARET REVIEW

AUSSIE PECS HIS WAY IN PETER ALLEN TRIBUTE

FRANK SCHECK - NEW YORK POST

MAYBE it takes an Aussie to get the most from Peter Al len's music. On the heels of Hugh Jackman's triumphant turn in Broadway's "The Boy From Oz" comes his countryman Darren Williams, who's presenting his own tribute, "The Peter Allen Songbook," at the intimate Metropolitan Room.

Williams looks and sounds nothing like Allen, and brings no fey mannerisms or camp to his renditions. But he's fully capable of conveying the composer's vast emotional range, from good-natured defiance ("Not the Boy Next Door") to exuberant joy ("I Go to Rio"), from bittersweet reflection ("I Could Have Been a Sailor") to bitter cynicism ("I've Been Taught by Experts").

Nor does he neglect Allen's florid side. Williams swivels his hips on the double-entendre-heavy "Two Boys" and high-kicks through "Everything Old Is New Again." His exposed pecs even bounce in rhythm to the burlesque-style "Knockers" from the ill-fated musical "Legs Diamond." (No need to applaud the pecs then, by the way -- they're unveiled again at the finale for their own ovation.)

Not all of the material works. Allen's biggest hits -- "Don't Cry Out Loud" and "I Honestly Love You" -- are presented in an awkwardly arranged medley. And "Arthur's Theme" is reduced to a stunt, with Williams unveiling his falsetto while singing to multitracks of his own voice.

Even so, this dynamic performer -- who narrates the proceedings with an affectionate recounting of Allen's life -- has a considerable vocal range, a powerful voice and crowd-pleasing style. He won't be Down Under much longer.

DARREN WILLIAMS Metropolitan Room, 34 W. 22nd St.; 212-206-0440. Through Sept. 13.

Click here to read the full review .

CABARET HOTLINE

by Stu Hamstra

It's not your "grandmother's cabaret" anymore. If you like your cabaret big, bold and sassy, have I got a show for you! If you like your cabaret in the "nightclub" style introduced lately by such folks as Lennie Watts, Terese Genecco, Marcus Simeone, Marilyn Maye, Shaynee Rainbolt and other recent MAC Award winners, have I got a show for you! If you like your cabaret to be hand-clapping, foot-stomping, "I want to sing along" entertainment, have I got the show for you! Darren Williams took the METROPOLITAN ROOM by storm on Tuesday night, the 25th of August with his 7:30 show "Not The Boy Next Door: The Peter Allen Songbook." And if you have no idea who Peter Allen was - this is the one you must see, done in his style - big, bold and sassy! All the Peter Allen hits were included, as well as some lesser known tunes. Many of the fascinating Peter Allen anecdotes were told as well, as introductions to the various tunes that seemed to follow the Allen story from childhood on. Mr. William's is blessed with vocals to fit the Allen songbook - and a captivating style and charismatic personality that had the audience singing along at times, cheering him on at times, and loving his every word and note. One should not overlook the fantastic "little little" band of three(Musical director John DiPinto, John Miller on bass and Bobby Sher on percussion). They sounded like a band of six! The show was non-stop excitement from the very first song (the title song of the show) to the rousing "I Go To Rio" that ended the show. This show has three more outings in NYC - including tonight at 7:30 pm and Sundays, September 6th & 13th at 9:30 pm.

CABARET SCENES

Darren Williams - Not the Boy Next Door - The Peter Allen Songbook.

Sandi Durell, Cabaret Scenes - Original Source

If Michelangelo’s “David” magically let his hair grow and suddenly broke into song in the middle of the piazza in Florence, you might be tempted to say, “Wow, he reminds me of that Aussie, Darren Williams! Such was the impact that this charismatic “hunk” from Australia had when he took the stage at New York’s Metropolitan Room on Tuesday, August 25th for the first of four shows to perform his tribute, “Not The Boy Next Door,” The Peter Allen Songbook.

Williams made his first stage appearance at age seven, winning several medals for singing at Sydney’s Opera House. He’s perfected his craft and has that unusual ability to sing anything from pop to opera using a wide vocal range.

From rags to riches best describes singer/songwriter Peter Allen who left us with a treasure trove of his musical genius, inspiring Williams to celebrate that music. Williams has an uncanny look, feel and charisma reminiscent of Allen and more than does justice to the variety of material presented. “I Could Have Been A Sailor,” “Harbour” and “I’d Rather Leave While I’m In Love” were cleverly interwoven, expressing Allen’s realities of Judy Garland’s orchestrating his meeting and marrying Liza at the age of twenty, a marriage that lasted only two years. The gentle and meaningful rock timbre Williams brought to this trilogy, together with mid-song information, were enhanced only by the powerful flow of emotion.

Sad, reflective “Two Boys” is a brilliant look at two brothers who grow up with everything the same yet one let’s the girls go by and the other doesn't. “Quiet Please, There’s A Lady On Stage” was Allen’s homage to cabaret’s beloved Julie Wilson.

The intertwining arrangement of hit songs “Don’t Cry Out Loud” and “I Honestly Love You” was beautifully augmented when Williams sat down at the piano to accompany himself, continuing the upward spiral of naked emotions with “Tenterfield Saddler” (written by Allen as a tribute to Grandpa George). “Arthur’s Theme” was a clever assembly of Williams own vocal parts (as his back-up singers!) on a tape recorder that Williams kept topping with his smooth falsetto as contrast to the mix. Novelty song “Knockers” was a cutesy interlude.

The impact and complexity of Allen’s music is never lost as audience-pleaser Williams engages with every inch of his body, giving a soulful and passionate performance. Had he a larger stage, Williams’ energetic, sexy rendition of “I Go To Rio” would probably still be going on! Picturing Williams in a Las Vegas setting with a large orchestra and real back up singers is not far fetched. His rockin’ band on August 25th consisted of musical director John DiPinto with John Miller on bass (he was Peter Allen’s bassist) and Bobby Sher on percussion.

You’re in for a treat if you can catch Williams at the Metropolitan Room on August 27, September 6 or September 13.

At The Ritz!

Darren Williams - "Not The Boy Next Door - The Peter Allen Songbook"

Lynn DiMenna - At The Ritz!

If Michelangelo’s “David” magically let his hair grow and suddenly broke into song in the middle of the piazza in Florence, you might be tempted to say, “Wow, he reminds me of that Aussie, Darren Williams!

Such was the impact that this charismatic “hunk” from Australia had when he took the stage at New York’s Metropolitan Room on Tuesday, August 25th for the first of four shows to perform his tribute, “Not The Boy Next Door,” The Peter Allen Songbook.

From the get-go, it was obvious his opening night audience was in for an exhilarating ride! He led us, with a well-paced song list, on a journey that covered the highlights of Peter Allen’s life, from his humble beginnings in Australia to the heights of sold out shows at New York’s Radio City Music Hall.

Williams evokes much of Allen’s essence without attempting to imitate and it’s no wonder that he’s been awarded many of Australia’s top honors for excellence in live entertainment. He’s a natural, exuberant showman and he displayed impressive vocal power, range and agility on show stopper numbers like “Everything Old is New Again,” “When I Get My Name In Lights and “I Go to Rio.” He also revealed a charmingly tender side with his medley of “6:30 Sunday Morning” and Two Boys.” When the zipper on his sweater came down to reveal a pair of perfect pecs that literally “danced to the music” and his hips gyrated and swiveled to the beat in a pair of well-fitting black leather pants, you knew he had the makings of a full-fledged star who, in the not so distant future, could easily find his name on a Las Vegas marquis.

Following this New York engagement, which ends on September 13th, he’s off to headline on Cunard’s new Queen Victoria luxury liner! Better catch him now or you might have a very long wait!

Darren Williams Peter Allen Show at Metropolitan Room One More Show

Darren Williams: Not the Boy Next Door: The Peter Allen Songbook - Metropolitan Room

TALKIN' BROADWAY - ALL THAT CHAT

Darren Williams, a strong masculine singer from Australia, performs a tribute show to one of Australia's most favorite sons, the late Peter Allen. Williams does not do an imitation. Williams, who won the Peter Allen Australian Variety Entertainer of the Year Award before he had any Peter Allen song in his repertoire, creates his own excitement by utilizing his own gifted musical and movement skills to expose an audience to all the sensitivity and exciting thrills of the Peter Allen songbook. Clad in leather pants and tight white shirt, his powerful voice rocks the room immediately with "Not The Boy Next Door." Calming down, he tells of Allen's struggling family background and goes movingly right into three tender biographical ballads, "Pretty Keen Teen," "I Could Have Been A Sailor," and "Harbour."

Williams tells of Allen's discovery by Judy Garland and his brief marriage to her daughter, and applies the sweetly sad "I'd Rather Leave While I'm In Love" and "Don't Wish Too Hard" to that part of the biography. I don't think anyone, including Hugh Jackman, sings these songs with the emotion that Williams creates. There were many tearful eyes in the audience. After the breakup with Minnelli, Williams takes off with "Continental American," changes pace with soft versions of "6;30 Sunday Morning" and "Two Boys", and then rips into the 1974 "Bi-Coastal," revealing the overt sexuality that Allen was one of the pioneers singing about. Sitting on top of the piano, Williams delivers the heartbreak of "I've Been Taught By Experts." He discusses the inspiration for "Quiet Please, There's A Lady On Stage." Williams tells us that Allen, seeing a performance by Julie Wilson at Brothers and Sisters, passed a note to some talkative tourists at another table with that phrase. After the performance Allen went home and wrote the song. Williams then sings the song, with the audience chiming in and clapping on the familiar chorus "put your hands together" and you get the same kind of excitement that Peter Allen in person delivered.

Williams settles down at the piano and sings a sweet medley of Allen's big pop hits, "Don't Cry Out Loud" and "I Honestly Love You". He follows that with the sad song Allen wrote about his father, "Tenterfield Saddler" and a rousing version of "Everything Old Is New Again". He has a lot of fun with the story behind the Academy Award winning "Arthur's Theme", repeating again and again (with multi tracks of his own harmony) the phrase that Allen thought up when his plane was circling LaGuardia for several hours.

He tenderly sings a song from Legs, Allen's flop musical, "Once Before I Go. " Performed with maracas given to him by the women who made them for Allen, "I Go To Rio" is the big finish. Williams shakes those maracas and moves all over the stage. It is during this number that Williams unzips his tight white shirt, revealing sculpted hairy pecs and abs that Harry Connick Jr. and Nathan Gunn would envy! Besides that, he is able to do what Jayne Mansfield used to do on Jack Paar, he wiggles and moves those pectoral muscles in alternating rhythm as he sings the song! It's hilarious, inspired, and a raise-the-roof rousing pleasure. Williams is rare, unique, an extraordinary talent soon to be as famous as Allen was in his lifetime.

One more performance Sunday September 13th at 9:30 PM. Metropolitan Room Reservations 212 206-0440.

Williams sold out last Sunday so reservations are recommended.

BroadwayWorld.com