By Laura Kennelly
Maurice Hinds and his brother Gregory performed with show biz greats: that pretty much sums up what The Cleveland Play House’s Maurice Hines is Tappin’ Thru Life is all about.
Director Jeff Calhoun and Hines have created a review in the simple sense of the word. Hines looks again (re-views) how he and his brother Gregory got their start, who they knew (everybody), and where they danced. There’s little personal drama (don’t go looking for a One Night with Janis Joplin type explosion), but plenty of evidence of hard work, persistence, and–oh yes–loads of talent.
The Cleveland Play House’s Allen Theatre always provides “front row” seats with clear sight lines so it wasn’t that hard to pretend we were sitting around cosy tables in a club as Hinds reminisced about his life and career. The fabulously footed Manzari Brothers (I would have enjoyed seeing even more of Leo and John Manzari) gave a hint of what the Hines brothers must have been like as youngsters.
All were happily supported by The Diva Orchestra (all nine musical divas and show-offs in the very best way).
On opening night, Hines sang more than he danced, but the memories he shared of times onstage and off with younger brother Gregory Hines (who died far too young of cancer) reminded us stars who paved the way. Hines offered welcome and plentiful samplings of songbooks made famous by iconic performers Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, Lena Horne, and Judy Garland. Finally, to close the show, he danced his socks off (as we used to say) with an awesome and extended tapping set, thus ending the show on a high kick.
Bottom line: A pleasant evening and a saunter down memory lane.
Maurice Hines is Tappin’ Thru Life runs through June 29, 2014 in the Allen Theatre at PlayhouseSquare. For tickets visit http://clevelandplayhouse.com or call 216-400-7027.
Laura Kennelly is a freelance arts journalist, a member of the Music Critics Association of North America, and an associate editor of BACH, a scholarly journal devoted to J. S. Bach and his circle.Listening to and learning more about music has been a life-long passion. She knows there’s no better place to do that than the Cleveland area.
Cleveland, OH 44115