Concert Review: John O’Hurley Recollects On His Passion For Acting At The Cafe Carlyle
John O Hurley, in concert, is noble, charming, and classic. Naturally, I hold my breath when someone says they miss the “old, glory days”, when life was better. Historically, I cannot say there was ever a ”glory day” for humanity, but every human being is their own world, and, for that reason, when he or she looks back on their life, they may see the grass of their memories as greener. O’ Hurley’s new show at the Café Carlyle is nostalgic in both style and heart.
John O Hurley has given us some of the funniest, most memorable characters from Cheers to Seinfeld. Yet, his new show, A Man With Standards, is a look back to how he discovered as a child his love for acting and discovered, as a man, his talent for it. The difference is blatant; we all love singing, but not all of us are “good” singers. Thus, A Man With Standards is more than just a personal call to the days when people danced and dined, all at once, and got their hair “Done!” as O’ Hurley humorously quipped. It is also a call for talent and genuine, human connection to matter more than anything; more than the chaos and pageantry that seems to be both politics and entertainment. As O’ Hurley beautifully said, “It takes year to nurture an artist, but it takes moments to destroy him”. Thus, A Man With Standards is O’Hurley’s hilarious and heartfelt journey into protecting his passion for singing and acting, while countering the many moments and persons that would try to take it.
O’ Hurley is sincerely lovable. He even smiles as he sings, which shows that his inner giddiness is unstoppable. From stories of how he would sing to his mom, as a kid, her favorite song “Moon River” to how in love he is with his son, O’Hurley’s heart seems to burst gold and kindness from the stage because you feel as if he is genuinely happy. It is unusual to say that the best thing about a man’s performance is that he seems happy, but, again, as Hurley marveled media has become addicted to chaos. The joy of living, for however simple and universal, does not seem good enough to entertain anymore. Thus, in essence, O’Hurley’s performance is a reminder that good people and good talent can be fun. The night tussles between O’Hurley’s self-deprecating jokes, admiration for his family and Anthony Newley, and songs from “The Great American Songbook” like, Frank Sinatra’s “You Are My Song” and Bobby Darin’s “Beyond The Sea”. O’Hurley even took the time to sing one of his own compositions to his wife “The Greatest Love The World Has Every Known”. Unsurprisingly, it was a sweet, gentle tune just the man himself.
Whether he is crooning “Razzle Dazzle” or joking about his act oral debut as a marigold when he was 5, O’Hurley shows that he has passion for a genuine talent. His ex-friend, Martin, may have told him he could not sing, but he sure did and is at The Cafe Carlyle. To see John O’Hurley’s run April 8 and learn more about the Cafe Carlyle Click Here.
