“Marilyn Maye” at 54 Below
Somehow I’d never seen Marilyn Maye perform until this year’s Transport Group Hello, Dolly! concert where she delivered a Carnegie Hall-shaking rendition of “Before the Parade Passes By.” After that, I kicked myself and cursed my own name for never taking the opportunity to see this living legend at 54 Below, where she has performed twice a year since its inception. At last, the day came and it could not have been better.
This run is dedicated to Johnny Carson’s 100th birthday. Maye sang on The Tonight Show an astonishing 76 times and, throughout the evening, clips from her appearances with Carson are played on screens above the stage. It’s incredibly moving to see footage from half a century ago and then have that person in front of you. A couple times, Maye lets her past self start the song and then transitions into performing it live with her band. It’s jaw-dropping how little her voice has changed.
Since this was my first time seeing her, it’s hard to say how much of the show is standard fare and how much was unique for this experience, but none of it feels remotely recycled. Maye is razor sharp and the music she sings is embedded in her soul.
One of the standout songs is preceded by an anecdote about her personal life. Maye has been married three times and had a “longterm love affair,” though she discovered he was unfaithful before flying to Los Angeles to film The Tonight Show. She called her lover and told him to watch the show tonight, because she would be dedicating the song to him. He was extremely excited. “Ego, ego, ego!” Maye says, laughing. She then devours a medley of “Those Were the Days” and the Gloria Gaynor hit “I Will Survive.” “The camera was right here!” Maye interjects, staring daggers down the imaginary lens. I bet her lover got the message.
For Carson, Maye sings “The Way We Were”, remembering the connection they had. She also recounts how “comedians are comedy and tragedy,” and Carson, though outwardly humorous, always wanted her to sing her medley of “Here’s That Rainy Day” and “Stormy Weather”. It’s clear why: Maye’s performance is deeply felt. Her first album was released in 1965 and one selection from that record shows up here, also dedicated to her experiences on The Tonight Show, “The Song is You.” Even though she’s been singing it for over sixty years, it’s apparent she still feels connected to it, still believes in its lyric and melody.
At 97 years old, Maye could be taking it easy. But as her opening number asks, “What good is sitting alone in your room?” She’s performing ten shows consecutively, with only one day off. She never sits down. She doesn’t rely on a music stand for lyrics or a set list. Her banter is warm, easy, and very funny. I have seen many people half – or a quarter – of her age do much less and think nothing of it. It’s palpably clear how grateful she feels to be on the stage sharing her gifts with an audience, all of whom feel just as palpably grateful to be receiving them.