Review by anonymous
June 24, 2026 certified reviewerWhat I liked
This is a well-conceived, artsy and pensive show playing in an old-school cocktail lounge complete with tufted leather doors. “Tenderly” presents a heartfelt Duane Forrest telling a profound story about the cosmically predetermined mysteries of life, the pursuit of creativity, Jim Crow modernity, faith in freedom, and the magic of music. The classic Nat King Cole numbers that Forrest croons to punctuate each chapter of the monologue are perfect selections to pull the audience deeper into the story. The show’s core message is: Positive change occurs when people participate in shaping the future.
What I didn't like
The production crew needs a bit of polishing regarding the timing and changing of the visuals/slides. That ought to be fixed quite easily by the next show. If the performance added a pianist and an upright bass player, it would be sublime.
My overall impression
Through chatting and performing classic American vocal jazz standards, Duane Forrest grapples with the times we are living in whilst looking back to the Civil Rights era as his own music career evolves in the present and the memory of Nat King Cole lingers long after the song has ended.
“The music is the magic through a raging storm.”
— Abbey Lincoln
“The answer to injustice is not to silence the critic but to end the injustice.”
— Paul Robeson
