‘Words & Music – The songs of Hallett and Robinson’

World premiere in October at Skidompha’s Porter Hall
Thu, 09/14/2017 - 8:30am

Story Location:
184 Main Street
Damariscotta, ME 04543
United States

There are times in our lives when something deliciously serendipitous happens. Just ask composer, pianist and conductor Aaron Robinson and actor-writer Suzanne (Suzi) Hallett. The two had worked together in shows from 1992-99, but it was Suzi’s return to the study of the piano that led not only to a deep friendship, but to the pair becoming a songwriting duo.

Their songs will be heard at the world premiere of “Words & Music – The songs of Hallett and Robinson – A New Musical Revue.” It debuts the weekend of Oct. 6-8 at Skidompha’s Porter Hall in Damariscotta.

“I told him I hadn’t touched a piano in over 30 years when I asked Aaron for lessons last year (2016),” Suzi says.

“No-o-o,” interjected Aaron playfully. “She said ‘I was very good at piano,’” as Suzi begins rigorously shaking her head no while saying “I never said that!” They burst into laughter.

Insists Aaron, “She studied piano with me. The phrase ‘taking lessons’ is far below where she was at. We had a lot of fun, no books or anything. We talked about music, composers, music theory … What was developing was a very close friendship. We discovered very quickly ...”

Suzi finishes his sentence, “ … that we were simpatico about so many things – books, composers, music, movies, food, theater … what a gift!”

“The friendship grew quite deep, steeped in the arts in all aspects of it,” said Aaron.

Also during this time, Aaron had begun arranging certain pieces of music from the Great American Songbook. He and Suzi enjoyed reading the lyrics of Cole Porter and George Gershwin songs, “marveling at the marriage of their lyrics and music (known as prosody),” shares Aaron.

They began emailing one another about the craft of songwriting. And then, this year on April 5 at 12:38 p.m. (yes, Suzi remembers the date and time – and they still share a giggle about this), Suzi sent Aaron an email: “I had a bee in my bonnet, maybe it’s too much Cole Porter, but what about we write a song together. We have to decide on a genre … And, if this idea doesn’t make you want to throw up – let me know.”

His response: “Send me the lyrics.” And the next day she did. Later that day, Aaron sent the finished song – a standard 32-bar, 1930s Porter-Gershwinesque song. He played it for her and it was exactly what she thought it would be – They were simpatico! Suzi played the song for some friends and they loved it.

Every day Suzi sent lyrics to Aaron, he returned them the same day. They didn’t discuss what the subjects of the songs would be. They were just having fun. Suzi wrote what she was moved to write about. After the first few songs, she penned lyrics of a personal nature, such as “Halfway to Nowhere,” a song about a couple who’ve been married for decades in which one, or both, feel like they’ve ended up nowhere. Aaron says he turned Suzi’s “A Little Heaven” into a “beautiful ballad.”

Six weeks in, they had written a dozen songs. Aaron and Suzi began to think that maybe they “had something” and tossed around the idea of holding a soiree at Aaron and wife Kristen’s for a handful of their friends. But the words and music just kept on coming …

“We couldn’t get them down fast enough!” laughs Suzi.

Nine weeks later – they had 22 songs. Enough for a revue, but did they fit together? Could they fit together? Aaron says that was their daunting task since none of the songs were written to go together.

They tossed out several songs and decided to put the remaining songs together in three sections. For the opener, audiences will hear, appropriately enough, those initial three 32-bar songs from which all others flowed. The second section is composed of nature-related songs: a boat ride, night and nature itself (this one Aaron feels certain Suzanne wrote for him because he doesn’t ‘do nature’. The third section is the love section – from differing perspectives. The first Aaron says has a real (Burt) Bacharach feel to it, another is a rather sarcastic piece exploring whether love is paradise or hell; and the third is about a woman longing to have one more passionate affair before she dies.

The only two purposely written songs are “Hello Old Friends,” as the revue opener and “Songs,” as the finale.

Suzi and Aaron were adamant that the venue provide an intimate setting, and the only place they could think of with that atmosphere was the Porter Hall at Skidompha Public Library.

“It still amazes me that Aaron could make such beautiful music out of my words,” said Suzi.

Singing those lyrics, with Aaron on piano, will be Kristen Robinson, Kyle Aarons, Jeffrey Caron and Ellen Whalley.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 6 and Saturday, Oct. 7; and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 8. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the door. Or make reservations by calling 207-882-6335.

Ah, serendipity ...