Review: Chris Martin performs with Michael J. Fox at Fox Gala, New York (9 November)

"This weekend's fundraiser for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research pulled out all the stops. Usually people race out of the Waldorf-Astoria ballroom even before a party's over. On Saturday, they lingered, still basking in the energy and supreme thrill of a performance by Chris Martin (on piano) and Mr. Fox (on guitar) of "Johnny Be Goode." Hello Marty McFly! This tribute to "Back to the Future" might have very well been one of the best things we've ever seen take place at the Waldorf-Astoria. Heck, let's go crazy and say it was the best thing we've ever seen take place at the Waldorf-Astoria.

 

But, as Coldplay might say, let's go back to the start. Mr. Fox's annual event is called A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson's: An Evening of Comedy and Music. Unlike most benefits, this one is underwritten by the board so all of the money raised goes to Mr. Fox's foundation.

 

The tables were packed with financial folk (Dan Loeb and David Ganek, among them) and celebrities (including Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, Julianna Margulies and Keith Lieberthal) and set up kind of like a beer hall. Pitchers of beer were on all the tables, which had an orange color scheme. There were orange earplugs in case things got too loud and/or raunchy. Meanwhile napkin rings were actually silver slap bracelets, which is something we really haven't seen since 1990, when "Back to the Future III" was released.

 

The point is: Raising money for challenging causes isn't necessarily fun, so you might as well make it be. Hence, Denis Leary is often the host here, and among the talent invited for stand-up was Seth Meyers, who did a few minutes of comedy that involved his wife, Alexi Ashe; Jim Gaffigan, who spoke a lot about doughnuts and ice cream, but managed to pepper his set with some new barbs despite having just performed for a similar crowd at Wednesday's Stand Up For Heroes; and Amy Schumer, the star of Comedy Central's "Inside Amy Schumer."

 

"This is such a great room for stand-up," joked Ms. Schumer. "A lot of the greats cut their teeth at the Waldorf."

 

Tina Fey was there too, and she showed up on stage dressed like Marty McFly, in an '80s haircut and a puffer vest. "This is not a costume," she explained. "I don't have a TV show anymore. Do you know how expensive it is to buy a dress and have your hair done?"

 

Mr. Fox himself called the evening his bar mitzvah. "Another year, another bar mitzvah," he said. Getting up to thank donors and participants "is our version of the candle-lighting."

 

By the way, he joked, if anyone needed him later, "I'm hiding on NBC." He was referring to his not exactly successful sitcom, "The Michael J. Fox Show," which last year the network gave a straight-to-series order. Eventually, Mr. Fox's latest TV wife Betsy Brandt ("Breaking Bad") and his real wife, Tracy Pollan, who has also appeared on the show, came out to announce the final guest. "He's here for reals," said Ms. Brandt of Mr. Martin. "For reals, he's here." She meant Chris Martin.

 

"I love Michael J. Fox more than a straight man should," said Mr. Martin, as he went into a piano version of Cole Porter's "Night and Day" he jokingly said he wrote about Mr. Fox. "We're going to start mellow and then move to the best concert you've ever been to."

 

 

It was hard to believe Mr. Martin until Mr. Fox came out for a rendition of "Yellow" and then that amazing "Johnny B. Goode." It was really a moment. Maybe it was the best concert we've ever been to after all. Especially at the Waldorf.