Cabaret Review: Carol Channing [Not] in Concert

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Parent Category: Film and the Arts

Category: Reviews

Published on Tuesday, 28 December 2010 20:20

Written by Marion DS Dreyfus

Sweeping onto the serviceable if petite stage of the St. Luke’s Theatre (West 308 W. 46th Street), lovely Richard Skipper, with Channing's signature platinum hairdo, wide crimson smile and glittering deep-red, sparkly dress greets the audience with the quavering vibrato of the fabulous Ms. Channing. On each of her fingers is a sizable bauble the size of golfballs, which she flings, one at a time, as she belts out, “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend.” Regrettably, we sat too far back to reap any of the diamonds from the throws.

After a lifetime of friendship with the original -- and 18 of them performing this enormously sweet and pleasing tribute impersonation -- Skipper has the tropes down pretty accurately.

In a 90-minute performance that includes all the beloved classics from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Hello Dolly, as well as other movies and plays not as well-remembered but whose songs linger rhapsodically in the collective unconscious, Skipper/Channing provided a full-throated, boffo evening without intermission -- beginning December 22, 2010, with an opening on January 12, 2011.

Cheery beyond measure (as is the original), comic above expectations (ditto), Skipper handles the imperfect and often nutty tourist and resident attendees’ questions/comments with aplomb and unfailing charm. In the audience were some famed TV and radio and stage personalities, all of whom were graciously and kindly introduced to the crowd.

Not once in the evening did she slip into the voice of the man inhabiting the woman inhabiting the stage. Behind her, posters and photos of the immortal La Channing -- pictures from the '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s and '90s -- dazzled the audience's eye. The audience pre-filled in questions that Ms. Channing answered, which is where the wheat separated from the chaff. Comic timing and hilarious put-downs -- always with a smile -- wowed the listener.

The mission of the production in addition to entertaining, according to Associate Producer Edmund Gaynes, is to present show biz “as it used to be.”  Good-natured, lilting and cherished show tunes (accompanied by a gifted musical ensemble), wrapped-up cabaret history in a cerise sheath dress. Nothing interferes with the painless hark-back to a few decades ago.

Treat yourself to winning speculations on the vagaries of talent, marriage, and  the nature of succeeding on Broadway. Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, enjoy them guiltlessly -- and slightly off-Broadway.

P.S.: Carol knows and adores this guy, and loves what he does with her life and stage.

Richard Skipper as Channing
308 West 46th Street
New York, NY 10036
(212) 246-8140

Beginning December 22, 2010, with an opening on January 12, 2011 and a closing on January 26th, 2011

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