Reviewed by Joe Regan Jr.
Metropolitan Room -----December
10, 2013
Anita Gillette, one of Broadway’s busiest ingénues in
the late Fifties and Sixties, returned to New York two years ago after many
years in Hollywood working in films and TV, most notably as the other woman in
“Moonstruck.” After a spectacular debut at Birdland in a show I made one
of my Top Twelve of the Year, she participated in a very special Johnny Mercer
event at the Eugene O’Neill Center, and a few months ago did a show at 54 Below
with Penny Fuller.
Gillette
is back with “After All…“ a solo show with new autobiographical elements that
utilize Gillette’s great comic timing and mimic skills. Gillette has
hired some of the best to work on this show: Barry Kleinbort as director
and writer of special lyrics; Paul Greenwood as musical director, arranger and
pianist, Steve Doyle on bass, and Steve Bartoski on drums and percussion.
Greenwood, Doyle, and Bartoski all sing backup and some clever counter
melodies! If I were going to label Anita Gillette today, I would call her
“One Young Red Hot Mama” because that’s the image she shows in one of the best
acts of this year! The show is full of great personal memories of Irving
Berlin, David Merrick, Joshua Logan, Richard Rodgers, Jule Styne, Mel Brooks,
Richard Gere, Ethel Merman, and Norman Jewison.
Gillette
opens with a great up number, “I Can’t Be Bothered Now” (Gershwins/Jimmy
McHugh) merged with Frank Loesser’s “Happy Go Lucky.” We get her early
biography growing up in Baltimore and loving both Jeanette MacDonald music and
the Andrew Sisters,with sampling of both with “Italian Street Song” and “Cuanto
le Gusta” showing that the years have not diminished her clarion pipes!
There’s a great story about how she fell in love with Dr. Gillette, her first
husband, who was a clinical research scientist who brought his specimens home
to their refrigerator.
New,
was a great story about how she got pregnant when doing her first show as
Dainty June in “Gypsy” on Broadway – Ms. Merman would not let the producers
fire her! She was the standby for Lili in “Carnival” and went on the day
after she gave her notice because she got a great part in “Gay Life.” She
had a great song and costume in that show which was cut on the road. She
sang that song, a sumptuous torch song “I Lost the Love of Anatol” (Schwartz-Dietz).
She returned to “Carnival” replacing the lead.
Berlin
became a big fan when she was appearing in “All American” and she created the
part of the President’s daughter in “Mr. President.” We got great comic
chops as she recreated “The Secret Service.” In honor of Mr.
Berlin, Gillette sang a sensitive medley of “How Deep Is the Ocean” and
“Remember.”
There was a brief bit of a song from “Kelly” the biggest flop in Broadway
history at the time. She played showgirl Betty Compson in the musical
about Mayor Jimmy Walker and was handed “Oh Gee!” just before the first
performance! “Oh Gee” is a great period number and she saluted her
co-star in the audience, everyone’s idol Julie Wilson!
New
was a hysterically funny story about visiting the White House honoring foreign
diplomats! She was chosen to sing “Yesterdays” at Otto
Harbach’s funeral. After she sang it beautifully, she sang some clever
lyrics by Kleinbort about what actually was going on in her mind in front of
all those powerful composers and producers at the Jewish funeral!
Her
second husband was a sound man on “They’re Playing Our Song,” who read Proust
in French and Faulkner in English. He died too soon and her moving homage
to him was “Did I Really Live?” (Albert Hague/Allan Sherman) and “I Still
Believe in Love” from that show. Gillette received a standing
ovation. Her encore was a bouncy “Are You Having Any Fun” which sent the
audience out into the night with a great warm feeling. Don’t miss one of
the top shows of the year!
Anita
Gillette’s After All repeats at the Metropolitan Room December
16 and 17 at 7PM. Reservations are strongly suggested. Don’t miss
one of the top shows of the year!