Anita Gillette

One of the Broadway musical's favourite ingenues from the 1960s walked us down memory lane tonight and proved she is better than ever with her sensational show at Birdland directed by Barry Kleinbort (one must assume he's also responsible for some of the terrifically funny comedy material as well) and sensitive musical direction by Paul Greenwood.

Ms. Gillette's considerable vocal range remains in fine form and her youthful brassy chest tones are actually warmer so it was thrilling to hear her recreate her Sally Bowles from CABARET with "Don't Tell Mama" (she was a Broadway replacement in 1967) and, a highlight of the evening, a stunning "Mira" from CARNIVAL (Gillette replaced Anna Maria Alberghetti, or as one of Gillette's Baltimore relatives referred to her at the time, Betty Spaghetti). We also heard how she was Dainty June's understudy in GYPSY and thanks to Ethel Merman kept the job until she was eight months pregnant; we heard the original opening number from THE GAY LIFE until the song...and Gillette's entire role...were cut out of town; her solos from ALL AMERICAN ("Nightlife"), MR. PRESIDENT ("The Secret Service") and JIMMY ("Oh, Gee!"); a marvellous Irving Berlin tribute made up of "How Deep is the Ocean" and "Remember"; a very funny routine about having to sing "Yesterdays" at lyricist Otto Harbach's funeral and lamenting that she was a young girl singing a song written for an elderly woman ("Is Kitty Carlisle off in Rome? Celeste Holm unable to leave her home?"); and a knockout finale which made me regret I never saw her as Lucie Arnaz's final replacement in THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG, "I Still Believe in Love".

The room was packed with celebrity supporters cheering lustily including former co-stars Julie Wilson and Tony Roberts, Sheldon Harnick & Margery Gray, K.T. Sullivan, Klea Blackhurst, Harvey Evans, Steven Brinberg, Joe Sirola and Len Cariou.

Julie Wilson with A.G.

A.G. and Tony Roberts

 

 I was seated alone up the back until P.R. whiz Richard Hillman rescued me from Siberia and put me at his table with heavenly "Broadway Beat" host Richard Ridge.

Harvey Evans & Richard Ridge

 

 Mr. H even introduced me to Anita after the show and had our photo taken together. A perfect end to a spectacular evening.