[Dixielandjazz] The last performer still connecting us to Vaudville?

[Steve barbone]

Not Dixieland, but surely OKOM to many of us who love Carol Channing. Yes
indeed, "The First 80 Years Are The hardest."

She may be flagging a bit, but so what? Mid 80's, still performing, old
childhood flame as new husband  .  .  . why not?

Cheers,
Steve

Cabaret Review | Carol Channing

She's Still Glowin', Fellas, She's Still Kickin'

By STEPHEN HOLDEN October 13, 2005 NY Times

Fire-engine red: what other color would you expect Carol Channing, the
creator and owner of the brightest, sunniest, longest-running
self-caricature among Broadway divas, to wear at her cabaret opening? Ms.
Channing, who began a two-week engagement at Feinstein's at the Regency on
Tuesday evening, may be our last connection (or at least the last one who is
not only alive but still kicking) to the vaudeville world of Sophie Tucker,
about whom she reminisces in her show, "The First 80 Years Are the Hardest."

The indomitably upbeat star got off a few low kicks, along with scattered
bumps, grinds and swivels at the opening, and danced a careful soft-shoe
number with her new husband, Harry Kullijian (her junior high school
sweetheart, she said, whom she hadn't seen for 70 years), who joined her
near the end of the program.

Her signature ear-to-ear grin never wavered. And those widened, Kewpie-doll
eyes, which have seen everything, still projected the exaggerated naïveté of
a delighted child beholding wonders never before encountered.

Although substantially diminished in power, Ms. Channing's blend of
unbridled optimism and ferocious vitality is still a primal show business
force field. At 84, she personifies the adult child as natural showoff and
clown, brimming with curiosity and humor, accentuating the positive.

The show is devoted mostly to personal reminiscences, interwoven with a few
famous songs, sung with a trio. Time has muted her big blaring trumpet
voice, which is now a quavering foghorn. Songs like "Diamonds Are a Girl's
Best Friend" and "Before the Parade Passes By" were taken slowly.

During the first, very funny half of the opening, Ms. Channing recalled her
college years at Bennington and her early New York auditions performing
bizarre, arty numbers gleaned from her studies in dance and drama. Amusing
impressions of legends like Tucker, Ethel Merman and especially Tallulah
Bankhead followed. But in the second half, her energy flagged, her mind
began to wander, and the line between artfully ditzy and slightly dazed
began to blur. 

Carol Channing performs through Oct. 22 at Feinstein's, 540 Park Avenue, at
61st Street; (212) 339-4095.