Miss Tammy Grimes

What does one do at the end of an illustrious four decade career that included: working with Noel Coward, Gower Champion, and Lillian Gish, winning two Tony Awards, and being inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame? Why not make your cabaret debut at age 73. Miss Tammy Grimes brought her latest incarnation to San Francisco in an evening touchingly sweet in its reminiscences and eclectic choice of modern material.

The set covered many signature songs from her theatre days: a medley from her star-making role in The Unsinkable Molly Brown (My Own Brass Bed, I'll Never Say No and I Ain't Down Yet), the lovely You'd Better Love Me from High Spirits, and Someday I'll Find You from Private Lives, both by Noel Coward. A few numbers from 42nd Street which included the popular Harry Warren / Al Dubin Quarter to Nine displayed the history this woman encompasses.

New material from some great modern songwriters was presented, a nod to suggestions made by Miss Grimes' longtime life partner, the late musician Richard Bell. Jimmy Buffet's sensational He Went To Paris, Tom Wait's plaintive Martha as well as Oscar Brown Jr.'s The Snake were delivered in her trademark breathy style.

The show was titled A Farewell to Chester which relates to her move from her home in Chester, New Hampshire to a new beginning in NYC. Miss Grimes is definitely moving forward while longingly looking back at where's she’s been.

Steve Murray
Cabaret Scenes
November 3, 2007
www.cabaretscenes.org