What a joy to see comic actress Charlotte Rae’s first cabaret appearance in over 50 years. The joy of seeing a larger-than-life star representing decades of important theatre, stage and screen history, and the joy of seeing a woman full of life and energy and appreciation was truly satisfying. A stage actress of renown (two Tony Award nominations) including breakthrough roles as Mrs. Peachum in the celebrated Marc Blitzstein adaptation of The Threepenny Opera, Come Back Little Sheba, and originator of the Mammy Yokum role in L’il Abner, Rae is most known for her work on the small screen in two wildly popular series earning two Emmy nominations.

Her cabaret act consists mainly of her stock and trade - "silly, sinful, and satirical" songs by her favorite composers Sheldon Harnick, Vernon Duke, John La Touche, Cole Porter, Rodgers & Hart and Marc Blitzstein (who wrote the song “Modest Maid” especially for Rae) contained on her 1955 popular album Songs I Taught My Mother. Rae is known for these witty and sophisticated special material numbers; characters facinated by lechery ("Modest Maid"), a lovesick gopher ("Gus the Gopher"), a caustic worldview combined with classical music ("Merry Little Minuet"), and some bawdy birds (Ogden Nash/Vernon Duke’s "Sea-gull and the Ea-gull") done in a Marlena Dietrich voice.

Accompanied by pianist/musical director David Lewis, Rae treated her fans to a beautiful monologue from dramatist Samuel Beckett about two octogenarians who find love, a hilarious 1956 appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show that displayed her operatic vocal abilities, and a haunting rendition of "The Black Freighter" from Three Penny Opera. Her act was sandwiched between Kander & Ebb’s life affirming "Yes," it’s lyrics filled with indomitable optimism and spirit: “life keeps happening ev`ry day, say yes, when opportunities come your way, you can`t start wondering what to say, you never win if you never play, say yes!”

Charlotte Rae goes for it all and says "Yes." A fitting comment on her storied life and career.

Steve Murray
Cabaret Scenes
November 285, 2007
www.cabaretscenes.org