Forbidden Broadway Salutes Carol Channing

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Forbidden Broadway Salutes Carol Channing

Feinstein’s/54 Below, NYC, March 23, 2019

Reviewed by Marilyn Lester for Cabaret Scenes

The original version of the screamingly funny parody revue, Forbidden Broadway, opened on January 15, 1982, at Palsson’s Supper Club in New York City––and follow-up editions haven’t stopped making audiences double over in laughter ever since. Holding the record for the show’s most parodied entertainer is Carol Channing, the late musical theater star, who so loved Forbidden Broadway she attended many times, often with notable friends. So, it’s only fitting that the series creator, lyricist, and writer, Gerard Alessandrini, should write, produce (with co-producer Robert W.
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Schneider) and direct this new Forbidden Broadway Salutes Carol Channing in her honor. With headliner Christine Pedi, and show alums Michael West, Donna English, William Selby, Joshua Turchin, Gina Kreiezmar, Jeanne Montano, Dorothy Keara Lahm, Glenn Bassett, and Gerry McIntyre, the evening was gut-busting funny, with multiple Channings outdoing each other for laughs.

In classic Forbidden Broadway tradition, no one was spared being spoofed. Divas Ethel Merman, Pearl Bailey, Mary Martin, Debbie Reynolds, and Chita Rivera got the Forbidden Broadway treatment. So did Lin-Manuel Miranda in “Hello Hamilton,” part of the “The Spirit of Channing” number wherein Channing’s ghost roams around Broadway dropping in on current shows such as “My Fair King Kong” and “Dear Evan Has-been.
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” One of the evening’s numbers, “Imitation Is the Sincerest Form of Flattery,” was expressly created for Channing, who sang it on the show’s third anniversary album. Highlights of the tribute also included “Thoroughly Modern Julie,” with Julie Andrews; a recreation of Channing’s own takeoff on Marlene Dietrich (the actress was not amused!); a hilarious video by Michael West––The Door to Door Carol Channing––and “The Ladies Who Drink” with Judy Garland and an over-the-top Elaine Stritch. Iterations of Channing’s work included “Dolly Is a Girl’s Best Friend,” “Before Your Parade Passes By,” and “So Long, Carol,” the finale. If the Channing ghost was on hand to witness the bewigged cast exiting in her iconic “Dolly” look, she must have been filling the room with hearty spectral laughter.

Marilyn Lester

Marilyn Lester left journalism and commercial writing behind nearly two decades ago to write plays. That branch in the road led to screenwriting, script-doctoring, dramaturgy and producing for the stage. Marilyn has also co-authored, as well as edited, books. It seemed the only world of words she hadn’t conquered was criticism, an opportunity that presented itself via Theater Pizzazz. Marilyn has since sought to widen her scope in this form of writing she especially relishes. Marilyn is a member of the Authors Guild, Dramatists Guild, Women in the Arts and Media and The League of Professional Theater Women.