During this summer's renovations,

Hartford Stage

has temporarily relocated to

Roberts Theatre at Kingswood-Oxford School

West Hartford

Chita Rivera

My Broadway

JUNE 22-27, 2010

The Legend Wows

Reviewed by Donna Bailey-Thompson

How fortunate we are that Broadway legends are so stage-bitten that they keep their performing chops limber so they may connect with audiences who remember them from back when or who never had the opportunity to catch them when they headlined SRO theaters. Chita Rivera is the second of three legendary pros to turn up the heat on the Hartford Stage’s summer location, the Roberts Theatre at the Kingswood-Oxford School in West Hartford. (The first, Elaine Stritch; the third Ben Vereen , July 6-11.)

At age 77, the vivacious Chita Rivera doesn’t look or move as if she were a day beyond 50. She struts her stuff across the stage, shimmies, swings her hips, throws in some lady-like suggestions of bumps and grinds, and Bob Fosse signature moves from her role as Velma Kelly (in “Chicago,” the role that won an Oscar for Catherine Zeta-Jones and Ms. Rivera’s hearty congratulations).

During her opening number, she proclaimed, “I’m happy,” and she looked it. Bling accents livened her silky black dress, its flapper hemline and matching fingertip jacket. Sequins adorned her very high heels (without them, she’s 5'3"). She mused, “I’m a very, very lucky girl” and marveled that “West Side Story,” the musical that made her a star (Anita) opened 53 years ago. Her advice to stave off ageism? “Keep moving your legs!”

Her professionalism shone when she looked out at the sparse house and with good humor remarked, “I have a family that numbers more than you here tonight!” Why that was, mystified. Ms. Rivera’s is a two-time Tony winner (eight nominations), first Hispanic to receive Kennedy Center Honor, a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, and whose leading roles include Rosie in “Bye Bye Birdie” (opposite Dick van Dyke), Jenny in “The Threepenny Opera,” “The Visit” (Sarah Siddons Award) and so many others as well as television appearances on yesteryear’s popular variety shows (Ed Sullivan, Carol Burnett, and more). And she’s doing her classy energetic thing in West Hartford, including a novelty number (from Seventh Heaven”) singing all three parts of “Camille, Collette, Fifi.”

With three particular songs, she created moods that captivated the audience. The flavor was French, and she nailed every one. The first, by Michael Leonard and Russell George:

“It was not exactly Paris. I was not exactly young.
But on a quiet night with the door locked tight
and the silence weighs a ton.
Of all the men in my life, I remember one.”

This was followed by Jacques Brel’s show-stopper, “Carousel” in which a gentle whirl becomes a whirlwind of intense introspection, for me the crowning glory of the evening, and perhaps for others too based upon applause that erupted.

Next, wrapping herself in a sheer black shawl, she sang, “When you’re young and feeling oh so strong . . . make each day your own” from “Love and Love Alone” (from "The Visit").

Near the beginning of the almost 90-minute show, Ms. Rivera spoke of how she admired Rosemary Clooney’s ability to simply stand and sing. Viva la difference! Chita Rivera’s body is designed to move with the passion of the piece. The foundation for her expressive hand gestures was her early ballet training. With the backing of outstanding musicians – Michael Croiter (music directorm, percussion, guitar); Michael Patrick Walker (associate music director, piano; Jim Donica (bass); and Charles Pillow (reeds), her performance is akin to lightning in a bottle.

Viva Chita!