By Julia Loipersberger
Not being a grand aficionado of Broadway music (and frankly wondering how, apart from involving singing, Broadway and Cabaret had anything in common) I was excited but a little apprehensive about reviewing Chita Rivera’s My Broadway tribute to, well, herself and her career. At almost 80 years of age (sorry, Chita. The Internet never lies) Ms Rivera is unquestionably one of the grand dames of Broadway, having appeared in the ‘original’ incarnations of recently revived musicals including Chicago, West Side Story, Sweet Charity and The Rink. But I queried, perhaps unfairly, whether just because a performer used to be the best at something in the 1950s was sufficient reason for them to keep treading the boards in 2011. As it turns out, whether or not Ms Rivera should be performing is irrelevant because she is still so good at it.
Ms Rivera exudes a vibrancy and happiness while performing which it is absolutely impossible not to enjoy. Dressed simply but elegantly in a flattering red dress with matching, sparkly shoes, Chita lit up the stage as she shimmied, kicked and spun her way through her set. With such an extensive career behind her, Ms Rivera took the (mostly older) audience on a trip down memory lane as she performed some of her most well known hits including ‘America’ from West Side Story, ‘Where am I going’ from Sweet Charity, and a personal favourite of mine, ‘All that Jazz’ from Chicago.
Although I was a little disappointed not to hear some old favourites (including ‘Big Spender’ from Sweet Charity), this in itself is testament to Ms Rivera’s mastery of her art form. With the kind of voice you would expect from a Broadway diva, there were no real lowlights to Ms Rivera’s performance.
Ms Rivera’s obvious comfort performing meant that, rather than appearing to ‘entertain’ the audience with patter, she really seemed to be reminiscing about an amazing career which is showing no signs of slowing. Backed by a fabulous band, my only real criticism would be that at times the band risked drowning out Ms Rivera’s voice.
Although I didn’t quite leave the show wanting to slide down the banisters of the Festival Theatre with a top hat and feather boa, I do sincerely hope that I will be as good at – and love – my job as much when I am almost 80 as Ms Rivera clearly does. And no, I can’t do high kicks like Ms Rivera still can.
Kryztoff Rating 4K
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