RSSRequest ‘Pearl' for the holidays
Pearl Bailey is back -- and this Pearl sparkles in the moonlight.
"Pearl Bailey ... by Request" reconnects us with the great singer, who died in 1990 after bringing so many magical musical moments to life. And that's the magic on view again at MetroStage, where show business legend Pearl Mae Bailey is reborn and personified by the shape-shifting skills of Roz White.
White slips effortlessly from sashaying sexpot to soulful balladeer, with several forays into the audience to dance with a lucky few. Her standout performance ranges from a jazzy-bluesy feel, to swinging nightclub-style.
Shows are scheduled to through Dec. 20. This is one for the family, as well as anyone who has a love of music.
As one of Bailey's songs says, "You've got to have personality," and this show has it in abundance. Just consider the songs you'll hear channeled through White, who thought of this tribute to Bailey and cowrote it with Thomas W. Jones II. One demonstration of that personality is found in "Hello Pearly," taken from the all-black revision of "Hello Dolly" that the acclaimed songstress brought to the Broadway stage and to a Tony award in the late 1960s. Other great songs are featured, too, such as "Frankie and Johnny," "Takes Two to Tango," "That's Good Enough for Me," "Ain't She Sweet" and "Baby, It's Cold Outside."
The show ends on a triumphant note with "Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey," including a special riff on that number with her costar, William F. Hubbard. Hubbard relives his role as Bailey's emcee and sometime recording costar, Hot Lips Page, when they join together in a rib-tickling "Won't You Come Home Pearl Bailey" and segue into yet another magical duet. Hubbard stars also as the sly butt of her humor and her amiable straight man, who knows full well that the shortest and surest distance between their two points of view is the beeline for the funny bone. And to watch them together singing "Baby, It's Cold Outside" is to watch what makes birds and bees multiply -- in a sexy appeal shot through with a broad streak of self-mocking humor.
You can't see this shining "Pearl" and not grin. It's the perfect holiday tonic, at just the time when you'll need it the most, after the turkey has been devoured and family and friends have departed.