It Was The Merriest of 'Merrily' Evenings, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

                                              Girls, when I first heard, back in July, than Ann Morrison, the original Mary Flynn of "Merrily We Roll Along" (1981) was going to be at 54 Below on Labor Day night, I knew I had to get there, and I had to bring my beloved Monsieur, who has never seen this Musical Theater Legend in action, so he does not know how she OWNS the role of Mary Flynn, unlike that no neck monster, Celia Keenan Bolger, who not only could barely squawk it out in the ENCORES production, but now has the arrogant hubris to take on the role of Laura in "The Glass Menagerie!"  Indeed!

                                                   Well, the Raving Queen was on the aisle last night, and let me tell you, it was like one big party.  At the end of our table, were the original Franklin Shepard and Charlie Kringas--Jim Walton and Lonny Price!  When Ann made her entrance, the room glowed.  Her stories were enlightening, and when she sang, whether the material was known, or not, her voice was as fresh as yesterday, and has not dimmed with age!  We should all be in as good physical and vocal shape as Ann, darlings!!!!!!!!!!

                                                     Not to mention, the space at 54 Below, which I had never been to, was
fabulous, and the meal offered prior to the show was luscious, especially for a supper club.  My short ribs, and Monsieur's halibut just melted in our mouths, the veggies and potatoes were scrumptious, the coffee was strictly high octane, and the chocolate desert was so filling I needed to tighten my corset, like Scarlett!!!!!!!!!

                                                        But Ann was the highlight, and she did not disappoint the legions (many of whom were Original Cast members of 'Merrily.' which thrilled the remainder of us Theater Queens there!!!!!!!!) of fans who came out last night to pay her homage!   I think my favorite moment was her simple, yet eloquent, rendering of the Sondheim title classic, "Anyone Can Whistle."

                                                           And you know who else was there, dolls???????? Former cabaret artist, Julie Wilson, herself!!!!!!!!!!!  Whom I saw, back in the Eighties, at Michael's Pub, during that period  when Woody Allen (whom I never saw) would play there on Monday nights!!!!!!!!!  Julie looked great,but I wondered what she was doing there???????  I came to the conclusion that the torch was being passed from one cabaret artist to another!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                              Ann kept saying she does not come to New York often.  Well, Ann, hon, you are going to have to change that!  Too many, like myself, miss you, and when you sing, like the lyric says in 'Merrily', "dreams don't die."

                                                                  Keep helping us keep our dreams, Ann, and thanks so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!















fabulous, and so was sthe meal provided before the sstart of the show!!!!!!!!!