Several years back, Carla Gordon was watching Bea Arthur’s one-woman show and, floored by the intimacy, decided to become a cabaret performer. In her latest show, Queen Bea, Gordon saluted Arthur with style and wit.

The opening medley, “Maude's Theme” (Marilyn and Alan Bergman/Dave Grusin)/“Thank You for Being a Friend” (Andrew Gold), instantly immersed the audience in fond recollection of Arthur’s most recognized TV roles. Arthur’s presence seemed to hover in the room as her trademark dry humor was captured in such ribald ditties as “If I Can’t Sell It, I’ll Keep Sittin’ on It” (Alex Hill/Andy Razaf) and the English music hall song “What Can You Buy a Nudist for Her Birthday?” Gordon revealed Arthur’s lesser-known tender side with ballads, including two gems with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn  Bergman: “Where Do You Start?” (music Johnny Mandel) and “Fifty Percent” (music Billy Goldenberg).

Gordon’s conversational ease with lyrics suited Arthur’s style to a T.  Her deep contralto lent itself to such signature numbers as “Garbage” (Sheldon Harnick/Terry Woods), “The Man in the Moon” (Jerry Herman), and the ballsy showstopper “Some People” (Stephen Sondheim/Jule Styne).

One of the evening’s biggest crowd-pleasers was “Bosom Buddies” (Jerry Herman), a vocal duet between Gordon and her pianist/musical director, the incandescent Beckie Menzie. Their delightful camaraderie sweetened the classic “Broadway broad” shtick.

Worthy of mention was Gordon’s careful attention to Arthur’s life story, which highlighted her activism for animal rights and the civil rights of women, the elderly and the LGBT community. As Queen Bea suggests: Long live the memory of the queen!

Pam Peterson
Cabaret Scenes
November 22, 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org