Photo Coverage: Tovah Feldshuh Brings AGING IS OPTIONAL to 54 Below
By: Stephen Sorokoff Feb. 20, 2015
In a few weeks Tovah Feldshuh will be attempting to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Last night she took her inspired performance at 54 Below to new heights.
This show would have been worth the price of admission if Tovah only did one routine, but she did fourteen. I don't know who created the dialogue and physicality Tovah uses to set up her songs but the effect is brilliant. I have a feeling it was a collaborative effort by Tovah, pianist James Bassi, and director Jeff Harnar. Of course none of it would jump off the page if not for the acting/singing ability of Tovah. In her show titled "Aging is Optional" Tovah displays the energy of a teenager and the Rabbinical wisdom of a grandmother. The one routine that is worth the price of admission is Tovah telling the story of how her husband asked her to become his wife. It had this couple balling in their seats, although my wife chided me later for not thinking of a similar romantic way of proposing. Tovah is an extraordinary actor, a wonderful singer, a terrific comic and an extraordinary mimic. If Judge Judy could sing, if Mayor Koch could act, and if Billy Crystal could climb that mountain in Tanzania they would maybe approach 50% of this lady who fearlessly renamed herself Tovah at the start of her career. Aging may be optional but liking this show is not.
A word about the frigid weather last night. As Tovah's 103 year old recently deceased mother Lillian would have said when informed of the club Tovah was appearing in....." Where? 54 Below is a temperature, not a theater"
Photo Credit: Stephen Sorokoff
Aging Is Optional
Mount Kilimanjaro climbing mask
Aging Is Optional
Tova Feldshuh & Brandon Levy
Joel Ryzowy, Tovah Feldshuh, Amanda Levy
Wendy Radus Federman & Tovah Feldshuh
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