BWW Reviews: HEPBURN SINGS! @ MACHA

Hepburn Sings! written and performed by Kevin Dulude

directed by Odalys Nanin

MACHA Theatre, WeHo

6 performances remaining: June 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18 Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays 7pm

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In a thoroughly engrossing and original piece, actor Kevin Dulude portrays Katharine Hepburn in selected highlights throughout her long career. Each segment includes a song from that time period, which though Hepburn never sang originally, adds mysteriously fascinating luster to the Hepburn mystique. If she had recorded an album of these songs, each would punctuate to perfection a feeling, mood or opinion that was undeniably Hepburn.This portrayal is not an impersonation, mind you, but a loving and moving tribute - both humorous and poignant - and, remarkably well etched.

With a smart intro Hebpurb enters with gardening tools singing "I Love a Gershwin Tune" and proceeds to confide her love of music and how she knew that 'the peanut sound' that came out of her throat would never be adequate to create an acceptable singing voice. Then came the offer to do Coco on Broadway to her utter dismay, and she was terrified at the thought of having to carry it off. But what emanated across the footlights to her was love and understanding. The fans adored her and didn't care that she really could not sing.

There are segments about her brother Tom, his death, the painful aftermath, the closeness of her mother and dad and other family members ending with the song "What'll I Do?" to accentuate the difficulty for her as a teen to go on without Tom's love and companionship. But go on she did, and to wide acclaim. There are movie scenes from Stage Door with "Too Marvelous For Words" showing off the young arrogant Hepburn who knew just how fascinating she had grown to be, also from The African Queen with original words to "Blue Tango", Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? with "The Glory of Love" and a splendid farewell scene to Spencer Tracy in which she acknowledges that the Oscar really belonged to him for his couageous work in that film, On Golden Pond - a very funny comment about Jane Fonda seeing Kate as her fantasy mother and tuning Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" ... and as a fitting finale "The Impossible Dream" where Hepburn speaks from the great beyond to everyone to "Get on with it, get a life, and never regret not pursuing your fondest dreams while you still have the chance!"

On a humorous note - as only Hepburn could be - she refuses to let you know where she is, and whether there is really an afterlife. As in life, she keeps us guessing! Dulude does a beautiful job with the physicality of Hepburn, with shaking head and quavering voice just right. In fact, he is a very convincing Kate, but does, indeed, sing a bit better than Hepburn. If only she had sounded this good, she would have been quite musically pleased with herself!

This whole experience was such a nice surprise, as I was expecting some fool impersonator that could in no way live up to the great Charles Pierce - who did Hepburn better than anyone! Accompanied by Odalys Nanin's smooth direction, Dulude is a fine actor who has properly ingested Katharine Hepburn's temperament and mannerisms and knows how to get his points across without going overboard. Even though the songs are an appendage to the story, they make a pleasant reminder that even Hepburn was not as perfect as she may have wanted to be and that there are things worth striving for that unfortunately may get left unaccomplished.

Good show!

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