Legendary Mitzi Gaynor Plays the Welk Resort

Mitzi Gaynor Razzle Dazzle: My Life Behind the Sequins

Legendary Mitzi Gaynor is currently on a limited tour of the latest incarnation of her Mitzi Gaynor Razzle Dazzle and now in her 70s, Gaynor continues to spread love, warmth and happpiness wherever she appears. Such was the case in Escondido Labor Day weekend, where she gave five sold out performances at the Lawrence Welk Resort Theater.

Backed by musical director Ed Czach on piano and a seven piece orchestra and a gigantic movie screen, Gaynor won our hearts with her one-of-a-kind anecdotes - nobody can embellish a story like Mitzi Gaynor - about her life: including a happy 50-year marriage to agent Jack Bean - indeed rare for a Hollywood star, her 17 movie film career, Vegas and road tours of her acclaimed night-club act, and her Emmy-winning TV specials. Fans of Gaynor's dancing will have to content themselves with video clips. Come on, the lady is in her 70s! She still, however, can move, cavort and girate with the best of them and that she does on: "Honeybun", a winning medley of four songs from South Pacific, including the popular "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair", a wonderful "Show Off" from The Drowsy Chaperone, where she hilariously spins two tassles with her ample chest and stretches out a la Mae West on top of the piano, "Everything Old Is New Again", "Seems Like Old Times", "There's No Business Like Show Business", and a terrific finale of "Takin' a Chance on Love", rewritten for her called "Takin' a Chance On Me" and the crowd-pleasing "You Are the Sunshine of My Life". There's also a sweet, tender rendering of "If I Had You" recalling when she first laid eyes on Bean at the Coconut Grove. Her whole being lit up and beamed here.

Gaynor makes six fab costume changes - all designed by Bob Mackie - and tells some wonderful stories about Ethel Merman, Howard Hughes, the Duke of Windsor, Louella Parsons, George Abbott, Gene Kelly, Vera Ellen among many, and the glory days of Hollywood, Broadway and the road. She is so beautifully talented with voices and impressions, and carries off some priceless ones of such greats as Rossano Brazzi: "Rossano, you're about the most handsome man I've ever seen!"
(in flashy Italian) "I know, Mitzi, I know!" And unknown people off the street like the owner of the Latin casino in New Jersey who spoke with a mouth full of spit... and his two associates. Gaynor rendered all three with inimitable style and humor, referring to them as the Three Stooges.

This is a delightful evening of entertainment for Mitzi Gaynor fans - there are legions, trust me- and for those young, impressionable ones, just beginning to learn about the love of performing. They could not learn from anyone better than the radiant Miss Gaynor who simply oozes life, love and passion from every pore.

 

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