REVIEW

My name is victoriawinters... Here is a blow by blow scene and musical review of David Selby's performance of Mame at the Thousand Oaks Civic Art Plaza produced by the Cabrillo Music Theatre. Mame was written by Jerry Herman, the same composer and lyricist who gave us Hello Dolly. the book was by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee. The director/choreographer was Jon Engstrom.

ProfStokes, Peter Kienle, Sharon Silverberg and myself went to the matinee on Saturday, November 9, 2002.

Selby’s first entrance did not occur until scene 8, act 1 of the musical. needless to say, that I was just dying to see his entrance and was hoping he’d pop up before the end of act 1.

Scene 8 takes place in the Salon pour Messieurs. mame has lost all her income during the stock crash of 1928 and is now forced to work her latest odd job as a manicurist in a salon for men. The scene opens with David playing Beauregard Jackson Pickett Burnside (a rich plantation owner from Georgia) attired in the traditional southern white suit for gentlemen in the barber chair being attended to by various other employees. It is then decided that Mame has to do his manicure because all the other ones are busy with other customers. The managers want to please this southern gentlemen since he appears to have lots of money. David’s part here is confined to speaking. His speaking voice oozes with southern gentility.

Mame can’t trim fingernails without slicing off the hand that comes with them and that includes Beauregard’s. however, Beauregard has taken a liking to Auntie Mame and doesn’t mind in the least bit. but too late, the managers find out and Mame is once again looking for employment elsewhere.

Scene 9 takes place in Mame’s apartment. It’s almost Christmas and the apartment is thread bare from having to sell off everything. Mame gives her staff and nephew their presents early because well "We Need a Little Christmas." A knock at the door. It’s Beauregard (still attired in the same suit). Yea he’s back on the stage. He invites Mame and company to dinner since he feels bad for Mame having lost her job on his account. David’s comic timing was impeccable. Reprise "We need a little Christmas" with David joining the rest of the cast in song. Exit stage right.

Scene 10 takes place on Beauregard’s estate, Peckerwood. Beau’s family have assembled to meet his new flame that yankee, Mame. He introduces mame to the various family members. Beau’s alleged "betrothed" since second grade plays some tricks on Mame. They put her up to riding a horse in the fox hunt. Mame says she will ride the horse side saddle. The family takes advantage of Mame’s horse naivete and Mother Burnside picks the wildest horse on the estate, Thunderbolt, claiming it to be a gentle horse. Enter Beauregard, (now in a riding outfit - delicious) who is impressed with her gumption, and off they go to the hunt. The family members not in the hunt lay in wait making commentary and wanting her to fall off the horse. Well she doesn’t. all come back from the hunt and re-enters yours truly. So impressed is he with Mame riding that wild stallion that down on one knee he goes (oh I loved that part and dreamed it was me), he asks Mame to marry her.

Now darlings the BIG david musical number. He starts singing and dancing all by himself....

"You coax the blues right out of the horn, Mame
You charm the husk right off of the corn, Mame
You’ve got the banjos strummin' and pluckin' out a tune to beat the band.
The whole plantation hummin' since you brought dixie back to dixie land.
You make the cotton easy to pick, Mame
You give my old mint julip a kick Mame, etc, etc. "

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©victoriawinters 2004
Thanks to the Cabrillo Theatre for it's hospitality.