| My ex-husband was the assistant to TIMBUKTU producer and book writer Luther Davis, so I saw the show a lot. I can't, of course, be objective about it, but I have many fond memories of it, with a gorgeous physical production (richly colorful costumes from Geoffrey Holder and Tony Straiges' strikingly spare but oh so elegant set, his first Broadway gig), splendid Holder choreography (Miguel Godreau's bird dance!), and wonderful voices. Eartha Kitt was a force of nature, equal parts funny and sexy. Gilbert Price and Melba Moore were a winning pair of lovers. Ira Hawkins a decidedly hunky Hadji. A good friend of mine characterized the show as "children's theatre for adults." On opening night, I was asked by Luther to escort Gloria Swanson (who was good friends with Ms. Kitt) to the stage for a photo op after the show. Also with us was my ex, who was escorting Dolores Gray (who played Ms. Kitt's role in the MGM film) and her husband. We were to meet them in the lobby of the Mark Hellinger Theatre, then take them through an underground passage that went beneath the orchestra to the stage. As we entered the passage, Ms. Gray let out an incredible stream of profane epithets, which she applied to Ms. Kitt, following it with, "She made it a star part." Without batting an eye, her husband replied, "You could have too, if you'd only known how." My ex, Ms. Swanson, and I all pretended not to notice. Once on stage, of course, Ms. Gray was all smiles with Ms. Kitt as the cameras flashed. |
