Review of the World Renowned & Beloved Shirley MacCaine -WOWED Our Very Own LaMirada Theatre For Performing Arts

PATCH -- Events | Arts & Entertainment

"An Evening
With SHIRLEY MACLAINE"...The Award-Winning Icon of Stage, Screen & Page Delivers
a Delightful, Fun & Rivetingly Open Unfolding of Her Multifaceted Life
& Personal Views About... The Past, The Present .. & The Future

Posted
by JoeAtTheShow4U May 2013  LaMirada Theatre for the Performing Arts14900 La Mirada Blvd La Mirada CA 90638 

 The much anticipated, Saturday,
May, "visit" of the impressive,
oft awarded by the world of entertainment, & much beloved by folks of all
kind, fulfilled all expectations. Without doubt, the audience's non-stop joyful
faces & cheers signaled we were far more than satisfied. Mostly sitting in
a wide, comfortable, but feminine, living-room chair, when Madame MacLaine sits
down on it--it "spiritually" turns into a throne (albeit, a modest
throne, as Shirley has oodles of "inner spirit", but isn't a snooty "Let
Them Eat Cake! " sovereign. With a large projected Book of Memories high above
Chair & Multifaceted actor, dancer, philosopher, comic, unique neighbor
returning to friends, Ms MacLaine hilariously delayed her vibrant trip through
memories, while she first handily "seated" the latecomers,
forgivingly talking them to their seats, magically making them part of the show
rather than treating them like annoying dolts...well...MAINLY! As Shirley began
to tell her wise, funny, touching stories & narrate the many photographs
& films overhead, she already had proved her uncanny ability to get things done as needed, garnering
smiles, & without harming others -- nor missing a beat along life's paths.

 

I can't possibly do justice to her stories painted
in the same grace and power of her dancing & comedic/poignant touch, so I will
just point to a few offered gifts given by this little Virginia Girl / Broadway
& Hollywood juggernaut of talent & try not to mistake who said
what/when in just a few of delightful memoire of laughter & wisdom. After
pointing out her family: dear sisters, & instantly handsome lil' sleeping
brother, Warren Beatty (telling that was Warren's last time just sleeping when girls
were around). She describes Father & Mother who did add youthful shaping,
although Shirley acknowledges that she is a person who likes to choose her own
roads in life, and follows the way to her own Oz & rainbow she feels, meant
for her. For example, she danced her way through much of her life (and points
out she can still WALK and dance decades later (nee 1934) even though her
ankles and leg/body dimensions might have dismayed others with pain & extra
hard work (especially had she continued ballet). One of her most striking
thoughts was that she did very well with dancing for choreographer/director Bob
Fosse because he wasn't a great dancer
body-performance-wise, but was a king in demanding perfection of expressing each
dance number from within (something Shirley was fine at, sore ankles and all. I
loved to dance myself as a 3 year old. But later, my short legs & bone
structure were no match for dances I saw/felt inside. At 30 I read a health
magazine in a dentist office by the head Dr of New York's top ballet company.
He told parents to have their kids' bodies checked early on, as some will
dangerously hurt themselves if they are built "wrong" but
"push" to be a pro dancer...& feel guilty for not working hard
enough. The Dr's article closed saying - don't tell your child to quit dancing
if it's in their heart, just encourage them to enjoy dance, but not "Blame
or Hurt" themselves by "forcing". God Bless that Dr's article,
it helped me alot, & insightful Shirley found this wisdom years before. No
Fool, her inner radar guided her to Pajama Game & Can
Can & West Side Story & Sweet Charity (it's Her
Dancing!)

 

Another MacLaine realization was that she loves
food, and would always be a natural voracious food-eater. In an early film, The
Trouble With Harry, it won
over a fellow food devotee... the grand Director, Alfred Hitchcock. With no
blonde hair & a love for food, Hitch chose young actress Shirley as his
only lunch partner. Now that's a truly talented luncheon "odd couple".
Shirley wasn't in Jack Lemon's film hit, The Odd Couple, but she also
recounted her wondrous card-playing superb comic/heart-grasping scenes she
shared with Jack Lemon in a different Hit --The Apartment. It was a
role I always thought she won the Academy Award for (& which she admitted,
ever honestly, she kind'a also thought she'd win. Not to worry, -- it was one
of those GREAT Oscar Actress Roles Years, and Shirley did win a best Actress
Oscar for the amazing Terms Of Endearment opposite another
great "Jack" actor --Jack Nicholson. There even more
"rad" scenes together, like racing a convertible corvette along the
beaches, with Daredevil/Astronaught Nicholson. Shirley takes charge & stamps
on those brakes powerfully flicking JN-Astro-Nut right into the Atlantic Surf.
She wins the scene & cheers from all women deeply needing a laugh in this
poignant film of a mother losing her one daughter to illness. Best all-around
talent? Shirley sez: don't forget Gregory Peck & the amazing,
perhaps TOO diverse, Danny Kaye.

 

I've
already filled my space, barely even scratching the surface of Ms MacLlaine's
whimsical, yet quite logical (really!) roads taken in a lifetime, or 2 or 3, or
4 or...yet to come. So, I'll  just
"LIST" a few unique MacLaine shared memories & laughs.along her
way. Guess who she met, capturing the eyes & interest of two foreign Heads of
state: Try USSR Premier Khrushchev & Cuba's Fidel Castro & the Dhali Lama. Which greatest group of "Cool" top performers liked Shirley so
much, she practically became a female part of the Rat-Pack, Sinatra,
Dean Martin & Sammy Davis(My
110% Talent). Oh, & that outfit
of black-wi-silver sequins Shirley looked perfect tonight, & thanks star
gal pal Elizabeth Taylor for the always-a-good-choice
for ladies after noon tip. Liz was quite right ... & Shirley was quite
lovely. MacLaine laughs about fellow star's-star,
Anne
Bancroft, sophisticated/ erudite/ classy. But in their Turning
Point film both fought like Hell in their famous fight scene!

Lovers? MacL fondly mentions a global several. But asked who's her favorite,
she smiles happily it's her dearest old Doggy at home. 

In
a generous Q&A closing the night warmly, folks of all ages (many young-ish)
many gave thx for her spiritual life & books...All wanted hugs!

 

--
All-in-All, a thoroughly Shining, Funny, Yet Deeply Warm show/experience--Totally
well given-&-well appreciated. Kudos to The La Mirada Theatre-- better & more
wide-ranging each year, but maintains its warm feeling. Get in touch & on
their list of
Upcoming Events So you won't
miss the next offering--Something For Just About Everyone,
Online: www.LaMiradaTheatre.com  {Or Call: (562)
944-9801 }