In the 1933 film I’m No Angel, Mae West says, "When I’m good I’m very, very, good – and when I’m bad, I’m better.” This past Saturday night, Anne Marie Finnie, as Mae West, showed us just how very good she is at bringing Mae back to life.

The delightful evening at The Actor's Temple began with event organizer LindaAnn Loschiavo, author of the play, Courting Mae West: Sex, Censorship & Secrets,

This critic has been reviewing Tommy Femia even since before he made his worldwide name as the best Judy Garland impersonator on the globe, two decades ago. In those days, he was doing impressions of Garland at parties and events and such, but the bulk of his act (as directed by the stellar Anthony Santelmo, Jr.) at the old Judy's on 44th Street, went in an entirely different direction. By the time yours truly was able to catch him as Garland, in his second week at Rose's Turn

In a departure from his contemporary pop themed shows, Eric Michael Gillett has chosen the sumptuous passion of the music of Harold Arlen.  Admittedly, Gillett has been attracted to the melancholy, dark quality of Arlen’s work, but is finding the humor as well. It’s a magical fit and one wonders what took him so long? Gillett is a master of lyric, with an actor’s ability to open his soul and reach an audience. His rich, powerful baritone creates humor and pathos on an array of Arlen songs.

Every once in a season or two, a performer comes along who makes one glad beyond belief that they chose reviewing cabaret as a livelihood, not merely for the privilege of seeing their work and writing about same, but the chance to spread the news to those seeking the most bounteous entertainment possible within the genre.