Carol Channing & Pearl Bailey on Broadway
Originally aired as an ABC-TV special, this 1969 concert brings together the singular voices and personalities of Carol Channing and Pearl Bailey. The two veteran musical comedy stars share the stage with friendly banter and easy choreography, starting off with duets of "A Little Girl from Little Rock" fromGentlemen Prefer Blondesand "Won't You Come Home?" Bailey delivers a strong "If They Could See Me Now" fromSweet Charity, then softens the mood for "Little Green Apples." Bailey's smooth vocals contrast beautifully with Channing's distinctive warblings, and they use their varying comedic stylings to play off one another. They team up for a medley of show tunes usually sung by male vocalists beginning with a duet of "The Oldest Established (Permanent Floating Crap Game)" fromGuys and Dolls. Bailey sings a medley of tunes fromThe Music Man, giving Robert Preston a run for his money. Channing follows with a dreamy version of "If I Were a Rich Man" fromFiddler on the Roof. Her Dietrich impression, thickly German and fraught with pratfalls, is very funny. Though Channing set the bar for portrayals of the matchmaker Dolly inHello, Dolly!, Bailey put her own mark on the role and the two actresses perform, in red sequined gowns, the famed title song together.Because this was a TV special, the production quality isn't very exciting, focusing straightforwardly on the actresses' singing and dancing. Luckily both  women are larger than life and fill the small screen with the combined force of their considerable talent.--Dana Van Nest