Ethel Merman: Queen of Musical Comedy

This show is terrific. 55 minutes on the life of Ethel Merman and the songs for which she is best known. By the end of the show, the audience understands who this Broadway star of 40 years was and becomes familiar with her famous songs, most which everyone will know, even if they didn't know it was Ethel who made them famous. This actress has certainly got the Merman swagger and belt down. Whoever gave a negative review must not realize that actors and actresses do not have to be the same age nor naturally look like the subject they are portraying - where would Meryl Streep, Helen Mirren, Charlize Theron be with that philosophy? As to the facts and lyrics, all were accurate and spot on. Anyone who sees this show will see a top quality ... full review

I attended the Saturday evening show and was very impressed. Gaby Rey was truly a delight. The show was so entertaining that I never even glanced at my watch during the entire hour. The life of Ethel Merman was well balanced by describing the high's and lows of her life. The singing was superb. I was so happy to hear all of the favorite songs from Merman's popular shows--I especially enjoyed the Gypsy Medley, I've got Rhythm and There's No Business Like Show Business. I would strongly recommend seeing this show - anyone who loves musical theater will be impressed by the performance of this talented actress.... full review

I didn't know much about Ethel Merman when I walked in to see this show, but I sure do now. In one hour, I learned about one of the most famous Broadway musical stars of the 1900's. Miss Rey can sure belt out Merman's songs, most of which I knew - just didn't realize that they were all written for Ethel Merman. If you know Ethel Merman's name, but not much about her, you will enjoy this succinct story of her life. And of course, you will love the musical renditions of some of Broadway's finest melodies.... full review

A major disappointment of this year's festival, at least for me. Mainly a 50-minute lecture covering the life of Merman, in her own voice, in chronological order, with some snippets of songs familiar for their association with her. The Star was Too Young and Too Pretty for the part and, as a writer, evidenced some errors in chronology and lyrics. She does have a PIERCING voice, though it's not Merman's voice. The show needed (1) Props, (2) Variations in Costume, (3) Much More Singing (including Lesser Known Material) and (4) Much Less Plodding Narration! ... full review