Ageless Neile Adams Delights at Casita del Campo

Petite and ageless Neile Adams brought her new show One Hell of a Ride to the Cavern Club of Casita del Campo on Friday May 17 and Saturday May 18. Truly enamored by a bevy of fans, Adams, like Mitzi Gaynor and Janis Paige, is still amazing as she approaches 80 years young and knows how to put on a show. Her voice has spurts of incredible power, and although she's at her best with upbeat, wildly flamboyant numbers, she uses a quiet and assured charm to get her through the slower-paced ballads such as Kander and Ebb's "A Quiet Thing".

I interviewed her many years ago when her book My Husband, My Friend, about her marriage to Steve McQueen, came out and she had me riveted to her deliciously colorful stories about her life and career. Somehow I expected to hear some of these during the course of her show, especially with a title like One Hell of a Ride, but, unfortunately, there were none. This was my only disappointment ... but whatever she does, Adams grabs you with her vivacious wit and energetic enthusiasm for living!

The evening, nicely directed by Ted Sprague features musical accompaniment by pianist Andy Howe and with Karl Vincent on bass and Steve Pemberton on drums. Highlights include: "Shaking the Blues Away", a rousing "Big Time" from Mack and Mabel, "Remember", a delicious "Arthur in the Afternoon" from K & E's The Act, a lovely Sondheim medley: "The Little Things You Do Together", "Like It Was" and "Could I Leave You?", a delightful "When I'm Not Near the Boy I Love" from Finian's Rainbow, a very entertaining "Too Marvelous for Words" with an emphasis on Johnny Mercer's priceless use of vocabulary, and Charlie Chaplin's poignant "Smile". There was a lovely medley of Spanish songs dedicated to her mother "Sabor a Mi" and "Que Sabes Tu" and a loving tribute to her daughter with Charles Aznavour's "She". Projections of both mother and daughter were on a big screen behind. It is here especially I would have loved to get to know her mother and her daughter more through stories, but Neile, for one reason or another, offered none. One can only hope that perhaps she'll add to these segments!

Neile Adams is a cute, perky, adorably precious lady who, without even trying, infuses her guests with fun and joy. When you watch her onstage, you get a glimpse, I feel, of what she's most like in the confines of her own living room. No pretense here, just a down-to-earth beautiful person and performer!

Neile Adams will be performing this show once more at Upstairs at Vitello's in Studio City on June 11. Reservations may be made by calling 818-769-0905, or buy tickets online at http://www.vitellosjazz.com/event/cabaret-awesome-presents-neile-adams-in-one-hell-of-a-ride/. For more about Neile Adams, please visit www.neileadams.com.