By Bart Greenberg***With extra enthusiasm, as befit the occasion, Broadway star, concert/cabaret and recording artist, Karen Mason, stepped onto the stage at Birdland drenched in an abundance of her glittering “diamond” costume jewelry and her “Liza pants”—white slacks with silvery threads and sparkling beads. The reason: she was celebrating her 75th birthday, her diamond jubilee—although her appearance, 
her energy and her sheer joy belied that age. And she proved repeatedly she was nowhere near “retirement.” After a very clever variation on “Seasons of Love” (Jonathan Larson, with additional lyrics by her longtime director Barry Kleinbort) that reflected her time on Earth, she moved right into “Something’s Coming” (Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim). Acting every lyric, shifting from top notes to growls, there was no doubt this lady was looking toward to the future.
Mason returned to a few numbers from her past, including her first leading role: as Carousel‘s Carrie Pipperidge in a High School production in Chicago; she recreated “Mr. Snow” (Richard Rodgers and Hammerstein), complete with lead-in. It says a great deal to Mason’s abilities that she could get laughs on the well-known lyrics. Equally wacky fun was a rendition of “Come On-a My House” (William Saroyan, Ross Bagdasarian, who, she noted, went on to fame as the creator 
of Alvin and the Chipmunks). The tune was laden with new lyrics by her director, and included a series of knock-knock jokes. Also in the delightful mix were two by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn: “Nothing Like Love” and “I’m In Love,” a show stopper—as was “Hurry! It’s Lovely Up Here” (Alan Jay Lerner, Burton Lane), gliding on sheer joy.
There were serious moments as well. A surprising mashup of “One Boy” and “Golden Boy” (both Charles Strouse, Lee Adams) was deeply effective. And reaching way back in time, she made “It Had To Be You” (Isham Jones, Gus Kahn) seem fresh and true by accenting its simplicity, perhaps because it was dedicated to her husband, Paul Rolnick, and their marriage. A blending of “Dance Only With Me” (Jule Styne, Betty Comden and Adolph Green) and “Dance” (Amanda McBroom) was another moment of drama with a fine arc of emotions.
On the silly side was “South of the Coconut Line” (Paul Rolnick, Paul Guzzone), with great rhythm and humor. 
And on the power side was one of her signature selections, “And the World Goes ‘Round” (John Kander, Fred Ebb), which she delivered at full energy; after she finished she announced “I need a nap!” Then there was the classic “I’m Gonna Live Til I Die” (Mann Curtis, Al Hoffman, Walter Kent), which, Mason announced, was the first tune she sang after pandemic lockdown—at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel, True. And there was a buffet.
Longtime music director Christopher Denny provided his usual fine support, as did bassist Tom Hubbard. The evening ended as it should have, first with Mason singing “Better Days” written by her first music director and champion, the late Brian Lasser—and she sang it beautifully. Of course there was birthday cake, brought out to her by Rolnick, as the audience rose and serenaded the artist with the traditional, “Happy Birthday.” Now, on to the next 75.
Photos by Marilyn Lester; birthday cake image by Maryann Lopinto
