By Bart Greenberg***While cabaret icon Marilyn Maye was holding forth at 54 Below, another performer with almost as many years in show business under her belt (and it’s quite a belt) was strutting the stage at the Greenroom 42. Rose Levine holds the title for the oldest still performing drag queen, having started 
her career some 70+ years ago in the village of Cherry Grove, Fire Island. And she brought all that experience, and a still strong voice, as she offered a wide array of (mostly) Broadway tunes and a great collection of show biz stories to an appreciative audience. She also offered a surprising number of costume changes, including one dating back to her first days on the Island.
With a personality that is a mix of sweet and sharp, and a vocal delivery somewhere between Bea Arthur and Julie Wilson, Levine enchanted the audience. While tackling such classics as “Take Me Back to Manhattan” (Cole Porter) and “Broadway Baby” (Stephen Sondheim), she worked the stage as only a veteran knows how to do. With the impressive backup of music director Mason Griffin, who contributed vocals from time to time (including a very effective turn on Jerry Herman’s “I’ll Be Here Tomorrow”), the audience knew they were in a safe space. Whether recreating her first solo ever: “Rose of Washington Square” (James F. Hanley, Ballard MacDonald) or embodying the soul of Norma Desmond with “As If We Never Said Goodbye” (Don Black, Christopher Hampton,Andrew Lloyd Webber), she was totally in command.
Much of the evening was devoted to salutes to specific artists who had crossed her life. Very early in her career, Levine lost out on a chance to sing one of her favorite numbers because another vocalist claimed it first. The song was “Second Hand Rose” (Grant Clarke, James F. Hanley) and the singer was, well you know who. But Levine offered up her version, with a bit more Stritch than Streisand, and made it her own. She followed that with a heartfelt “People” (Bob Merrill, Jule Styne) and a showstopping “How Lucky Can You Get” (John Kander,Fred Ebb).
Another legendary singer of legendary lungs was Ethel Merman who Levine knew casually. A multi-number tribute, with a bit of the Merman-vibrato thrown in, was great fun, involving such treats as “Let’s Be Buddies” (Porter), “It’s Delightful, It’s Delicious, It’s DeLovely” (Porter), in duet with Griffin, and “They Say It’s Wonderful” (Irving Berlin). Very special was her rendition of “I Got Lost in His Arms” (Berlin), the song she shares with her husband of 32 years.
And then Levine happily announced it was Jerry Herman time! Their friendship dated back to early times on Fire Island, and she celebrated their relationship with a lengthy medley of “Shalom!,” “Before the Parade Passes By” and a triumphant “I Am What I Am!” among others. Rose Levine is definitely a confident and unique individual. Long may she wave and continue to entertain.
