By Bart Greenberg***For the first time in nearly a decade, The Iridium, a club that usually offers up a mix of jazz, rock and blues, offered up a genuine Broadway star—Tovah Feldshuh— and her finely-constructed theatrical show, Aging Is Optional (Cause G-d I 
Hope It is!). Feldshuh quickly conquered the stage, and the audience, with her program, a cavalcade of stories, songs and fully-developed characters that she brought to life.
Working in close collaboration with director Jeff Harnar and musical director-arranger James Bassi, she filled the stage with energy, with humor and with love, as she reflected on both her professional and her personal life. Kicking off with tales of auditioning for the revival of Pippin by flying through the air on a trapeze, she sang “I’m Flying” (Moose Charlap, Carolyn Leigh), which led to her fascination with Peter Pan and logically the wonderful “When I Was a Boy” (Dar Williams), delivered with both passion and compassion.
Feldshuh created more magic with a 
series of interpretations of the people in her life, including her powerful mother Lily (“Beautiful”—Carole King), and later, her remarkable Grandmother Ada, bringing these two fascinating women to life on stage with her trademark humor and love. She also discussed her 48-year marriage, after a whirlwind romance (“The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”—Ewan Maccoll) and her joy in being a parent (“New Words”—Maury Yeston), a particularly moving segment that melted the audience’s heart.
Feldshuh also spent equal time on her Broadway stage career, including her turn as Rosie Brice (mother of Fanny), celebrated with a spirited “Who Taught Her Everything She Knows” (Jule Styne, Bob Merrill) and about creating the role of Yentl early in her career. She also paid tribute to her personal hero, Justice Ruth Bad
er Ginsburg, with a hysterical rap number by music director Brassi, as well as to the recently passed Dr. Ruth Westheimer. The only misstep of the evening was a satirical piece featuring a radio commentator, “WYOY Sylvia Chronic,” a very negative moment in an otherwise positive and encouraging evening.
Showing the theatrical savvy that informed the entire evening, Feldshuh came full circle as she returned to Pippin with a celebratory “No Time at All” (Stephen Schwartz), and then a medley of “You Make Me Feel So Young” (Josef Myron, Mack Gordon), “Forever Young” (Bob Dylan) and once more, “I’m Flying.” These songs reaffirmed the theme of staying youthful and optimistic, and loving the life you create. A truly satisfactory night.
Photos by Jeff Harnar
