Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – Journey back to the Golden Age of Hollywood and step into the shoes of cinema’s most beloved leading ladies through song, as The Palm Cabaret presents Ruby Lewis in ‘Starlet’ November 16, 18, 20 and 23, 2022.
Puerto Vallarta entertainment writer, Gary R. Beck tells us about this not-to-be-missed show:
The night started off with the appearance of a glamorous svelte lady singing “The Night They Invented Champagne” and the attendees knew for certain that they were in store for a show by an upper echelon female singer.
This vibrant community is blessed and honored by the presence of such an astounding singer whose voice and appearance exude confidence and enormous talent. The sassy “See What the Boys in the Back Room Will Have” showed Mae West in a western saloon, belting them back in her own words.
Born in Kentucky, Ruby Lewis grew and matured from a nine-year-old girl to a singer and actor with credits accumulating including cruise ships, cabarets, Las Vegas (playing Marilyn Monroe in Marilyn!) and New York’s Broadway. Now, Ruby ventures to our land with a Hollywood story which highlights the Golden Age of Hollywood, remembering cinema’s most beloved leading ladies via songs.
Ruby’s soaring vocals are delightful, reaching the upper notes with her innate power and talent. She is a marvelous performer who has a stage presence which entices the audience and emphasizes the artist and song, not some gimmick of trying to be someone and failing. Ruby knocks out everyone with each song she delivers.
Sweet “Falling in Love Again” soothed the listeners admiring her vocal prowess as Marlene Dietrich. Stunning Ava Gardner soared with “How Am I to Know” and Ruby conveyed the silky sweetness of the lyrics in a luscious voice.
Ruby’s narrative, which she wrote, highlighted these golden era personalities well-known to all. Her talent is evident as she slides from one character to another. West, Monroe, Garland, Dietrich, Gardner, Reynolds, Clooney and Hepburn. Last names are sufficient since these women have been loved in music, acting, movies and stage shows for decades. They are the cream of the Hollywood Golden Era ladies of song.
The show design was very clever with Ruby singing the female lines of “Anything You Can Do” (I Can Do Better) and answering back the male voice which beamed down from the ceiling. “No you can’t. Yes I can!” She got the crowd dancing in their seats to “Mambo Italiano”. Rosemary Clooney swiveled those hips back and forth to this sexy tune. From “Lady and the Tramp”, Peggy Lee declares “He’s a Tramp”. She is the only woman tonight who wrote songs, revealed Ruby, many of them becoming hits. This golden lady was extremely well-rounded.
One facet of this show makes it even more delightful. She does not use her voice to mimic or sound like the lady being saluted. Ruby takes the song and image of the artist then molds them into her presentation of this lady of song. The songs take on a new and different meaning when Ruby’s personality shines forth.
Two video screens played throughout with shots of these special women, some Hollywood publicity shots, others candid and unrehearsed. Her self-written narrative included a story of her own journey from a nine-year-old to light stage to cruise ships, Broadway and tours. There were many struggles along the path which she related and the videos portrayed snapshots of her along the way.
The feeling was that she was in your living room chatting about her laborious successes, friend to friend. Then, she would burst into a knockout performance of a classic song made famous by one of these honored ladies who shaped our lives.
“Anything Goes” was declared by a wild Ethel Merman, an open look at life so expounded tonight by these golden ladies of Hollywood. They all did not succumb to the rigid, modern ethics, especially concerning women who were designed to stay in their place.
Ruby also adores Julie Andrews. Her life took long turns before hitting it big. Ruby stood in front of a screen showing Julie in the Alps singing The Hills Are Alive” (The Sound of Music) and portrayed an uplifting experience.
Arguably one of the most popular worldwide songs, “Moon River” from Breakfast at Tiffanys was delivered in memory of Audrey Hepburn, who sang extremely well but was dubbed sometimes by the Hollywood icons.
Moving onto Peggy Lee, another trailblazer, Ruby presented honors with “Que Sera Sera” (What Will Be, Will Be). Debbie Reynolds gave the world many wonderful tunes and Ruby selected “All I Do is Dream of You” showcasing another lady with love in her eyes like stars. Beautiful and touching.
Ruby honored her love, Marilyn Monroe, with a trio of tunes starting with a breathy “Happy Birthday Mr. President”, which was silly at the time but now has developed into a classic moment of the 60s. She continued with “Some Like It Hot” from a movie she starred in, “My Heart Belongs to Daddy” with her dedication for ‘sugar’ and then displaying a bit of honesty “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend”.
But at the top of her and many others’ list is Judy Garland. Ending the evening’s show, she launched into another trio. She broke into a clanging “The Trolley Song” from Meet Me in St. Louis, a fun presentation of this movie tune. She delved into this fine song, “The Man That Got Away”, exuding soft sadness and loss. It is a joy listening to Ruby soaring high and holding the highest notes with clarity seemingly forever. She asked, “enough?” No, the favorite remained, so she gave everyone a magnificent show stopping version of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”, the consummation of a glorious production and then the lights went off, at least until the next of her shows. The highest recommendation.
Puerto Vallarta is blessed to have such a top talent as Ruby grace our shores. She deserves a long run, and every show brings more followers, who now know how gifted she is.
If you have not yet seen this “star-studded” performance, you have four more chances to see Ruby Lewis in ‘Startlet’ – on November 16, 20 & 23rd at 6:00 and on November 18 at 8:00 pm – at The Palm Cabaret.
For more of Gary’s Puerto Vallarta show reviews, join his More of Beck’s Best: Theater, Cabaret and More! group on Facebook.
The Palm Cabaret and Bar is located at 508 Olas Altas in the heart of the Puerto Vallarta Romantic Zone. Tickets can be purchased at the venue’s box office, which opens daily at 11:00 am, or online at ThePalmCabaret.com.
For more information, click HERE, call (322) 222-0200, visit their website, or follow The Palm Cabaret and Bar PVR on Facebook.