In fact, this reviewer has loved her from afar for so long, she even called her cat after her (geddit?).
Born dirt-poor on a cotton plantation in South Carolina and described by movie colossus Orson Welles as "the most exciting woman in the world", Eartha's a living legend who's held generations rapt whether she's been on-screen, onstage, singing or working the cabaret circuit.
On-screen, she's probably best known on these shores for starring as Catwoman in the Sixties TV version of Batman.
But her sultry feline-esque talents never ended there - and still don't. Her last hurrah as a chart-bound recording artist might have been in the Eighties with disco hits like Where Is My Man, but it's as a purringly-lovely torch song chanteuse that she quite literally shines.A slender 81 years young, she chose to do a rare three-night residency at London's only fascimile of a plush 1950s supper club, The Pigalle. Looking a good 30 years younger than the date on her birth certificate - those cheek bones! - and wearing a scarlet skin-tight thigh-slashed gown, she prowled on to stage and immediately made the audience her prey.
Deploying amazing phrasing and a show-stoppingly-powerful, nuanced and unique, often growling voice, she wowed - or even mrrrraaaowed - at every turn, while demonstrating alarmingly athletic prowess.
Her world-weary, tongue-in-cheek, flirty and often risque between-song banter also had the crowd in stitches - recalling long-lost talents like Dean Martin at Vegas.
Often giggling at the wit of the lyrics, hits such as Old Fashioned Girl and C'est Si Bon were delivered with captivating aplomb. Not a hint of living on past glories here - this lady has still got it.
After possibly eight of her nine lives, Eartha Kitt is still here - and still the cat who's got the cream. One of the last true stars - catch this Kitt while you can.
| SET LIST | |
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I'm Still Here Speaking Of Love Come-On A My House Anything But Love What Is This Thing Called Love How Insensitive All My Life Uska Dara Guess Who I Saw Today Could I Leave You? I Will Survive Too Young To Be |
Meant For Me I Want To Be Evil Ain't Misbehavin' Old Fashioned Girl I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm La Vie En Rose If You Go Away Hymn To Love C'est Si Bon September Song It Was A Very Good Year Here's To Life |