Eartha Kitt

It probably would have been enough for her fans if Eartha Kitt had simply walked onto the Blues Alley stage Thursday night, vamped her way through a few songs, growled that incredible growl and called it a night. Let's face it, the iconic singer and entertainer recently turned 78. Getting around without a walker at that age is impressive enough.

But if just appearing would have sated her fans, Kitt had something entirely different in mind. Her hour-long show, the first of two that night in a four-night stand, was not just a sepia-toned trip down memory lane. The songs may have been from a time gone by, but Kitt is as sharp as ever, wickedly funny and still incredibly sexy.

Septuagenarians have never looked so good. Or, for that matter, sounded so good. Her voice was in as fine a form as her figure, and she put both to use, dancing, singing and daring anyone to think she was past her prime.

Men seated directly in front of the stage were her primary targets, mice to her playful cat. Stretching her leg onto one tabletop she purred, "Well, don't just sit there, do something." And later, she stared into the eyes of a man a third her age and sang, "Speaking of love, I'd be compassionate / if there was cash in it / I'd be your nincompoop / just be my incomepoop." Dressed in a black evening gown, Kitt led her four-piece band through a number of her hits and standards, including "It Was a Very Good Year," "C'est Si Bon" and "Mad About the Boy."

"I used to think I would stop singing this song because I'm past this stage," she joked before singing "I Want to Be Evil." "Hah, as if that will ever be the case." Later, introducing the show-closing "Here's to Life," she thanked the Blues Alley management for leaving an orchid in her dressing room. "But next time," she drawled, "bring me a man."

-- Joe Heim