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By Joyce Chen
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May. 6, 2004 |
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I have been prostituting myself all of my life." Such is Broadway actress and Class of '38 alumna Carol Channing's triumphant description of her attitude towards performing, which she elaborates upon in her new autobiography Just Lucky I Guess: A Memoir of Sorts.
Adventurous readers will immensely enjoy this lighthearted narrative, in which Channing describes her rise from a quiet San Francisco childhood to an illustrious theater career that included roles in such classics as Hello, Dolly! and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
Channing, who spent four and a half years working on the book, writes in a casual, conversational tone.
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| Carol Channing, author of Just Lucky I Guess: A Memoir of Sorts |
Chapters consist entirely of seemingly random vignettes, often paired with Channing's witty observations.
Dates or other indicators of chronological order are practically nonexistent, and an infinite number of people flit in and out of the narrative with little or no introduction.
Through her onstage exploits, Channing has amassed a formidable list of famous friends and associates, many of whom she praises lavishly.
This large number of figures can present a problem for readers, who may feel lost in the swarm of vaguely familiar names.
Channing pre-empts this possible frustration with the following disclaimer in her introduction:
"I do hope you proceed (reading the book), but at your own risk of boredom or your own impatience with unraveling disorganization."
Just when Channing's name-dropping and colloquial tone verge on pretentiousness, she grabs the audience with her wicked wit.
Fifty-plus years of experience in acting have given her a wide array of rollicking anecdotes to share.
"I do hope you proceed (reading the book), but at your own risk of boredom or your own impatience with unraveling disorganization."
Carol Channing, Class of '38 alumna |
In one instance, she describes her unorthodox reaction when a co-star whom she only identifies as "Yenta" attempts to upstage her during a sketch in the play Lend an Ear:
"When (Yenta) finally succeeded in killing the bit dead, I brought my wrist down on her head with the weight of one of those huge brass bracelets. As I say, I warned her."
Although aspects of her theater career were far from perfect, Channing generally refrains from bitterness in depicting her theater associates, even several who criticized her quite harshly.
She even comes to a sort of truce with the aforementioned Lend an Ear co-star, whom she describes as "warm and poised" during a cast reunion.
Channing truly loves theater, and her enthusiasm is infectious.
One emerges from reading her autobiography with a sense of what it takes to be a performer and captivate the audience.
Consideration for the reader is what sets Just Lucky I Guess apart from more self-indulgent autobiographies.
Channing knows the importance of her audience members, whether they are witnessing her onstage or within her book.
"I am being very careful now not to exaggerate," she writes. "If I do, then I'm wasting not only your time but my own."
However, most readers would disagree. Any message that Channing has to offer could not possibly be a waste of time. |
