Border Ross

The evening of Sunday, Mar. 15 was one to be remembered in theatrical history in Cleveland. A Cleveland native brought his review here and it was all live, Gordon Ross is one of those rare people who has the remarkable ability to cause others to doubt the veracity of what the eyes and ears tell in short, a splendid impersonator.

He opened his show with Carol Channing and closed it with Bette 'The Divine Miss M' and visited with stars, luminaries, and other lesser lights in the source of his hour and a half of stage time.

Carol Channing was sweetsypie and Phyllis Diller outre; Marlene Dietrich not a little bitchy and Doris Day gingham dresses and apple pie-too wholesome for words. I have seen Mae West done before and done better but Cordon's impersonation was to the point and left no doubt who was on stage. Or rather he did and that was the value of it all.

Appropriate thanks were given to Our Beloved, the infamous Anita with "Who's Sorry Now" and a little thought turned that into a bittersweet momentreality said we may not have liked her nor appreciated her but she has sunk to new depths personally now and no one could ever decently wish that on another. Bette Midler dropped by and we were blessed with the wanton one cavorting on stage and belting out "Friends" and Billie Holiday left her mark on us all, too.

Gordon Ross grew up in Rocky River and started out to be a marine biologist but his love for the stage waylaid him. His mother-who this writer interviewed along with his father after the show-acknowledged that he always had liked to entertain his siblings, even as a child. Obviously, his love of the stage goes deep and is reflected in the quality of his work. His command of voice and movement and mannerisms associated with his various stars is definite and concise. He is expressive and chooses his material and stars well-living up to old adage to do well what you do best.

This was Gordon's second performance here in Cleveland and the audience reaction was excellent. Those of us who were lucky enough to catch the act appreciated Gordon's making the trek here from Key West where he makes ends meet working as a waiter for people he describes as 'very understanding and supportive.'

Shelly, you deserve a vote of thanks for making it all possible and for your support of the Gay Community here. Bring him back to us again, soon.

Working with Gordon was an old friend of his from ChicagoGene Nelson. He sings-live-and is refreshing. The pleasure of listening to a real performer belt out a tune and know that he is one of us and deserving of our support because he is good-and not just one of us-kept Sally and me there a lot longer than we had brigida yotended.

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APRIL 1981 HIGH GEAR Page 19