Kitty Carlyle Hart

Last night at the most elegant of NYC rooms, Feinsteins at the Regency, 95 year old Kitty Carlyle Hart revived her cabaret career in front of a packed and very sophisticated crowd.
She has very little voice left, and she had to read her stories to the audience, still, this icon of American culture was captivating. She sang maybe 8 or 10 tunes, opening with Old Friends and closing with Here's To Life. In between telling stories of her husband Moss Hart, and her experiences with the greats composers and lyricists of Musical Theater. The story of Harpo Marx coming to visit them in their Bucks County home was surreal and very funny. This woman made A Night at the Opera with the Marx brothers. Wild. Being invited guests to meet her after the show was a thrill too. Sure she is 95, but lovely and elegant and as together as any of us. She is a walking history lesson.
While we were about the youngest ones in the house, it was one hell of a house. John literally rubbed shoulders with Frank Rich. Marvin Hamlisch watched the show with Michael Feinstein (who was as charming to meet in person as he is on the stage).
Our favorite chanteuse Mary Cleere Haran was there and invited us to an evening in Brooklyn in 2 weeks where she is having an evening of song and witty repartee with guest Tim Gunn of Project Runway and Parsons school of Design.
Betsy Von Furstenburg (who looks like Jill Clayburgh's mother sat behind us. Gabriel Burn was sitting in the lobby with his daughter.
The New York social register sat in front of us, discussing the overpriced apartments at the Plaza. What a weird world to be listening in on. Gold lame turbans, 20 caret diamond encrusted arthritic hands. Sure is fun coming over to the east side every now and then.
John, the big four-O. Happy happy birthday. You are a dear friend. I loved watching you light up last night. And the picture of you and Mrs. Kitty Carlyle Hart will go up on the wall. I love saying that, "when John met Kitty". That should be the title of a chapter in the bio.