This seems to be my year for checking items off my bucket list or simply doing things I’d never imagined! Being in the same room as a comedic legend such as Vicki Lawrence falls into the latter category!
I grew up watching the Carol Burnett Show; we never missed it. It didn’t matter where we were, a friend’s house, a family get together, everyone sat around to watch Carol Burnett, Vicki Lawrence, Harvey Korman and Tim Conway perform their weekly comedy sketches and Movie/TV Show parodies. My favorite segments were the Mama’s Family skits. Being a young girl, I found it amusing that a Grandma could be so raw, mean, and funny at the same time! I remember how shocked I was to find out that Vicki Lawrence was actually much younger than Carol! I actually thought she was older, or at least the same age. I believe that’s how you can judge good acting, when someone can make you believe that she IS the person whose role she’s playing!
We sat behind a taxi driver that had the pleasure of driving Vicki around San Antonio. He was scrolling through his photos and we noticed a photo of him and Vicki. We asked if he was at the meet and greet. He told us that she, her husband, Al Schultz, and her son, were really nice. They gave him tickets to the show and it appears that he was their driver for the weekend.
Vicki sings (Photo by JohnDavid Scarcliff)
Vicki came out and connected with the audience by telling comical, but true stories, about routine events such as visiting the gynecologist. She reminded some of us that may have forgotten (or those that didn’t know) that she produced and recorded the first version of “The Night the Lights Went out in Georgia.” Yes folks, Reba is not the original redhead to sing it! She said her then husband, Bobby Russell, didn’t like the song and she “got it in the divorce.” In 1973, it was number one on the “Billboard Hot 100.” She sang it for us and joked about how she was the only artist that could do a medley of her hits in one song.
Vicki also told us the story of how she was discovered by Carol at a “Miss Fireball” contest. Over the years I’ve seen articles speculating that Vicki resented being in Carol’s shadow. I didn’t sense that Vicki had any resentment for Carol at all. In fact, I think it is the opposite. I think she is grateful. Though I did sense a little resentment between Vicki and Mama. It seems that whenever Vicki is spotted by fans, they yell out to her, “where’s Mama?” It is as if they don’t realize that she IS Mama. I believe she should be proud that after 40 years, Mama lives on in the hearts of fans everywhere. Even though Mama came out of the Carol Burnett Show, she is clearly Vicki’s masterpiece. The Tobin Center was nearly full with people that came to see Vicki AND Mama and all the laughs were for Vicki and her alter ego – Mama; no one else!
One thing Vicki did say begrudgingly, was that Bob Mackie created glamorous sequined gowns for Carol and for her just the Mama costume! (Photo by JohnDavid Scarcliff)
Since it is not shown in re-runs, my 17-year old daughter never saw the “Carol Burnett Show” or “Mama’s Family.” She had no idea what she was in for, but she loved it! She screamed with laughter, just as much as us “old folks!” By the way, Vicki advised us that “Mama’s Family” is currently showing on “MeTV,” so if you get that channel, you are in luck. Sadly for us, MeTV is not on the Dish Network.
Better listen to Mama! (Photo by JohnDavid Scarcliff)
Of course the crowd really went wild when Mama came out and did a rap for us! It was hysterical! She did an “ask Mama” routine where she touched on some current issues. One question I recall was how she felt about Caitlyn Jenner. Mama said that she didn’t understand why someone would want to become a woman at the menopausal stage of life! The best way to describe the show is to quote Vicki, herself, “My show is not a retrospective, . . .It is a mixture of stand-up comedy, music and my observations about real life.”(http://www.vickilawrence.com/2woman2013.html) The only thing she left out is that you will be laughing so hard your sides will hurt and your eyes will tear!
“Vicki Lawrence and Mama, A Two Woman Show” is touring the country and I highly recommend you catch it if you can. You can see the schedule on her website by following this link http://www.vickilawrence.com/VickisSchedule.html. I hope she comes back to San Antonio next year. – BMT
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