A hoot and a howl
Theater is a real drag these days, with Richard Skipper as Carol Channing.

Richard Skipper, a Carol Channing impersonator, bills himself as the 'closest thing' to the broadway legend in her heyday that anyone can see live, and area theatergoers will have their chance this Sunday. (Photo by Steve Ladner)

by patrick folliard

"IF WAR WERE to break out tomorrow, the timbre of my show at Alexandria's Metrostage wouldn't change a bit, " says Carol Channing impersonator Richard Skipper, sounding a lot like the wide-eyed, sugary Broadway legend herself.

"There would be nothing I could do to stop it. I want to give my audience a place where they can come and forget their troubles."

Skipper describes his 90-minute show, "An Evening with Carol Channing Starring Richard Skipper," as "a loving tribute and definitely not a send-up." While most impersonators deliver a caricature, Skipper claims to present Channing as she is, without commentary.

FOR MORE INFO

'An Evening With Carol Channing Starring Richard Skipper' Metrostage 1201 N. Royal St. Alexandria, VA Feb. 9, 5 & 7:30 p.m. 703-548-9044 www.metrostage.org www.richardskipper.com

"I present Carol as I've seen her," says Skipper. "I want to let the audience know what it's like to be in her presence. Although I'm never going to become Carol Channing no matter how hard I try, I'm the closest thing to Carol in her heyday that anyone is going to see live. She actually said that about me."

Skipper began aping Channing after seeing her on television as a child. Later, he informally sang like Carol in New York City piano bars and got a good response. When Channing mounted her umpteenth revival of "Hello, Dolly!" on Broadway in 1996, Skipper decided to do Carol professionally. Before getting bookings, he performed his show for Channing and her staff. He was not going to go ahead without her approval.

This article appeared in the issue of February 7, 2003, Washington Blade.