Chad Jones, Theatre Critic, Oakland Tribune;
Vice-President of Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle
Friday, April 7, 2000

    Richard Skipper does an amazing Carol Channing impersonation, which is probably why audiences pay to see him and critics let loose with a flurry of praise.
    But here's the thing: When Skipper does Channing, he displays a voice with underlying strength that Carol could only dream of having. Beside that, though Skipper bears a sometimes frightening resemblance to Channing, he's a good deal prettier than the real thing.
    Skipper's mastery of the Channing persona is on display this weekend at the Plush Room in San Francisco's York Hotel. Skipper is so good that he re-invents the idea of the impersonator and, gives it new energy.
    The secret is that he has the utmost respect for Channing, the original Dolly Levi in "Hello Dolly". He doesn't make fun of her, though her quirks make for easy targets. He does a dead-on impersonation, and at times makes you forget he is a) not a woman and b) not Channing.
    Skipper's voice re-creates all the Channing warble and squeak, but underneath is the voice of a truly wonderful singer. Skipper belts out the end of a song like Sondheim's "Broadway Baby" or "Before the Parade Passes By" from "Dolly" and you know Channing is biting her knuckles somewhere wishing she had that much lung power.
    Perhaps the ultimate compliment paid to Skipper has come from Channing herself. "(This show is) the first time EVER I have been shown with such love, respect and polish," Channing has said.
    At his opening night performance earlier this week, the audience demanded Skipper return to the stage for an encore, but he didn't have one prepared so he asked everyone to come back later.