Carol in Theater

By Rachel Lampert, Artistic Producing Director, Kitchen Theatre

Hello. I am Rachel Lampert - I have been asked to speak about Carol's professional performing career.

The sounds that came from Carol's voice were extraordinary. Seemingly effortless, when Carol began to sing you could feel an entire audience exhale. Because the sounds she made were so satisfying, so perfect - so seemingly effortless. Her voice was rich and powerful and listening to her sing was a pleasure all of us here have been lucky enough to share.

Whether you heard Carol sing delightfully with the Cornell Savoyards, with the Ithaca Opera Association, at the Hangar Theatre, the Kitchen Theatre, the Troika Association, with Women's Work or at the Brooktondale Barn Show - you shared that amazing experience of Carol's voice.

What Carol brought to her work on the stage was her incredibly generous and open self -and, a terrific pair of eyes always twinkling with her impish wit and such an expressive face that could transform in a flash from an expression of joy and inspiration to one of wacky befuddlement.

On stage Carol seemed fearless and totally comfortable - right where she was supposed to be. I know for a fact that she was, like all performers, worried about doing a good job- the usual stage jitters. But turn on the lights and Carol lit up like a star.

Carol sang two very complicated roles at the Kitchen Theatre. In Master Class the character she played is so intimated by Maria Callas, that she runs off stage in terror and anger feeling humiliated by the great diva's harsh comments. Later in the play, the character returns - defiant. And, through the performance of an aria wins over both the audience and the grand dame of the opera. Carol was breath taking as she stood her ground and proclaimed before all that she was worthy of the great career her character intended to have. And Carol, the actress and singer, was also worthy of that career.

In Falsettos she played a woman who's life was falling apart around her. Her husband is in love with another man, her child is out of control, the AIDS epidemic of the 1980's is wreaking havoc on her extended family - and as Trina, she is being asked to keep this crazy family together. She sang a song called "Holding to the ground" - with words like "Life is moments you have never planned. Life is moments that you can't understand. - Holding to the ground as the ground keeps shifting" -- When she got to a point in the song and the lyrics say "there's so much more, much more" - well, I'm not a musician like so many of you here today - but the note and the sound that Carol made in the tiny Kitchen Theatre quite literally resonated in everyone's chest-in our hearts! I waited for the sound at every performance. It was such an extraordinary connection between the performer and the audience.

And it is that connection that made Carol's professional life so full and so varied. At a Women's Works performance singing among other passionate musicians you felt that connection. And she could shift from G&S to Cole Porter to new music by Sally Lamb to Broadway tunes to grand opera. When the curtain - or in this case - the garage door went up at George and Dorothy Preston's house for the Barn Show performances - there was Carol beaming and connecting with everyone.

I can't talk about Carol's work without talking about her ability to be funny. She had a comedienne's soul. She loved to make you laugh. And, she did it with the words, the music, her acting and her willingness to be exceptionally silly. Even after singing the most dramatic song - Carol would end that final note - and then say - "Hey, not bad!" Those eyes again. That smile again. That face ready to make any and all expressions.

I came to Ithaca from NYC and when I encountered Carol my first thought was - why is she here? Why isn't she pursuing a career in NY? The answer to that question for Carol was easy - this was the place she loved. And, how lucky for those of us who have lived here with her - that this was the place this amazing woman, singer, actress, human being - wanted to have her professional career.

Lucky for all of us. Thank you, Carol.