FRINGE FESTIVAL : STAGE REVIEWS : SHOW-BIZ VETS DO THEIR ‘ODE’ THING

Maybe there is a fountain of youth, after all. It seems to be located at L.A. City College’s Camino Theatre, where a remarkable group of show-biz veterans (some in their 80s) are strutting their stuff in “Ode to a Bit Player.”

The title makes this show, directed by Laura Drake, sound like a valediction, but that’s woefully misleading. Most of these performers were children before the Depression, and genuine stardom has eluded all of them. (Some hint at Hollywood studio politics as the culprit.) But they also share the entertainer’s gift of delivering the goods and making it look easy.

Take the silken tap dancing by Frances Nealy, Sheila O’Bannon and Mary Waters. Crafted, streamlined and fast are some of the words that come to mind--these are women who backed up Fred Astaire and haven’t lost a step (as the accompanying film clips show).

There’s the firm, impassioned balladeering of Art (“Most Happy Fella”) Lund and Barbara Ames. No easy assignments for these two: Lund swims into no less than “Joey, Joey, Joey,” and Ames applies a gentle touch to “I Didn’t Know What Time It Was.”

From the apex of romance, Paul (Mousie) Garner grabs the audience by the collar with his ribald, razor-sharp stand-up. His mixture of Borscht Belt and Victor Borge should be the show’s climax.

George (Bones) Gilmore plays the “bones,” four wooden bars clacked together in a rhythmic escapade. Ginger L. Lee pulls off some great mime with “Mechanical Doll.” Roy Woldum whistles, splendidly, through his throat .

So this is what they mean by a variety show.

Performances are at 855 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. City College campus, Thursday through Saturday, 8 p.m., Sunday, 3 p.m., until Oct. 4. Tickets: $10-$15; (213) 466-2916.