Topic: Betty Garrett
At the beginning of "Betty Garrett: Closet Songwriter," a world premiere musical revue at Theatre West, Garrett jokes about how her son advised her to reveal her age early on in the show, just for the hearty round of applause it would surely elicit. At 88, Garrett gets points for sheer durability, but she also deserves high marks for undiminished wryness and charm. A fixture in 1940s MGM musicals, Garrett starred opposite Frank Sinatra in "On the Town" and "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," but her antecedents also include an early stint as a Martha Graham dancer and later roles on several television series, including "All in the Family" and "Laverne & Shirley."