Don't Put Your Daughters on the Stage, Mrs. Worthington

Friday night I went to see the absolutely adorable (and heartbreaking) "Waiting in the Wings" by Noel Coward at Theatre West.

Set outside of London, this show is about a charity home -- The Wings -- for retired actresses.

The show stars, among others, 89 year-old Betty Garett -- perhaps best known as Irene Lorenzo from "All in the Family." Garett was one of the great musical stars of MGM's Golden Era, the only one to play a romantic lead twice opposite Frank Sinatra, in "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" and "On the Town."

I was fortunate enough to see Ms. Garett in 2001 in the Broadway revival of "Follies" where she sang "Broadway Baby."

Garett makes a devastating exit to end Act II (of three Acts) that left me and many audience members in tears as her character is forced to leave the home because she needs to live elsewhere with more supervision.

Overall, it was delightful to see so many actresses of a certain age have the opportunity to show their chops in this play that has the wit you'd expect from Coward but more substance than much of his other work.