C’est Moi

Jennifer K Mahal

“I never wanted to do it. Not in a billion years,” Robert Goulet,

voice clear and deep over the phone lines from Las Vegas, confessed.

“My dad on his deathbed said ‘Robert, God gave you a voice, you must

sing.’ That was his last word to me. He died that night.”

Goulet has spent his life since age 13 living up to his father’s

wishes, a life whose work will be encapsulated Saturday in his show, “The

Man and His Music,” at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

He’s gone from playing Lancelot in the original Broadway production of

Lerner and Loewe’s “Camelot” to playing King Arthur in a ‘90s touring

version. From playing “South Pacific’s” Lt. Joseph Cable as a youth in

Toronto to playing Emile de Becque. A few years ago he toured as the lead

in “Man of La Mancha.” Neither prostate not hip-replacement surgery has

slowed him down.

“I think I like the [role] I’m doing most when I’m doing that one at

the time,” Goulet, 68, said.

His first performance was in a play titled “La Dant de Mon Oncle,”

which the Massachusetts-born, Canada-raised performer said the nuns at

his school made him do.

His first break in the world of theatrics came when Goulet was in

Toronto studying at the conservatory of music.

“I was living in a room for $7 a week that summer,” he said, going on

to describe how he auditioned for summer stock, garnering a place in the

chorus for a 12 to 13 week run.

“It was $45 a week. I was in heaven.”

The big break came when he was cast as Lancelot opposite Julie Andrews

and Richard Burton. Singing “If Ever I Would Leave You” and “C’est Moi”

made his career.

“That was rather intriguing,” he said of working with Andrews and

Burton.

The baritone won a Tony for his work in “Happy Time.” Now a younger

generation may recognize him as the voice behind “You’ve Got A Friend in

Me” from “Toy Story 2” or “Green Tambourine” from “Recess: School’s Out.”

Goulet has three children, a daughter with first wife Louise Longmore

and two sons with second wife Carol Lawrence. Since 1982, he has been

married to Vera Novak, a Yugoslavian-born writer who manages his career.

His 34-year-old son, Michael, will join him on stage at the Center.

“It’s delightful to work with him,” Goulet said of his youngest child.

When he’s not performing with dad, Michael Goulet studies to be a

physician’s assistant in Los Angeles.

“He comes to work with me whenever he can,” Robert Goulet said.

Asked if he ever gave Michael advice on show business, Goulet said “I

told him not to do it. It’s a tough business. You’ve got to be lucky,

you’ve got to be good and you’ve got to work your [expletive] off. And be

lucky above all.”

FYI

* What: Robert Goulet: “The Man and His Music”

* Where: Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive,

Costa Mesa

* When: 8 p.m. Saturday

* Cost: $36-$66

* Call: (714) 556-2787