Bea Arthur Tour

[Carl Magnum]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 10:19am

Ok so Bea Arthur is touring her one woman show and will be making a stop quite near me this weekend. I am still kicking myself for not catching Elaine Stritch At Liberty on Broadway or at a tour stop in Toronto (Damn you SARS and a hypocondriac girlfriend). Is this worth my time? It certanly seems so and I don't wanna miss out on anything so I most likely will attend. Anyone seen it? Any thoughts?

[Carl Magnum]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 1:30pm

*bump*

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 1:35pm

I'm sorry to say I didn't really enjoy it. I wanted a lot more of the stories and gossip, rather than urban legends, lame jokes and godawful singing. Her voice is beyond ruined now and the only song that she managed to pull off was Pirate Jenny. Every other song really made me cringe.

[Carl Magnum]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 2:13pm

Thanks for the heads up Pop. Maybe I'll stick with listening to the CD.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 2:20pm

I'm not saying don't go. Just don't expect much.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 2:22pm

pop, I respectfully disagree. These days, I'd rather listen to Arthur than Stritch sing, unquestionably. She also has a warmth and empathy that you don't get from Stritch in her show. I enjoyed it very much. She's not as big and showy as Stritch.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 2:37pm

that's fair enough, but if we're comapring, I found Stritch's show much more satisfying.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 2:52pm

The chair thing drove me to distraction!

[sondheimfan2]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 2:56pm

Elaine Stritch's big song = The Ladies Who Lunch

Bea Arthur's big song = The Man In The Moon

Nuff said.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 3:03pm

Oh I felt the same. I was like "put it down, woman!" but the show was so great that I got past it.

There's no substance to Bea's show, no meat. The Golden Girls theme plays, she smiles, says "ah yes, we were so great" then sings Some People badly, and it's the end of Act One and that was it for Golden Girls mentions. Hell, Elaine said more about Golden Girls and she wasn't even in it.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 3:06pm

I agree, but there is something about Bea that Elaine doesn't have.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 3:13pm

I also found Bea to be very cold, mechanical and rehearsed though. I really didn't like her.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 3:19pm

That's the exact complaint I have with Stritch! Funny. Different strokes...

[Carl Magnum]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 3:39pm

And once again I'm torn, guess I should just go and make up my own mind. It's only 20 bucks, a bargain considering what a Dinner and a Movie date costs these days. And I'd rather spend 20 bucks and be somewhat let down then 85 and get a bad dinner, horrible movie and a one time date.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 3:45pm

20 bucks? That's a no brainer. You have to see it.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 3:55pm

Absolutely!!

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 3:58pm

Unless you were on a date with me CC, then it would be well worth that 20 bucks.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 9/20/05 at 4:47pm

Interestingly enough, I didn't find Elaine to be cold at all. I loved the emotion she put into her singing and story telling. It was one of the most enjoyable evening's I've had in the Theatre. Like a master class in how to perform.