How much do you love Elaine Stritch?

[LittleFish8386]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 4:54pm

I listen to her At Liberty all the time, and I laugh hysterically.

How wonderful would it be to meet this amazing woman and talk to her about her life! God I love her.

Let's all give her a big thread of appreciation!

[jazzmin42]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 4:58pm

I've seen her eating a salad off 44th St. in midtown. She is an excellent masticater.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 5:04pm

I love Elaine Stritch and her performance in "At Liberty". I was fortunate enough to see her when she first opened her show at The Public Theatre. This week I have front row tickets to see her do the show again in Jupiter , Fl in a wonderful 550 seat theatre. I can't wait.

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 5:04pm

"How much do you love Elaine Stritch?"

A lot.

[LittleFish8386]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 5:05pm

Thank you for showing your Elaine love!

Come 'em coming!!

Edit: Gov, we never talk online anymore Updated On: 11/7/04 at 05:05 PM

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 5:14pm

That's why you should spend more time on the Rant thread (or whatever incarnation it's in right now).

"Here's to the ladies who lunch..."

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 5:24pm

we re-watched At Liberty (DVD) last night with out-of-town company and laughed our asses off. I'd seen it live on Broadway and fell in love. Elaine is absolutely the best story teller alive today, without question.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 5:25pm

As though of you who are familiar with her one-woman show know, Stritch's career began in the 1940s--long before Sondheim.

I love her rendition of the mock-striptease "Zip!" on the 1952 revival CD of PAL JOEY and her acid Maggie Harris in GOLDILOCKS (1958 ).

She's also done fine straight-play work as well--BUS STOP, WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF, etc.

Anybody ever see her in Woody Allen's SEPTEMBER (1987). Not a very good film, but she gave a brilliant performance!

And oh yes, I think she was marvelous singing "The Ladies Who Lunch" in COMPANY and "Broadway Baby" in the FOLLIES Concert.

Updated On: 11/7/04 at 05:25 PM

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 5:30pm

I saw At Liberty three times (including once at The Public, sitting a few seats away from Sondheim) and its one of my most treasured theatre memories. What a great old broad! I only wish I had been around and knew her back in the days when she still drank -- I can only imagine what it would have been like to hear her spill out story after story into the wee small hours of the morning....

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 6:46pm

Stritch DRANK?

But she was a diabetic!!!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 7:03pm

Are you joking Mary-Ethel? Assuming you're not, I take it you never saw the show (which is preserved on DVD, by the way) in which she spends a great deal of time discussing her legendary exploits with booze over a 50 year period -- she's one of the most famous alcoholics the theater has ever known (much more famous as a lush than as a diabetic). She only quit after she was diagnosed as a diabetic in the late 80s.

Do yourself a favor and pick up her DVD -- it's on my shortlist of the greatest shows and performances I've ever seen.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 7:07pm

I WILL pick up the DVD, Margo.

I just know her work from OBCs and the occasional Movie and TV Role--had no idea that she drank or she goes into in so much detail in her one-woman show.

Thanks!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 7:31pm

You should also pick up the DVD of great documentary on the filming of the original cast album of Company. It's remarkable seeing the entire original cast with the orchestra and Sondheim himself during the grueling marathon tape session, but the thing that makes the film a classic is Stritch's alcohol-fueled meltdown as she tries to get through "The Ladies Who Lunch." The combination of the late hour, too much booze, too many cigarettes and sheer exhaustion result in her blowing take after take because her voice is simply in tatters -- the camera captures her screaming out in frustration "Oh SHUT UP!" at the sound of her own voice on playback. It's a "must own" DVD. Here's the link:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004YKS8/qid=1099874025/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/104-0395238-6873539?v=glance&s=dvd

And here's the Amazon link for At Liberty:


Elaine Stritch At Liberty

[Plum]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 7:32pm

Everybody in there was smoking like a chimney- it's one of the strangest things to see from today's anti-smoking perspective.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 7:34pm

Thanks, Margo!

I'm "hyper-linking" as we speak! :)

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 7:55pm

I'm getting both for Christmas this year (although I've seen At Liberty already).
Hooray for relatives who can buy a LOT of theater-related things for their beloved son/nephew/grandson/cousin. Updated On: 11/7/04 at 07:55 PM

[LittleFish8386]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 8:04pm

Gov, you are too cute! My family is not tolerant of my musical lovingness...

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 9:50pm

I looooooove Stritchie! I call her Stritchie, because we're old friends from the 40's.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 10:22pm

I highly recommend the DVD Margo is talking about. I LOVE IT!!!

[Corine2]

Posted: 11/7/04 at 11:53pm

I love her. She is one of the most talented women in the theater.
We also have a friend in common.
Love Stritch.
I saw her show three times.
That Dame is still here and we are all glad.
Raises a glass to Stritch.
Glad you are coming back to NYC soon.

[POLisPOL]

Posted: 11/8/04 at 12:05am

I love her too much.
I want a girlfriend like her. LOL