Anyone Ever Actually Have a Vodka Stinger? — Page 2

A few years ago, we had some friends over for the PBS airing of the Company revival and I headed down to the Castro beforehand to buy some creme de menthe. Evidently it's such an old fashioned liqueur that I had to try a liquor store, two grocery stores and a wine shop until I found a bottle in the second wine shop (and the last chance within a half-mile radius)

By the way, that bottle hasn't been touched since that evening.

"By the way, that bottle hasn't been touched since that evening."

If you can find a bottle of white creme de cacao, you can make a grasshopper cocktail. Much better than a vodka stinger. Or you can pour a little over vanilla ice cream.

I think it's called "Village Wines." It's on 19th St, West of Castro, next to Spike's Coffee & Teas.

Here is Joanne's speech preceding "Ladies Who Lunch." The italics are the original stage directions and the capital letters are the original emphasis:

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LARRY: (Laughing) Joanne, I love you when you're jealous. Kiss me.

JOANNE: I hated dinner. I hated the opera, and I hate it here. What I need is more to drink--and look at Bobby, how desperately he needs another drink. (The waiters enter again. The female patrons are seen seated at various tables) Here they come again. SIR! DRINKS HERE--TWO MORE BOURBONS AND A VODKA STINGER! Do you know that we are suddenly at an age where we find ourselves too young for the old people and too old for the young ones? We're nowhere. I think we better drink to us--the generation gap. WE ARE THE GENERATION GAP! (The other women in the club turn and stare at her) Are they staring at me? Let 'em stare--let 'em, those broads. What else have they got to do--all dressed up and with no place to go.

LARRY: What time is it?

JOANNE: In real life? Will somebody get us another drink? (At this point each of the four waiters delivers a round of drinks to the table) Oh, you did. So aggressive. (To the other women) STOP STARING! (There is a blackout on the nightclub, leaving her alone in a spotlight; she turns to the audience) I'd like to propose a toast. (She sings.)

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I think it's lazy writing on Furth's part, retro-fitting the mention of the Vodka Stinger in Sondheim's lyric into the script, without considering for a second that in Sondheim's lyric, Joanne is not singing about herself but the Girls Who Just Watch, who have another Vodka Stinger after coming up with another reason not to move and another brilliant zinger.

By putting it into the dialogue, he turns Joanne into someone who drinks Vodka Stingers.

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Creme de menthe isn't old fashioned but it might be more of a cold weather area item. It's used in a lot of hot drinks.

I don't think so. The speech, along with the song, makes me think that the women who have lunch, and wear hats, are older than she, and she doesn't consider herself to be old.

What do you serve vodka stingers in anyway? Martini glasses? Maybe I've watched CAMP too many times, but I always think of Joanne drinking out of a martini glass.

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Huh. I always read her saying "I think we better drink to us" and then moving directly into 'the Ladies Who Lunch' as implicitly putting "us" in with "the Ladies"...

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I don't think the connection is that literal. Who would be the other usses? Larry and Bobby? The women in the club who are staring at her?

If anything, "us" refers to all those in the generation gap she mentions.

I think it's meant more figuratively than literally.

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Yeah, cream de menthe isn't at all hard to find in NYC. It's no creme de violette.

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I've always thought Joanne to be an alcoholic, but watching the Philarmonic DVD I caught Bobby's line, "I don't know what to make of the fact that you only drink with me."

So what does that imply?

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