Barbara Cook & Elaine Stritch

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Barbara Cook & Elaine Stritch

Posted: 2/27/06 at 9:55pm

Just got back and all I can say is WOW! I think they should put a show on Broadway (although the writing needs work) John Weidman was in the audience, perhaps he can help? I wonder if they recorded the evening.

Something is stirring, Shifting ground... It's just begun. Edges are blurring All around, And yesterday is done.

Updated On: 2/27/06 at 09:55 PM

Song List

Posted: 2/27/06 at 10:36pm

Wonderful evening! Here's the song list:

Lincoln Center Theater at the Vivian Beaumont
Barbara Cook and Elaine Stritch “In Alphabetical Order”

Monday, February 27, 2006

Song list:

You’re Just in Love -- Cook and Stritch
(Stritch called it “the national anthem of duets”)

I Wanna Get Married -- Stritch

Why Him? -- Stritch

I’ve Been to a Marvelous Party - Stritch

But Not for Me/If Love Were All -- Stritch

I’m Beginning to See the Light -- Cook

Ain’t Love Easy – Cook

Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man -- Cook

Bill -- Cook

Ac-cent-tchuate the Positive -- Cook

(Stritch using her line about Sinatra said of Cook: “You can say what you want, the son-of-a-bitch can sing.”)

Losing My Mind – Stritch “requested” Cook sing

50 Percent – Cook “requested” Stritch sing

There’s No Business Like Show Business – Cook and Stritch

You’re Just in Love – Cook and Stritch

Closing line: “Let’s go to dinner.”

Song List

Posted: 2/27/06 at 11:16pm

I just got back. It was a really fun night.
I LOVE to watch Elaine Stritch perform.

I stand corrected, you are as vapid as they say.

Song List

Posted: 2/28/06 at 1:10am

I, too, had a wonderful time. I loved the way they spoofed all that dreadful it's-rehearsed-but-let's-make-it-look-spontaneous patter so many duos are forced to suffer through. Cook is the better singer; Stritch is the better storyteller and together they were magic. Not quite up to the Merman-Martin duets, but darn close.

'Our whole family shouts. It comes from us livin' so close to the railroad tracks'

Song List

Posted: 2/28/06 at 1:52am

I can't wait to hear what Margo has to say about this concert as I believe she attended as well.

-d5johnston

Read LETTERS TO A YOUNG ARTIST by Anna Deavere Smith!

Song List

Posted: 2/28/06 at 6:33am

It was an amazing night. I'm so glad that I went.

Song List

Posted: 2/28/06 at 9:25am

i was there. why do you think it started 20 minutes late? i was imagining stritch running in the door at 7:01.

they basically took turns doing their club acts in 20 minute hunks with the other watching from the sidelines. both in basic black with a large diamond collar for cook and diamond choker for stritch. stritch had her ubiquitous stool -- and wore something a bit more formal than tights. the title of the show was "In Alphabetical Order" so i imagined that meant that they had solved the billing and performance order conundrum in the logical way -- but it wasn't that simple. after an interesting, textured version of "you're just in love" they got down to the business of working out the playing order. they read from jack o'brien's script (as they weren't going to learn anything new "for one lousy show" and "the 25 cents that lincoln center is paying me" according to stritch) they ended up having an audience member pull a name from a hat to see who would go first, as neither wanted to appear to be the opening act for the other one. while this was all read from a "jolly" sort of script there was a lot more truth to it than anyone wanted to admit and the jocularity was a bit of a dam holding back the tension. (more later)

Mind is Mantra.

Updated On: 2/28/06 at 09:25 AM

Song List

Posted: 2/28/06 at 9:31am

As someone who sat up in the cheap seats and didn't attend any of the festivities, it looked like they had trouble getting the swells into their seats by 7:00, or 7:15 for that matter. The rich are different from you 'n' me, I guess. They were still milling around, tossing back cocktails in the lobby, while we little people were sitting upstairs, patiently waiting for the show to begin.

'Our whole family shouts. It comes from us livin' so close to the railroad tracks'

Song List

Posted: 2/28/06 at 9:34am

most of the swells had migrated into the theater by 7:10 or so (i know that's when i saw lisa schiff sit down and no one is SWELLER than she) other celebs in my view --sam waterston, alan alda & barbara walters.

Mind is Mantra.

#10

Song List

Posted: 2/28/06 at 10:37am

It took forever for everyone to get to their seats. Liz Smith sat with Barbara Walters, Nathan Lane sat with John Weidman, and I believe Marvin Hamlisch sat with Beverly Sills? John Lahr was there also. Didn't see Sondheim anywhere.

Something is stirring, Shifting ground... It's just begun. Edges are blurring All around, And yesterday is done.

#11

Song List

Posted: 2/28/06 at 10:40am

Stritch did Why Him? from Carmelina? Melt...This goes on my list of reasons to move to New York.

Updated On: 2/28/06 at 10:40 AM

#12

Song List

Posted: 2/28/06 at 10:53am

MOST of the swells were there by 7:10 or so, but it did seem that "some" were posturing to be just a bit later.

I agree, every now and then the tension came through and that was a real highlight. As was every single word out of Elaine's mouth. She can just command a stage, even when she is missing lyrics.

I stand corrected, you are as vapid as they say.

#13

Song List

Posted: 2/28/06 at 10:59am

Stritch: "god knows what they think of me; that i'm some kind of ogre..." moments of dead silence.
Cook: "well --y'are."

barbara cook is a salty dame but i don't think i've ever heard her say F*ck onstage before.

Mind is Mantra.

#14

Song List

Posted: 2/28/06 at 11:04am

Can you give details on her performance of Why Him? It's one of my favorite showtunes.

#15

Song List

Posted: 2/28/06 at 3:33pm

Barbara's "F" moment was priceless!

Something is stirring, Shifting ground... It's just begun. Edges are blurring All around, And yesterday is done.

#16

Song List

Posted: 2/28/06 at 3:37pm

I'm so jealous. I wish I could've seen this; sounds amazing!

#17

Song List

Posted: 2/28/06 at 3:57pm

barbara mentioned that her run at the carlyle which begins tonight, will be a retrospective of her 26 or so years at that great establishment. when she busted out with "Ain't Love Easy" i had high hopes of hearing "Stars" but it was not to be. my favorite moments for her were in her tender rendition of BILL. i am very amused by stritch, but i am never really moved. i find her vulnerability rather calculated --look how raw i am --i think she is most vulnerable when she doesn't know what comes next. i tend to watch her, but i don't go there with her. she just isn't as inviting or porous to me. i think she would like my sympathy.

Mind is Mantra.

#18

Song List

Posted: 2/28/06 at 4:45pm

I get far more out of Stritch than Cook. I never thought Stritch wanted "sympathy" anyway. On most of it she REALLY does not seem to give a damn. Which I find engaging.

Cook has a fantastic style, but she is far too mannered and measured to me.

I stand corrected, you are as vapid as they say.

#19

Song List

Posted: 2/28/06 at 10:06pm

That is exactly why this show worked so well. Stritchie's got the comedic timing down while Barbara's golden voice washes over you like warm sunlight (and boy do we need warm sunlight!) They are both so uniquely different that they have something to offer to whatever the audience is looking for. At the same time, I thought Elaine's Fifty Percent showed she can deliver a song sincerely and fully while Cook's "straight man" is brilliantly hilarious!

Something is stirring, Shifting ground... It's just begun. Edges are blurring All around, And yesterday is done.

Updated On: 2/28/06 at 10:06 PM

#20

Song List

Posted: 2/28/06 at 11:09pm

Both were wonderful performers. I eventually found the "fumbling" through the script a bit tired. A very enjoyable evening, though.

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