Barbara Cook Has Passed — Page 2

I am in my early 70's; I was fortunate enough to see Ms. Cook in most of her early musical theater work. She was totally natural in the zany roles of Ado Annie and Carrie Pipperidge in City Center revivals of Oklahoma and Carousel (Florence Henderson was Laurie, and Jo Sullivan Julie in the respective productions). A year later I saw her playing the somewhat zany and impressionable Amish young woman in Plain and Fancy. About the same time, I was watching a TV production of Babes in Toyland---the ingenue, playing the romantic lead with great conviction, looked familiar to me, but I could not place her. When I read the cast list at the end of the show, and saw that the ingenue's name was--Barbara Cook-- I was stunned, I simply could not believe it. And I think that was what was amazing about her early career, how effortlessly she transitioned from the comedy leads to the leading lady roles. And yes, she was wonderful as Marian Paroo in the original Music Man, her journey, played off Robert Preston's remarkable Harold Hill, from her original rejection, to her realization that he was the one for her, was unforgettable.

This is heartbreaking. I'm sure the lights will be dimmed for her.



Several years ago, I was fortunate enough to see her live in a small, intimate cabaret setting in San Francisco. It was supposed to be Elaine Stritch, but Stritch cancelled due to her health, and the venue was able to get Barbara Cook on somewhat short notice. I was a bit disappointed at first because, being the silly youth that I was, I wasn't really aware of Cook's talents. But boy did I wise up. I sat in the front row of tables, and could not stop beaming through the whole show. She needed heavy assistance to get up to the stage, because she was no longer very mobile. She sat down through the whole performance, and left in a wheelchair. But THAT VOICE had not diminished in the slightest. It was still as gorgeous as ever. Plus, she was still sharp as a tack. It was a pleasant surprise to learn that this grand, elegant lady of the Golden Age of musical theatre, actual swore like a sailor! What potty mouth!

After the show, she sat in her wheelchair behind a table in the lobby, and spent at least an hour chatting with her fans. I was one of the first to speak to her, and she said "you looked like you were enjoying the show!" and I said "I certainly did!" I then spoke with her for a little longer, before I asked her for a photo. She said yes, enthusiastically, and I went behind the table for the photo. Right before the photo was taken I felt her grab my hand and say "hold my hand for the photo!" She insisted on holding the hand of every fan that she took a photo with that night. One girl came in with the score of Candide (she was preparing to play the role), and the two of them spent about 15 minutes meticulously going through the score, Cook giving advice along the way.

That evening remains a treasured memory. She will be sorely missed.

MarkBearSF said: "JBroadway, we were at that performance. I'll never think of "Bye Bye Blackbird" the same way again (and also whenever I waste time on YouTube) "



I regret to say that I actually don't remember anything specific from her set. Just the general sense of watching her perform and hearing her sing. Mainly it's because I wasn't familiar with most of the songs at the time, though I bet I'd know more of them now. Do you remember what else she sang?

Barbara has been the third US trend on Twitter since this was announced. I know she was beloved by many, but I always find it touching seeing so many different people from all over the world react to the loss of one of our Broadway legends.

Crying because of beautiful memories.

Oh that voice, once heard, NEVER forgotten.

I thank you for your voice--as a kid I never knew who you were but the sound of your voice always returned me to beautiful places.

Eternally grateful.

I am so sad today.



From The Gay Life:

"Who can wear velvet of blue?

You can wear velvet, or anything you dream of the whole day through.

Daydreams can come true."



Barbara Cook, you made my daydreams come true.

Thank you for all the magic moments.

just heard this news. absolutely crushed. her voice was so singular in its beauty, there will truly never be another one like her. rest in peace Barbara!

Beautiful post Finch. Seeing Barbara in THE MUSIC MAN was also my first Broadway show. I fell in love with her that day and followed her career thereafter. Thanks for expressing my similar thoughts so well...:)

Thank You Barbara Cook. For all the joy of your singing.

Such an amazing voice. I never got to see her live, and I really appreciate getting to hear all the wonderful stories from those of you who were fortunate to have seen her. This is a very sad day.

We have lost a woman of such complexity, who gave us her gift decade after decade as she changed and deepened. I just watched the Kennedy Center tribute again with tears all the way through, as I did when it was first broadcast. So many here have offered remembrances and tributes that I am not sure I have anything meaningful to add. But maybe this. I also just watched for the upteenth time Barbara's upbeat concert performance of "It's Not Where You Start" from Seesaw. To my mind, she ennobles that song with a deep resonance and makes me take heart from it in when down in the gritty trenches of life. I love her for many performances, but maybe most of all for her own gritty determination to rise from the trenches she too fell into. Like her voice, her life ranged wide and she persisted.

Very sad. such an immense talent. Loved her in soo many things, but my favorite will always be 'Thumbelina": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLJr8xBl9Vg