I spent thousands and thousands to fly from Australia via London to see Bernadette's first performance (and two after in the same week) in Hello, Dolly! It was one of the best experiences of my entire life and I don't regret it for a second.
Bernadette's voice is apparently a little tired at the moment (it was a little at the very beginning, to be honest). And you've already seen the show so many times + not sure how big a fan you are of Bernadette. So no idea if you'll be disappointed.
But I can still see Bernadette's overwhelmed face as she could barely get a word in when she entered for the first time, and the applause + ovations through the first show were overwhelming. Like nothing I've seen in a theatre before. A historic performance.
Bette Midler was fun and is a superstar, but Bernadette was a celebration of American musical theatre. No need to remind everyone that the same woman walking down those stairs worked with the same composer and book writer in "Mack and Mabel" almost 50 years earlier. The same person who was there with Sondheim changing the face of the American musical in Sunday in the Park with George and Into the Woods. The same person who continued this relationship through a stunning, stunning performance of "Send in the Clowns", and followed it up with "In Buddy's Eyes."
When Bette says "back home where I belong" it's cute to acknowledge she has dabbled a little in theatre, When Bernadette says it, it is celebrating a lifetime in the theatre.
Give me claws and a hunch, just away from this bunch.
Updated On: 7/11/18 at 04:19 PM
