Bette Midler done with the stage

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 2/22/21 at 8:25am

Do you think its final? I know shes 75. But I would have loved a one last hurrah.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 2/22/21 at 9:00am

She LOVES performing live so it’s safe to assume she’ll be back on a stage again. Broadway? Not sure, but most definitely a concert show. If Lansbury can still perform on Broadway at age 87, Midler can most definitely do so as well.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 2/22/21 at 10:27am

It's true that there are plenty of examples of actors who have come out of "retirement" to perform onstage again, as well as plenty of actors - like Dame Angela - who perform well into the 80s and early 90s (as we discussed in another one of Theatrefanboy1's recent threads). So it's not out of the realm of possibility that she'd change her mind and return to the stage. I agree that we should take what she said with a slight grain of salt. And I also agree that a concert seems more likely than a full production. 

But I also don't think it's fair to say "Lansbury can, therefor Midler can" - they're 2 different people, with different needs and wants. Also, when someone says outright that they're done doing something, I don't think it's ever "safe to assume" that they will continue doing it. 

I can get behind your overall sentiment, BrodyFosse, but I don't agree with your level of certainty, given that she just presented us with hard evidence to the contrary. 

Updated On: 2/22/21 at 10:27 AM

[Kad]

Posted: 2/22/21 at 10:42am

I don’t know if she will actually go through with retiring from live performance, but I think there’s something to be said for acknowledging one’s own lack of interest in doing it anymore. She’s had a remarkable career, a great deal of it preserved on film and on albums.

And I think having Hello, Dolly! as the exclamation point on the end of that live performance career is about as perfect as it can get.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 2/22/21 at 11:01am

Bette is most definitely exhausted. Vegas and that huge stage exhausted the hell out of her. I’ll Eat You Last exhausted her. Dolly exhausted her. It makes total sense she doesn’t want to do that anymore.

I’m the article she said she is “basically” done. That might leave room for some concerts. I feel she might sing again. I’d love if she went back to her roots and just crooned. She’s a sublime song stylist. She could do a few nights at Carnegie Hall or a dark Broadway House.

I think she’s done breaking her back in productions. I hope she’s not done singing.

[Owen22]

Posted: 2/22/21 at 2:21pm

Kad said: "And I think having Hello, Dolly! as the exclamation point on the end of that live performance career is about as perfect as it can get."

This.

 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 2/22/21 at 2:47pm

And she was only doing Dolly! 7 times a week. I think she'll still do a concert here and there, but there's no way I can see her returning to Broadway. Not 7 shows a week. Or even 6 a week.

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 2/22/21 at 2:54pm

Owen22 said: "Kad said: "And I think having Hello, Dolly! as the exclamation point on the end of that live performance career is about as perfect as it can get."

This.

Double This!

 

[RunnyBabbit]

Posted: 2/22/21 at 4:20pm

I would love to see her do a smaller concert tour. Instead of stadiums, more intimate theater venues: sing, talk, tell some jokes. I have no doubt she could make it entertaining as hell.

[Wee Thomas2]

Posted: 2/22/21 at 4:40pm

Bettyboy72 said: "Bette is most definitely exhausted. Vegas and that huge stage exhausted the hell out of her. I’ll Eat You Last exhausted her. Dolly exhausted her. It makes total sense she doesn’t want to do that anymore.

I’m the article she said she is “basically” done. That might leave room for some concerts. I feel she might sing again. I’d love if she went back to her roots and just crooned. She’s a sublime song stylist. She could do a few nights at Carnegie Hall or a dark Broadway House.

I think she’s done breaking her back in productions. I hope she’s not done singing.

"

Don't you know she's pooped?

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 2/22/21 at 9:30pm

"I hope to keep entertaining in some way until I can't physically entertain any longer. It's what I was born to do, and I love this profession."

[BenjaminNicholas2]

Posted: 2/23/21 at 7:08pm

Dolly aside, after seeing how bad her Vegas show ended up, I'm not shocked she said this.

When she's bored, you can tell. She can't hide it.

If you're taking the money, you need to find the motivation.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 2/23/21 at 9:18pm

BenjaminNicholas2 said: "Dolly aside, after seeing how bad her Vegas show ended up, I'm not shocked she said this.

When she's bored, you can tell. She can't hide it.

If you're taking the money, you need to find the motivation. "
 

The Vegas show was truly bad. She was sleepwalking. That’s one instance where I feel she was there for the massive payday. I don’t think she knew what she was getting into with that enormous stage, which she detested. She was contractually obligated to release a DVD which was an embarrassing document. It was edited down in an attempt to preserve her dignity but it wasn’t enough. She was winded and on autopilot in the film. Her spontaneity and charm was not on display. It was sad and her voice was really strained. I felt bad for her  

 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 2/24/21 at 4:53am

 

[unclevictor]

Posted: 2/24/21 at 10:31am

Oh good! She was such a wretch at Dolly. Unfriendly, self isolated, non participatory, was almost if she wasn’t even part of the company. Good riddance!

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 2/24/21 at 11:13am

I forgot how obnoxiously large the stage is at Ceaser’s. IIRC, it’s one of the biggest stage openings in the world. I would detest it, too.

[DAME]

Posted: 2/24/21 at 1:46pm

unclevictor said: "Oh good! She was such a wretch at Dolly. Unfriendly, self isolated, non participatory, was almost if she wasn’t even part of the company. Good riddance!"

She was fabulous all 5 times I saw her in Dolly. . If they brought it back after the pandemic.. this would be the show to get people back in seats.

As far as the Vegas show.. It was better at the beginning. But as others have said.. that stage is horrid.. and those Casinos with creative control are only interested in getting you back at the tables. Both shows running at the time; Bette and Cher, were subject to a by committee approach. And they were both bland because of it. Bette talked about it at length most notably on British tv . You can also look up a episode of Kathy Griffins life on the D list in which Bette appeared. It isn't specifically addressed.. but you can tell.. and you can read between the lines. I also heard one of her back up singers talk about it briefly on Seth Speaks.

@bettyboy.. that is not exactly how the recorded version of the show came to happen. It was about money.. but it wasn't contracted till almost the end of the run.

Bette is fabulous in concert. So glad I got to see many of her tours.

[BWAY Baby2]

Posted: 2/25/21 at 2:13pm

The Bette show in Vegas was maybe the most beautiful stage I have ever seen- the colors and the lighting were amazing- so soft and they blended so perfectly- the show was just okay- I have seen Bette more than a dozen times- starting at the Kennedy Center in 1971- or was is 72?- and she has been a lot better in concert- but she wanted that massive payday- and put on a so-so Vegas show. Bette was still Bette- and though maybe not 5 stars- it was certainly 4 star.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 2/25/21 at 2:16pm

I just want to see her play Madame Morrible in the Wicked film if it ever happens.

[DAME]

Posted: 3/15/21 at 11:04pm

bwayphreak234 said: "I just want to see her play Madame Morrible in the Wicked film if it ever happens."

Hmmm