Bette Midler's Final HELLO, DOLLY! Performance Will Benefit the Actors Fund- Page 5

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 1/14/18 at 11:01pm

haterobics said: "No speeches, just a great time tonight. Oh, and the cameras were for the Lincoln Center Archive. At least that's what Scott Rudin told me at intermission..."

Well that’s disappointing.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 1/14/18 at 11:18pm

Zamedy, you're not alone regarding feeling a tinge of disappointment that this afternoon's matinee was not Bette's final performance. I was at the performance last night, and again at the matinee, and the response from the audience was about the same.  There just wasn't that extra zing that one would expect.

I'm glad I made the trip, just to see The Waiters' Gallop.  I love all the ensemble numbers in this show, but the Waiters' Gallop is my favorite. I felt that the actor play Rudolph blew his whistle too soon, and cut off the enthusiastic applause from the audience.

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 1/14/18 at 11:29pm

No speeches? That's sort of odd and a bit cold given the fact that Bette Midler, DHP, Taylor Trensch, Beanie Feldstein and departing ensemble members gave so much to the show and made the producers so much $$$ and by all accounts behaved with the utmost professionalism. I know there's a semi-social media blackout but I've noticed that it was loosened recently and it's clear this was a close-knit cast. Oh well.

And Bette only missed one show. That's pretty amazing given that she's 71.

Updated On: 1/14/18 at 11:29 PM

[Bwayfan292]

Posted: 1/14/18 at 11:31pm

Mabye Rudin was nervous a picture of the cast in coustume would get out.... kidding of course.

[A Director]

Posted: 1/14/18 at 11:44pm

poisonivy2 said: 

And Bette only missed one show. That's pretty amazing given that she's 71."

Good grief!  71 does not mean she has one foot in the grave!

 

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 1/14/18 at 11:46pm

A Director said: "poisonivy2 said:

And Bette only missed one show. That's pretty amazing given that she's 71."

Good grief! 71 does not mean she has one foot in the grave!

"

I'm not saying she does. But given the attendance of some other Broadway luminaries missing one show during an entire run is amazing and speaks to her professionalism and dedication.

[binau]

Posted: 1/15/18 at 1:27am

It is nice that up until now, with the possible exception of how the cast recording was received here, this revival has been a success on early every level. Critics were happy, audiences seemed to be happy, the cast seemed to be having the time of their lives, bank accounts are full, Bette worked hard and showed up to basically all performances. Hoping the show can keep this with Bernadette.

[haterobics]

Posted: 1/15/18 at 3:16am

poisonivy2 said: "No speeches? That's sort of odd and a bit cold given the fact that Bette Midler, DHP, Taylor Trensch, Beanie Feldstein and departing ensemble members gave so much to the show and made the producers so much $$$ and by all accounts behaved with the utmost professionalism."

One imagines if Bette wanted to make a speech, she would have.... so, if she didn't, she didn't want to. The show's vibe since it opened was to let the show speak for itself...

[bk]

Posted: 1/15/18 at 3:45am

poisonivy2 said: "No speeches? That's sort of odd and a bit cold given the fact that Bette Midler, DHP, Taylor Trensch, Beanie Feldstein and departing ensemble members gave so much to the show and made the producers so much $$$ and by all accounts behaved with the utmost professionalism. I know there's a semi-social media blackout but I've noticed that it was loosened recently and it's clear this was a close-knit cast. Oh well.

And Bette only missed one show. That's pretty amazing given that she's 71."

And you are how old?

 

[blaxx]

Posted: 1/15/18 at 4:25am

bk said: "poisonivy2 said: "No speeches? That's sort of odd and a bit cold given the fact that Bette Midler, DHP, Taylor Trensch, Beanie Feldstein and departing ensemble members gave so much to the show and made the producers so much $$$ and by all accounts behaved with the utmost professionalism. I know there's a semi-social media blackout but I've noticed that it was loosened recently and it's clear this was a close-knit cast. Oh well.

And Bette only missed one show. That's pretty amazing given that she's 71."

And you are how old?

"

Exactly. Why does being in your seventies mean that you are expected to miss performances, or that it should be a notable ocurence? Older in actors in lead roles have performed in Broadway shows without calling out. She's not 105 .

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/15/18 at 7:37am

poisonivy2 said: "No speeches? That's sort of odd and a bit cold given the fact that Bette Midler, DHP, Taylor Trensch, Beanie Feldstein and departing ensemble members gave so much to the show and made the producers so much $$$ and by all accounts behaved with the utmost professionalism. I know there's a semi-social media blackout but I've noticed that it was loosened recently and it's clear this was a close-knit cast. Oh well.

And Bette only missed one show. That's pretty amazing given that she's 71."

 

Dammit! I'm 70 years old and far from dead! 

 

Updated On: 1/15/18 at 07:37 AM

[Zamedy154]

Posted: 1/15/18 at 8:53am

For anyone on the boards who went to the 8pm Actor's Fund performance last night, did anything special happen within the show? Any emotional moments between actors? The final scene with Bette and David? Did Bette adlib anything referencing this being her last show during the title number?

I sat in the balcony for the 2pm performance and was surprised to see half the front row and half the second row of the center balcony were empty for the first act (either because the people who bought them couldn't make it for some reason or because perhaps they were asking for too much on StubHub??) For the second act, either people arrived or...more likely.. some people moved down. My friend and I wanted to (we were far left in row D), but I'm always afraid the ushers will say something or the people sitting behind the empty seats will pass serious judgement.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/15/18 at 10:25am

Kind of upsetting there was no curtain speech. Was expecting Rudin to say something just on the fact how much $$$ Midler made for him.

[haterobics]

Posted: 1/15/18 at 10:53am

Zamedy154 said: "For anyone on the boards who went to the 8pm Actor's Fund performance last night, did anything special happen within the show? Any emotional moments between actors? The final scene with Bette and David? Did Bette adlib anything referencing this being her last show during the title number?"

She did go into one of the choruses around the passerelle saying "One last time!" or "One last time, boys!"

Beyond that, she and DPH did more shtick and physical comedy at the Harmonia Gardens dinner scene than I ever saw them do before. I think they wanted to review a lot of the stuff they had done throughout the run and just added it into one big megamix.

DPH did get a bit choked up in the final scene. But overall, I just remember seeing a lot of glances between everyone, where they just wanted to burn every second of the night into their memory. Gavin and Taylor seemed to be enjoying every second of their last time on stage, and Bette seemed to want to connect to every single person onstage, and gave everyone a moment. Magical night.

Zamedy154 said: "I sat in the balcony for the 2pm performance and was surprised to see half the front row and half the second row of the center balcony were empty for the first act (either because the people who bought them couldn't make it for some reason or because perhaps they were asking for too much on StubHub??)"

There is no late seating, so.. they may have been standing toward the back, fuming, for much of act one?

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 1/15/18 at 11:55am

On Ben Levi Ross’ Instagram story you get a brief look into the backstage area. It’s really interesting how they have everything set up.

[ace33]

Posted: 1/15/18 at 1:27pm

Mildred Plotka said: "How dare he add an extra show to raise a boatload of money for a wonderful charity! "

There’s nothing wrong with him adding a show to raise money for charity... i think it’s a genius way to counter against scalpers etc (much like Hamilton tries to do). It’s the fact that he did so AFTER announcing the closing performance. Sure maybe there was no intent and maybe he was just trying to combat scalpers... but it sure felt like a calculated move to sell the 2pm tickets (at very high prices) first this burning a lot of genuine fans.

[Zamedy154]

Posted: 1/15/18 at 2:19pm

ace33 said: "Mildred Plotka said: "How dare he add an extra show to raise a boatload of money for a wonderful charity! "

There’s nothing wrong with him addinga show to raise money for charity...i think it’s a genius way to counter against scalpers etc (much like Hamilton tries to do). It’s the fact that he did so AFTER announcing the closing performance. Sure maybe there was no intent and maybe he was just trying to combat scalpers... but it sure feltlike a calculated moveto sell the 2pm tickets (at very high prices) first this burning a lot of genuine fans."'

Amen.

I honestly don't think he cares about the 'genuine fans.' He first proved this on Tony night, and then again with this move.

 

[DAME]

Posted: 1/15/18 at 2:47pm

Zamedy154 said: "ace33 said: "Mildred Plotka said: "How dare he add an extra show to raise a boatload of money for a wonderful charity! "

There’s nothing wrong with him addinga show to raise money for charity...i think it’s a genius way to counter against scalpers etc (much like Hamilton tries to do). It’s the fact that he did so AFTER announcing the closing performance. Sure maybe there was no intent and maybe he was just trying to combat scalpers... but it sure feltlike a calculated moveto sell the 2pm tickets (at very high prices) first this burning a lot of genuine fans."'

Amen.

I honestly don't think he cares about the 'genuine fans.' He first proved this on Tony night, and then again with this move.

"

I agree.  He obviously doesn't care about the fans.  But he is a very smart producer and has made very wise choices with this show.  Not doing a big number at the Tonys eventually proved to be a good choice.  It was a awful telecast all around.  But us fans were deprived.  I still think there is more to the story of the Tony disaster.  I know Bette has had a bad relationship with CBS since her sitcom days  ( she talks about it in her concerts) and I wonder if that had anything to do with it. 

[DAME]

Posted: 1/15/18 at 2:57pm

Some stunning pictures on instagram from backstage last night.  Lots of love in that cast.  Lots of admiration for Bette and David.  There is one particular lovely picture of Bette about to go on the last carriage drive.  

[BJR]

Posted: 1/15/18 at 3:01pm

who's account on insta?

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 1/15/18 at 3:03pm

Here's the pic you're talking about, DAME! I love it!

[DAME]

Posted: 1/15/18 at 3:39pm

I found some footage of the actors fund reception and crowd last night.  If you can make it thru the host of this video..  You might want to skip around.  Bless him.  

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HylW5yDGzl8&feature=share

[theatreguy12]

Posted: 1/15/18 at 3:45pm

Bette made him a ton of money, but she made a boatload of dime doing so too. Doing something she loves.
I’m hoping that it continues to do well without her, for the sake of the cast. It’s a beautiful show with performances that went well beyond hers. No doubt a majority were there to see Bette Midler. Not Hello Dolly. And not even BM AS Dolly.
Now that it’s back to a show with a Broadway diva at the helm (other than just one or two performances a week—-read Donna Murphy) it will be interesting to see how it does.

[BWAY Baby2]

Posted: 1/15/18 at 4:19pm

Two things- YES 71 is an age where you just never know about health and injury. I am getting up there myself- still in my sixties though- and love to go to the gym- have noticed more injuries- and more healing time- then when I was younger. As you age, hate to tell some of you- but you do decline in abilities and stamina- bones are not as strong as when we are young- joints, tendons- the whole system ages- like a car- some cars go great at 100,00 miles- and some need a lot of maintenance. Just the way it is- and to pretend otherwise is to pretend. 

     I saw HD only to see BM- but might go back because I love Bernadette, too. The show to me is not great- it is silly and broad and really not all that funny- it is just okay in my book- but I would see it again to see Bernadette- love her.

[DAME]

Posted: 1/15/18 at 4:33pm

It’s a great show . But the only reason this revival exists is because of Bette. No Bette = No Dolly=No Donna = No Bernadette. That’s is all . I do plan on seeing Bernadette and Victor.