Lauren or Raquel?

[Glebb]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 9:06am

I only saw Raquel but who did you like best in WOMAN OF THE YEAR? Lauren or Raquel?

[Auggie27]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 9:17am

A new topic! Thrilling! I saw Raq, Betty, and (for free:) Debbie Reynolds. Truth be told, Debbie -- the least glamourous or quirky -- was the most believable as a newswoman, and had the requisite musical comedy skills to bring off the demands. They rechoreographed it for her, and added a ballad, and frankly, though lacking eccentric presence, she was very winning. Welsh was a successful stunt -- Ken Mandlebaum calls it the most overrated performance of that past twenty years, and I agree. But she worked the audience, and looked incredible. Bacall's work is accurately captured on the CD. It's not just that she's no singer -- we'd accept that. But she sings as if she IS a singer, which results in that strangulated sound. God-DAMN-it! I! AMMMM! The wo-MAN! OF! the! YEEEEEEEAR! I still think the score has many charms, not the least of which is sounding like, well, a broadway musical. Just play the overture.

Updated On: 6/11/04 at 09:17 AM

[Glebb]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 9:24am

Raquel's radiant beauty reached to my far back of the orchestra row, but I did not actually enjoy the show much.
Dang I wish I had seen APPLAUSE!

Heck, CAMELOT too, for that matter.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 9:56am

I remember that Applause was taped for television in the '70s (I think) and it was amazing - I fell in love with it then. I might even put "But Alive" in my cabaret act!

[Auggie27]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 10:04am

Go for it, Rehot. "Half Tiajuana half Boston; partly Jane Fonda, and partly Jane Austin" will have a nostalgic ring!

[alterego]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 10:09am

I love the story about Ethel Merman going along to Woman Of The Year. When Lauren got to that point in the song and 'sang' ...
'I'm the woooommmaaaaaannnnnn of the year!' Merman reportedly let out a very audible 'Jesus Christ!'. This from a very reliable source.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 10:10am

Auggie - thats actually the line I'll have to change (being a man) was thinking "partly Hank Fonda and Partly Steve Austin"..LOL.....

[Glebb]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 10:11am

Welcome to the theatre, my dear, you'll love it so.....

[Auggie27]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 10:12am

LOL Alterego. Wouldn't you love to see video of Merman's face watching Bacall sing? (Bacall defenders: Don't beat me up. I enjoy her, too. She took a mediocre show like APPLAUSE and made it a personal triumph. But maybe one musical was enough. In her autobiography, she talks about how she wrestled with a tour of WONDERFUL TOWN, and Mr. Bernstein wasn't all that impressed.)

By the way: Didn't Lypsinka use "But Alive!" effectively?

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 10:19am

I've never seen Lypsinka do it - but its a great idea. and now you have that image of Merman watching Bacall in my head - OY!

did you catch Girls will be Girls? ( I think that was the title) = what a bizarre little indy film - starring Coco Peru, Varla Jean Merman and another who's name escapes me - funny but VERY strange...

[Auggie27]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 10:35am

Missed it, but I'm an old Varla Jean fan. I remember her weekly gigs at 88's, before it closed (with the great Terri White as ... bartender!), when Varla did the famous lesbian di giorno tribute, i.e. songs of everyone from Dusty Springfield to ... Oliva Newton John. I think our top shelf pundit here, Namo, is also a fan of Varla's.