Stritch tearing it up 70s style (Company)

[carolineorchange21]

Posted: 6/25/13 at 9:16pm

This. This right here!
The Ladies Who Lunch

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/25/13 at 9:56pm

Which earring is she wearing on the downstage side?

[jv92]

Posted: 6/25/13 at 10:51pm

This is a thrilling performance, but what TV program is it from?

[sephyr]

Posted: 6/26/13 at 3:16am

I love to see her perform this. She just communicates the lyrics so effectively with reckless abandon. I hope to one day have a song associated with me like this song is with her. Just wow.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 6/26/13 at 5:17am

This may well be my favorite performance of hers...

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/26/13 at 6:29am

I can't tell you what program, but its definitely from PBS. Thirteen use to be (maybe it still is?) One of the NY/NJ PBS affiliates.

Since its a new posting, you could ask the poster directly on his page.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/26/13 at 7:28am

I was obsessed by the Michael Bennett hand choreography back in 1970. I still am. Somehow it seems to illuminate the lyric without ever seeming mechanical.

(Although it does look a little like she's doing semaphore at the end!)

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/26/13 at 11:55am

Simply amazing.
PJ, did she use all of those hand movements in the actual production?

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 6/26/13 at 12:07pm

Someone make a GIF of her "HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA'll drink to that," pretty please?

Updated On: 6/26/13 at 12:07 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/26/13 at 12:19pm

He would work out those hand gestures with the women. (Maybe the men too but I mostly remember the women.) Watch Yvonne De Carlo in the videos from Follies, and Mary McCarty and Alexis Smith. With "Losing My Mind," he made Dorothy Collins remain still, leaning against the slant board, with only slight variations in the angle of her body and her glance.

With any other choreographer, it would have been overdone and constricting to the performer, but with Bennett, it helped illuminate the lyrics.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/26/13 at 12:36pm

Did the original production have Joanne seated for the entire number (until the end) or was that just how it was staged for this television performance?

Updated On: 6/26/13 at 12:36 PM

[BwayGeek2]

Posted: 6/26/13 at 12:41pm

Thank you for posting this. Incredible.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/26/13 at 12:51pm

She started it seated. I don't remember exactly when she rose, but it would be just like Michael Bennett to keep her seated and still until the end, with probably a double spotlight: a blue body spot on the chair and a white spot on her head and shoulders and hands.

Updated On: 6/26/13 at 12:51 PM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/26/13 at 12:53pm

I'm fairly certain she didn't rise until near the end.

[anothervodkastinger2]

Posted: 6/26/13 at 1:18pm

Glad you guys are enjoying my clip!! It's from a documentary called The Great American Dream Machine (produced by Shelia Nevins who would later work with Stritch on the At Liberty HBO documentary) I recently spoke with Pamela Meyers and showed her this clip she said this is the original Michael Bennett Choreography (though obviously things change for TV).

If any of you are enjoying this clip and are in NYC you should check out my show I do every Wednesday night Vodka Stinger's Big Broadway Clip Show (It's like Musical Mondays only soooooooooo much better) In fact if any of you show up tonight and find me and tell me you are there from this message board I'll buy your first drink.


VODKA STINGER'S BIG BROADWAY CLIP SHOW

[Will42]

Posted: 6/26/13 at 2:48pm

God, she is amazing!

[carolineorchange21]

Posted: 6/26/13 at 3:08pm

You rock Vodka Stinger! Thank you so much for letting us see this.

[jv92]

Posted: 6/26/13 at 9:11pm

No one is a bigger fan of Michael Bennett than I, but shouldn't Hal Prince get a little credit for molding this performance, too?

[uncageg]

Posted: 6/26/13 at 11:08pm

I think I will, have to heck out Pieces one Wednesday night in the near future.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/26/13 at 11:10pm

Those are not Hal's hand gestures.