| Michael Riedel Today: Broadway star Lauren Bacall “as adored as she was formidable” | |
| Posted by: | jesse21 07:09 am EDT 08/15/14 |
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| - In today’s New York Post, Michael Riedel writes a tribute to the late Lauren Bacall’s career on Broadway with anecdotes from those who worked with her. SAMPLE: “If you asked her something stupid, she had a stare that could turn you to stone. People would come up to her at restaurants and say, ‘I’m sorry to interrupt . . .’ and she would say, ‘But you are.’ She would nail them to the floor.” Click here to read Michael Riedel’s “On Broadway” column. - | |
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| My very brief and pleasant encounter with Bacall | |
| Posted by: | towel 10:36 pm EDT 08/15/14 |
| In reply to: | Michael Riedel Today: Broadway star Lauren Bacall “as adored as she was formidable” - jesse21 07:09 am EDT 08/15/14 |
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| When I saw "The Producers" in previews, I was seated between Katie Couric and Lauren Bacall. At intermission, I needed to step out. I wasn't crawling over Ms. Bacall. I tried to go towards Ms. Couric and she was standing talking the person behind her and I kept trying to interrupt to get her to let me by. Ms. Bacall touched me on the shoulder and said "Come this way. She's not budging." | |
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| Adam Green's lovely tribute | |
| Posted by: | Billhaven 10:26 am EDT 08/15/14 |
| In reply to: | Michael Riedel Today: Broadway star Lauren Bacall “as adored as she was formidable” - jesse21 07:09 am EDT 08/15/14 |
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| Here is a tribute from someone who actually KNEW and liked Ms. Bacall. | |
| Link | BETTY BACALL |
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| re: Adam Green's lovely tribute | |
| Posted by: | larry13 10:45 am EDT 08/15/14 |
| In reply to: | Adam Green's lovely tribute - Billhaven 10:26 am EDT 08/15/14 |
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| Of course, he is Adolph Green's son. I'm sure there are many other people with fond memories. But, for what it's worth, I find it very interesting that NO one on this site, including people who have recalled encounters with her--and she lived for more than 50 years in NY--has recalled anything particularly likeable. Contrast this with the anecdotes daily mentioned--about living people--such as the recent one about Julie Wilson on tour with COMPANY. Obviously, Bacall was a very different person from Wilson and, as far as being an actress, let alone a star, that's fine. | |
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| re: a fond memory of Bacall | |
| Posted by: | wmgrad1976 01:29 pm EDT 08/15/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Adam Green's lovely tribute - larry13 10:45 am EDT 08/15/14 |
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| In the early 1980s, I studied voice with the late great Keith Davis. Lauren Bacall had her weekly lesson just before mine and was delightful and witty in our encounters as she left. We had a mutual friend and she would often ask about him, sometimes with a bitchy wink, but always delightful. | |
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| re: Adam Green's lovely tribute | |
| Posted by: | wmdmcree 01:20 pm EDT 08/15/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Adam Green's lovely tribute - larry13 10:45 am EDT 08/15/14 |
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| So, let me be the first. Ms. Bacall's son went to my college and when his parents visited they were both unfailingly kind, very generous with the other students, and eager to not overshadow their son (though many of the students were only vaguely aware of Ms. Bacall's career, Mr. Robards seemed to get more recognition as a celebrity performer). Both were very gracious to me and the staff as well. We get a lot of celebrity children at our school, and not all of their parents are a pleasure to meet. Ms. Bacall's several appearances were a delight. | |
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| re: Adam Green's lovely tribute | |
| Posted by: | bret17 11:52 am EDT 08/15/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Adam Green's lovely tribute - larry13 10:45 am EDT 08/15/14 |
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| The vast majority of "likable" recollections of her do seem to be by her colleagues. Charles Strouse in his book, Put On A Happy Face: A Broadway Memoir, wrote very positively about her during the making of Applause. He gleefully retold one anecdote at a New School event for the book I attended. At the opening night party during the out of town tryouts, she spotted Playbill editor Louis Botto. "What'd you think?" "It was very interesting!" "Go f---k yourself!" Strouse said he wished he could be so bold. | |
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| re: Michael Riedel Today: Broadway star Lauren Bacall “as adored as she was formidable” | |
| Posted by: | MichaelAS 09:51 am EDT 08/15/14 |
| In reply to: | Michael Riedel Today: Broadway star Lauren Bacall “as adored as she was formidable” - jesse21 07:09 am EDT 08/15/14 |
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| During the National Tour she did of "Wonderful Town" I understand she & leading Man George Hearn preactically KILLED eachother (nightly). LITERALLY! | |
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| re: Michael Riedel Today: Broadway star Lauren Bacall “as adored as she was formidable” | |
| Posted by: | lowwriter 09:43 am EDT 08/15/14 |
| In reply to: | Michael Riedel Today: Broadway star Lauren Bacall “as adored as she was formidable” - jesse21 07:09 am EDT 08/15/14 |
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| Riedel must have gotten a lot of icy stares from Bacall. | |
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| re: What an unpleasant collection of anecdotes. | |
| Posted by: | shadowlight 09:37 am EDT 08/15/14 |
| In reply to: | Michael Riedel Today: Broadway star Lauren Bacall “as adored as she was formidable” - jesse21 07:09 am EDT 08/15/14 |
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| “Oh. Well, of course she can’t sell any tickets!” Bacall said. “That’s how we got her to go on,” Wilner says. Welch turned out to be even more of a diva than Bacall. Two weeks into her run, the entire cast showed up at the theater wearing T-shirts. They read: “Bring back Betty!” IF Bacall actually said that, she was not only not a "consummate professional", but also incredibly petty. The claim that she threatened not to go on for her final performance over an ad makes no sense. What were they going to do to appease her? Make the ad magically disappear? Give her another diamond bracelet? I also doubt the veracity of the insulting group tshirt incident. However much a diva Welch may have been, that is unacceptable and unprofessional behavior. What stage manager would allow that? Who but Riedel would think his article makes Bacall sound like a "formidable" diva, worthy of adoration? If I were to get a picture of her based on his article alone, I would think she was a shallow, demanding, childish, greedy, insecure bitch - and bitch wasn't the first word that came to mind. Diva wasn't the second. | |
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| This isn't social work...it's Show Business | |
| Posted by: | Jax 01:31 pm EDT 08/15/14 |
| In reply to: | re: What an unpleasant collection of anecdotes. - shadowlight 09:37 am EDT 08/15/14 |
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| There are similar stories about everyone from Sinatra to Garland. Lauren Bacall was a star for 70 years -- in itself a jaw dropping achievement -- because she instinctively knew how to play her tough girl persona, from a seductress ("To Have and Have Not") to a diva ("Applause") to a grand dame ("Murder on the Orient Express"). Audiences always want their stars to be bigger than life, and Bacall managed to be a bit stronger, a bit tarter than any of her rivals (Alexis Smith, for example.) And please don't say "nothing excuses bad manners." In show business success has always trumped good behavior. As Joan Crawford is reputed to have said, "If you want the girl next door, go next door." | |
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| re: This isn't social work...it's Show Business | |
| Posted by: | Michael_Portantiere 02:15 pm EDT 08/15/14 |
| In reply to: | This isn't social work...it's Show Business - Jax 01:31 pm EDT 08/15/14 |
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| Of course, you're right that there are stories of bad behavior about a great many stars. But you seem to be implying that a certain acting persona necessarily goes hand in with bad behavior, which is not true. You also seem to be be implying that bad behavior is NECESSARY for success in show business, which of course is not true, either. | |
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| re: This isn't social work...it's Show Business | |
| Posted by: | Jax 02:32 pm EDT 08/15/14 |
| In reply to: | re: This isn't social work...it's Show Business - Michael_Portantiere 02:15 pm EDT 08/15/14 |
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| You misread me. My point is that a performer's "bad behavior" (by which, in Bacall's case, I only mean not suffering fools, gladly or otherwise)is irrelevant to their stardom. Beyond that, audiences often come to enjoy a performer's persona: Sinatra's tough guy stance, Bacall's edge. Who would you rather see in "Goodbye Charlie," Lauren Bacall or Debbie Reynolds? (Author George Axelrod said he never even saw the film due to the casting.) | |
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| re: This isn't social work...it's Show Business | |
| Posted by: | Michael_Portantiere 05:01 pm EDT 08/15/14 |
| In reply to: | re: This isn't social work...it's Show Business - Jax 02:32 pm EDT 08/15/14 |
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| Thanks for clarifying. | |
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| re: What an unpleasant collection of anecdotes. | |
| Posted by: | enoch10 12:24 pm EDT 08/15/14 |
| In reply to: | re: What an unpleasant collection of anecdotes. - shadowlight 09:37 am EDT 08/15/14 |
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| >> a "consummate professional", but also incredibly petty. you seriously think it isn't possible to be both? have you ever met - let alone worked with - a diva? a real one? | |
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| re: What an unpleasant collection of anecdotes. | |
| Posted by: | shadowlight 11:46 pm EDT 08/16/14 |
| In reply to: | re: What an unpleasant collection of anecdotes. - enoch10 12:24 pm EDT 08/15/14 |
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| "have you ever met - let alone worked with - a diva? a real one?" If you count Bebe Neuwirth, Patti LuPone and, briefly, Lauren Bacall, then yes, I've worked with a diva or three. | |
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| re: What an unpleasant collection of anecdotes. | |
| Posted by: | lowwriter 09:48 am EDT 08/15/14 |
| In reply to: | re: What an unpleasant collection of anecdotes. - shadowlight 09:37 am EDT 08/15/14 |
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| But Riedel does say how hung out with her fellow actors during Applause. The article does seem rather shallow, though, if he's paying Bacall a tribute. | |
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| re: What an unpleasant collection of anecdotes. | |
| Posted by: | IThespis 01:05 pm EDT 08/15/14 |
| In reply to: | re: What an unpleasant collection of anecdotes. - lowwriter 09:48 am EDT 08/15/14 |
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| He told me. In CACTUS FLOWER she gave Bob Moore notes! That just isn't done. In APPLAUSE a story floated around after one performance, an understudy or swing had gone in, after the show she passed his dressing room saying "Nice try." I was to a wedding, at the groom's table for God's sake …. she was a guest of the bride … in a narrow space while passing from one side of the tent to the other, here she comes … I raised my camera straight up in the air as we squeezed by one another. I expected a pleasant smile, all of us in it together, a happy day for the bride and groom. She glanced at the camera, gave me the look of death. Larry13 has it right, throughout over 50 years Bacall stories aren't particularly likeable. | |
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| re: What an unpleasant collection of anecdotes. | |
| Posted by: | BruceinIthaca 12:52 am EDT 08/17/14 |
| In reply to: | re: What an unpleasant collection of anecdotes. - IThespis 01:05 pm EDT 08/15/14 |
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| I have only one such recollection and it is actually an odd televised one. It was the Tonys, and she had won that night for "Woman of the Year." Some entertainment reporter (I can't recall who, a woman) shoved a mic in her face on the way out and said, "How did it feel to win tonight?" to which she answered (I paraphrase), "Well, you must be surprised since you predicted Chita Rivera would win for 'Bring Back Birdie'!" That seemed like such a classless moment--as a colleague of mine says, a sore loser is one thing, but a sore winner is much worse! | |
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| re: Michael Riedel Today: Broadway star Lauren Bacall “as adored as she was formidable” | |
| Posted by: | JayBee 08:29 am EDT 08/15/14 |
| In reply to: | Michael Riedel Today: Broadway star Lauren Bacall “as adored as she was formidable” - jesse21 07:09 am EDT 08/15/14 |
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| Reidel writes; "Bacall earned her sea legs in a couple of plays — 1959’s “Goodbye, Charlie,” and “Cactus Flower” in 1965 — and married Jason Robards while waiting for a hit. It came, in 1970, in the form of 'Applause'." No. it came in 1965 with a comedy called "Cactus Flower" - a huge David Merrick hit that played three plus years. | |
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| re: Michael Riedel Today: Broadway star Lauren Bacall “as adored as she was formidable” | |
| Posted by: | enoch10 12:28 pm EDT 08/15/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Michael Riedel Today: Broadway star Lauren Bacall “as adored as she was formidable” - JayBee 08:29 am EDT 08/15/14 |
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| >> Reidel writes; "Bacall earned her sea legs in a couple of plays — 1959’s “Goodbye, Charlie,” and “Cactus Flower” in 1965 — and married Jason Robards while waiting for a hit. It came, in 1970, in the form of 'Applause'." No. it came in 1965 with a comedy called "Cactus Flower" - a huge David Merrick hit that played three plus years. umm... >> Reidel writes; "Bacall earned her sea legs in a couple of plays —1959’s “Goodbye, Charlie, and “Cactus Flower” in 1965 — and married Jason Robards while waiting for a hit. It came, in 1970, in the form of 'Applause'." | |
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| re: Michael Riedel Today: Broadway star Lauren Bacall “as adored as she was formidable” | |
| Posted by: | Michael_Portantiere 12:36 pm EDT 08/15/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Michael Riedel Today: Broadway star Lauren Bacall “as adored as she was formidable” - enoch10 12:28 pm EDT 08/15/14 |
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| You missed the point, enoch10. The way Riedel wrote this section of the article, it implies that CACTUS FLOWER was not a hit. See? | |
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| re: Michael Riedel Today: Broadway star Lauren Bacall “as adored as she was formidable” | |
| Posted by: | JayBee 01:28 pm EDT 08/15/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Michael Riedel Today: Broadway star Lauren Bacall “as adored as she was formidable” - Michael_Portantiere 12:36 pm EDT 08/15/14 |
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| Thank you, Michael. | |
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| re: Michael Riedel Today: Broadway star Lauren Bacall “as adored as she was formidable” | |
| Posted by: | Michael_Portantiere 02:06 pm EDT 08/15/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Michael Riedel Today: Broadway star Lauren Bacall “as adored as she was formidable” - JayBee 01:28 pm EDT 08/15/14 |
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| You're welcome. There seem to be a lot of reading comprehension problems around here lately :-) | |
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| re: Michael Riedel Today: Broadway star Lauren Bacall “as adored as she was formidable” | |
| Posted by: | BroadwayTonyJ 06:48 pm EDT 08/16/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Michael Riedel Today: Broadway star Lauren Bacall “as adored as she was formidable” - Michael_Portantiere 02:06 pm EDT 08/15/14 |
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| Riedel's punctuation is sloppy -- the comma after "Charlie" is unnecessary. However, since Bacall married Robards in 1961, Riedel clearly is implying that Cactus Flower was not a hit. | |
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| re: Michael Riedel Today: Broadway star Lauren Bacall “as adored as she was formidable” | |
| Posted by: | Thom915 (Thom915@aol.com) 07:28 pm EDT 08/16/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Michael Riedel Today: Broadway star Lauren Bacall “as adored as she was formidable” - BroadwayTonyJ 06:48 pm EDT 08/16/14 |
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| Although the Oxford comma is seldom used in newspaper writing, it is purely acceptable. Why is Riedel criticized for absolutely everything? | |
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| re: Michael Riedel Today: Broadway star Lauren Bacall “as adored as she was formidable” | |
| Posted by: | BroadwayTonyJ 08:03 pm EDT 08/16/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Michael Riedel Today: Broadway star Lauren Bacall “as adored as she was formidable” - Thom915 07:28 pm EDT 08/16/14 |
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| Cactus Flower was the biggest stage hit of Bacall's career -- it ran for 1234 performances -- a far greater hit than Applause. I only mentioned the punctuation error because it obscures the exact meaning of his statement (as can be seen by the different interpretaions given above by various posters). | |
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| What about "Waiting in the Wings?" | |
| Posted by: | NJGUY 11:21 am EDT 08/15/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Michael Riedel Today: Broadway star Lauren Bacall “as adored as she was formidable” - JayBee 08:29 am EDT 08/15/14 |
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| The NY Post story ends in about 1984 and she lived another 30 years in Manhattan. The story is incomplete. If you are going to paint a character portrait of someone; then bring it up to date. Michael Reidel-enough said. | |
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| re: Michael Riedel Today: Broadway star Lauren Bacall “as adored as she was formidable” | |
| Posted by: | lowwriter 09:44 am EDT 08/15/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Michael Riedel Today: Broadway star Lauren Bacall “as adored as she was formidable” - JayBee 08:29 am EDT 08/15/14 |
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| Correct. Cactus Flower was a hit and Bacall was wonderful in it. Wish she had made the movie! | |
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| re: Michael Riedel Today: Broadway star Lauren Bacall “as adored as she was formidable” | |
| Posted by: | JereNYC (JereNYC@aol.com) 10:22 am EDT 08/15/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Michael Riedel Today: Broadway star Lauren Bacall “as adored as she was formidable” - lowwriter 09:44 am EDT 08/15/14 |
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| I've always heard that Bacall was terrific in that play. Do you have any insite into why she wasn't cast in the film? I'd have thought that she'd have been the first choice, given that she was a huge movie star. | |
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| re: Michael Riedel Today: Broadway star Lauren Bacall “as adored as she was formidable” | |
| Posted by: | TheOtherOne 11:17 am EDT 08/15/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Michael Riedel Today: Broadway star Lauren Bacall “as adored as she was formidable” - JereNYC 10:22 am EDT 08/15/14 |
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| Ingrid Bergman was a bigger star, and was probably easier to deal with as well. | |
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| re: Michael Riedel Today: Broadway star Lauren Bacall “as adored as she was formidable” | |
| Posted by: | Thom915 (Thom915@aol.com) 02:04 pm EDT 08/15/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Michael Riedel Today: Broadway star Lauren Bacall “as adored as she was formidable” - TheOtherOne 11:17 am EDT 08/15/14 |
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| I think Reidel gives the answer that Hollywood wanted nothing to do with Bacall really after Bogie's death and so they cast Ingrid Bergman who was at the time experiencing a bit of a comeback. My Bacall story: Running out of the alley behind the theater where Cactus Flower was playing I happened to run into someone who would today be called a bag lady, no make up kerchief over her head, carrying two oversize brown paper bags. I backed up to say excuse me and got a stare that froze my blood. It was only after carefully moving aroound the woman and exiting the alley that I realized who that was. Later that night I saw Lauren Bacall onstage transformed even in her earlier "Plain Jane" scenes from alley bag lady to that most glamourous of all creatures, a Broadway star fully in command of the audience and the play. Nobody could have played that part better and I was thrilled for my clumsy but very real encounter with the great Ms Bacall! | |
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