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| re: i must disagree with.... | |
| Posted by: ryhog 04:29 pm EDT 07/08/17 | |
| In reply to: re: i must disagree with.... - CCentero 02:48 pm EDT 07/08/17 | |
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| I understand that. I also understand that it is a non sequitur. What I was suggesting to Chromolume was that he not take the bait. I happen to think she is a fine actor, but I also accept the fact that she is not exactly Olivier when it comes to losing herself in her roles. For some, that defines acting. (I would also note that many of our most beloved actors bring a great deal of themselves to all of their roles.) Notwithstanding the above, success and esteem do not correlate. |
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| re: i must disagree with.... | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 05:10 pm EDT 07/08/17 | |
| In reply to: re: i must disagree with.... - ryhog 04:29 pm EDT 07/08/17 | |
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| What I was suggesting to Chromolume was that he not take the bait. Ha! Already done, of course. And, at the risk of taking MORE bait - I also happen to think that a statement such as "this is one of the greatest personal triumphs in musical theatre history" is just a little much. Can't we be honestly thrilled that Midler is having such a great run without having to carve a likeness of her face into Mt. Everest, lol? At the same time, I don't think CCentero was really noticing my smileys/lols in response to his posts. It's not that I'm not a little put off by the hyperbole, but neither was *I* trying to make this debate the "Biggest. Thing. Ever." either...;-) |
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| re: i must disagree with.... | |
| Posted by: CCentero 09:40 pm EDT 07/08/17 | |
| In reply to: re: i must disagree with.... - Chromolume 05:10 pm EDT 07/08/17 | |
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| I said: "This is one of the greatest personal triumphs in musical theatre history" because I know what I'm talking about. Facts are not hyperbole. | |
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| re: i must disagree with.... | |
| Posted by: JohnDunlop 10:41 am EDT 07/09/17 | |
| In reply to: re: i must disagree with.... - CCentero 09:40 pm EDT 07/08/17 | |
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| I agree. But, like everyone else in show business, Bette Midler is not always successful. I remember attending a benefit concert honoring Merman after she died. There were two performers who stood out, in different ways. Elaine Stritch captured Merman's essence, in stories and songs. Midler was Bette Midler doing bits of her current tour. Still, I did like Bette Midler's arena shows. And I am sure I will like her in Dolly when I see the musical just before Christmas. |
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| re: i must disagree with.... | |
| Posted by: ryhog 10:14 pm EDT 07/08/17 | |
| In reply to: re: i must disagree with.... - CCentero 09:40 pm EDT 07/08/17 | |
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| "Sometimes legends make reality, and become more useful than the facts."- Salman Rushdie "Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please."- Mark Twain I could go on, but I won't. :-) |
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| Olivier/Midler | |
| Last Edit: CCentero 10:36 am EDT 07/09/17 | |
| Posted by: CCentero 10:33 am EDT 07/09/17 | |
| In reply to: re: i must disagree with.... - ryhog 10:14 pm EDT 07/08/17 | |
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| Interesting quote that Thom915 from Oliver about Midler. | |
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| re: Olivier/Midler | |
| Last Edit: ryhog 11:23 am EDT 07/09/17 | |
| Posted by: ryhog 11:11 am EDT 07/09/17 | |
| In reply to: Olivier/Midler - CCentero 10:33 am EDT 07/09/17 | |
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| Yes. I was surprised by the coincidence as I pulled his name out of a hat from which I easily could have pulled a different name. I'd be interested to learn the context. Found it! He was speaking of her Depression Tour in 1976, which I think reinforces the notion that her strong suit is playing Bette. No one seems to be suggesting that she is not a great entertainer. The question is about her attributes as an actor and while we can of course debate that, I don't think one side of the debate gains sustenance from her success as an entertainer. FWIW I chased her up and down the east coast to see her tour gigs multiple times. And 2-3 years ago I astonished some friends after dinner by reciting from memory virtually every word of Mud Will Be Flung Tonight. |
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| re: Olivier/Midler | |
| Posted by: CCentero 12:52 pm EDT 07/09/17 | |
| In reply to: re: Olivier/Midler - ryhog 11:11 am EDT 07/09/17 | |
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| The discussion I reacted to was: "But Murphy, unlike Midler, is an actor." That's what I object to: the continual nastiness/revisionist history about Midler. It doesn't actually build up Donna Murphy to tear down Midler, it's just a girl fight that people are creating on this board. I'm not even addressing the claim that Midler is a great actress, because nobody knows nothing, especially when people claimed for years that stars like Chaplin, Cary Grant and Kate Hepburn were simply playing themselves. Bette's strong suit may be playing Bette, but that might also be a function of what she was offered in Hollywood and what she turned down. William Goldman said she would have been fine in "Misery" and I agree. FWIW, I actually think you're a bigger fan of Midler's than I am! I don't own a single one of her recordings. |
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| re: Olivier/Midler | |
| Posted by: ryhog 01:39 pm EDT 07/09/17 | |
| In reply to: re: Olivier/Midler - CCentero 12:52 pm EDT 07/09/17 | |
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| perhaps we could put this to rest by putting quotes around "actor." As she is unquestionably a member of AEA, SAG et al, and has appeared on stage before a paying audience, she is certain an actor literally. The quotes would tell us that the person writing doesn't think much of her as an actor, under their subjective definition. And to that point, even Olivier's opinion does not alter that. (Not to mention Goldman, someone I find hard to take as a reliable barometer of anything, but that's another thread.) | |
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| re: Olivier/Midler | |
| Last Edit: CCentero 02:39 pm EDT 07/09/17 | |
| Posted by: CCentero 02:33 pm EDT 07/09/17 | |
| In reply to: re: Olivier/Midler - ryhog 01:39 pm EDT 07/09/17 | |
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| I won't put a quote around Bette Midler as an actor. It's a ridiculous assertion that she can't act. | |
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| re: i must disagree with.... | |
| Posted by: CCentero 10:44 pm EDT 07/08/17 | |
| In reply to: re: i must disagree with.... - ryhog 10:14 pm EDT 07/08/17 | |
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| "What I wouldn't give for a large sock with horse manure in it"--Alvy Singer | |
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