Teach 'em How to Whistle, Barbara!

The recent flap over Barbara Walters and her lack of ethics leaves me fuming. Barbara interviewed Andrew Lloyd Webber for 20/20, the A.B.C. news program, at the time of the Sunset Boulevard opening. The interview centered on Andrew Lloyd Webber with a brief mention of Sunset. What the public did not know was that Ms. Walters had invested one hundred thousand dollars in the Webber musical. For not revealing this, Barbara was attacked by the press for lacking ethics. When is the last time you went out to buy a show ticket because of what Barbara Walters has said? Clive Barnes, maybe, but not Barbara. This is pure bull if you ask me.

Instead of backing their employee, the network made a statement that Barbara made a "mistake." And, what was that mistake will someone tell me? She invested her own money and it's her own damn business. She's not a critic and she doesn't sway box office.

Lord knows, anyone who invests serious money in a Broadway show needs their heads examined. A safer bet is the pass line at a craps table in Las Vegas. Those that invest in musicals know the very well known risks and success ratios, and surely Barbara knew this. It even turns out that her investment lost fifteen thousand dollars. Her segment on Andrew meant zilch at the box office. Truly, much ado about nothing.

But, to attack her on ethics is unbelievable, and to not support her reeks of something else. It was probably easier for the brass to let her face the music on her own than support her. I believe "cowardice" is the word.

Well, we're with you Barbara. You did absolutely nothing wrong, so the next time you run into the brass in the hall, tell them this.....borrow a line from Lauren Bacall...."...you know how to whistle, don't you? Just put your lips together, and blow!"

Speaking of Lloyd Webber, the rumor mills are stating that Trevor Nunn will direct Whistle Down The Wind in England at a smallish theatre. However, general consensus is that the musical has major "book" problems. I read somewhere that Andrew is also working on the musical version of "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?", the old Bette Davis/Joan Crawford camp horror film. I hope he leaves "I've Written A Letter To Daddy" intact.

And if that project sounds far-fetched, Interview With A Vampire is being set to music and will make it's debut in Vienna in the fall. It's the Anne Rice Vampire saga. I guess Transylvania theatres were booked.

The Olivier Awards didn't make much of a splash here in the U.S., but they were certainly interesting to read about. There is something strange about the title of this award, you tell me: The American Express Award for Best Musical went to Martin Guerre. American Express? I wonder if Visa was nominated. Janet McTeer won for Best Actress in A Doll's House, which is Broadway bound with Janet. They have different rules for acting awards over cross the pond. Oliver! has been playing for a few years, yet, actor Robert Lindsay won for best actor in a musical for 1996. He didn't originate the part, but is the fourth actor to assume the role.

The best award that I have read about is Debbie Reynolds winning the coveted Danny Award for her performance in Mother. You have to see the current ads for the film to understand this. The headline reads No Debbie? Get Real, Academy? Dan Rather wrote the ad about how miffed he is about Debbie not getting nominated for an Academy Award. So, he invented the Danny Award and Debbie is the first recipient. Cool!

Saw this ad in the trades for casting, "open call for adorable pooches who can take direction, look forlorn and have aspirations of stardom. No previous acting experience necessary." Hahaha, that was for Annie and a zillion pooches showed up!

Tidbits: Joan Rivers on a new comeback...this time with a New York radio talk show.....Liz Taylor to be released from hospital before her B'day! Yay!.... David Merrick lookin for B'way properties and is working on a variety show for T-V called David Merrick Remembers......Mandy Patinkin opens on Broadway on March 1 with his benefit engagement for almost three weeks. All profits go to charity. It's at the Lyceum. It's almost sold out and they had to add three additional performances to meet demand for tickets..... Rent in Boston is not as successful as the New York run with grosses far below what was expected. Still, it's profitable. It moves on in June to Minnesota and then after that run it will become the national tour.

We have a new section going up here called On The Boards.... which has Broadway listings...soon we will have Off-Broadway and ticketing info. It's a beginning. Tomorrow, we have another guest columnist talking about her city and theatre. Join us for Carolyn Weaver and Las Vegas!