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| Bette Midler curtain speech! | |
| Posted by: Naughty_Rob 09:48 am EST 01/15/18 | |
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| Is anyone else surprised that Bette didn’t give a speech? No one said anything! Nothing! Even with all the camera crews in the theatre not a single person said a word after the final show. |
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| re: Bette Midler curtain speech! /class | |
| Posted by: Duke1979 08:44 pm EST 01/15/18 | |
| In reply to: Bette Midler curtain speech! - Naughty_Rob 09:48 am EST 01/15/18 | |
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| It’s called class. Just like her acceptance at the Tonys where she acknowledged Carol Channing and Pearl Bailey. The show is not about her and of course is continuing with a new Dolly at the helm. Bravo and thanks for an indelible performance in a wonderful production | |
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| re: Bette Midler curtain speech! | |
| Posted by: dbg 07:19 pm EST 01/15/18 | |
| In reply to: Bette Midler curtain speech! - Naughty_Rob 09:48 am EST 01/15/18 | |
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| This was true at the final performance of the original Dolly when Merman was playing her. She got four standing ovations during the performance, but when the final curtain came down, someone put the "closed" sign from Horace's store on the stage, and that was it. | |
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| re: Bette Midler curtain speech! | |
| Last Edit: singleticket 02:38 pm EST 01/15/18 | |
| Posted by: singleticket 02:28 pm EST 01/15/18 | |
| In reply to: Bette Midler curtain speech! - Naughty_Rob 09:48 am EST 01/15/18 | |
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| I saw it Saturday night (the third time not being the charm). No curtain speech but the cult was at its peak of zealotry. When Midler appeared there were raised fists in the air... for Black Lives Matter or the Continental Baths? When Midler did her windmill tilt walk across la passerelle, the faithful did windmill tilts with their arms from their seats. With that kind of devotion what was Midlerananda to do but offer up maximum schtick. She did so in the second act by turning the silent comedy bits at her table which were very funny and precise earlier in the run into a wearying marathon of mugging. Critics of Beanie Feldstein will be happy to know that her laugh seems to have diminished in its scope but also, in my opinion, in its effectiveness. There were two highlights of the evening for me. The first was Midler's phrasing which felt jazzier and rested more comfortably within her range. Her singing felt stronger than earlier in the run. The second was David Hyde Pierce's "Penny in My Pocket", the performance of which always had its merits but this time around I felt it was an absolutely pleasure to watch. David Hyde Pierce is impressive. He hasn't lost a fraction of the precision and characterization he's brought to this production. |
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| re: Bette Midler curtain speech! | |
| Posted by: schlepper 02:41 pm EST 01/15/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Bette Midler curtain speech! - singleticket 02:28 pm EST 01/15/18 | |
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| Well I certainly hope you let all those happy people around you who were enjoying themselves at the show that their enthusiasm was ruining your evening as you sat there, arms folded and scowling (and taking detailed notes about the actors' phrasing)! | |
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| re: Bette Midler curtain speech! | |
| Posted by: Ncassidine 01:47 pm EST 01/15/18 | |
| In reply to: Bette Midler curtain speech! - Naughty_Rob 09:48 am EST 01/15/18 | |
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| Why does this matter? She doesn't owe you a speech. | |
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| re: Bette Midler curtain speech! | |
| Posted by: 2muchtyme 12:14 pm EST 01/15/18 | |
| In reply to: Bette Midler curtain speech! - Naughty_Rob 09:48 am EST 01/15/18 | |
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| it was disappointing. the only nod to it being her last was during the dolly number when she said "last time, baby!" that was it | |
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| re: Bette Midler curtain speech! | |
| Posted by: SidL 01:09 pm EST 01/15/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Bette Midler curtain speech! - 2muchtyme 12:14 pm EST 01/15/18 | |
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| maybe she didn't want to leave the Brinks truck waiting in Shubert Alley | |
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| come on everyone... | |
| Posted by: Chazwaza 11:37 am EST 01/15/18 | |
| In reply to: Bette Midler curtain speech! - Naughty_Rob 09:48 am EST 01/15/18 | |
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| Let's not all act like it's rare for a star of a show who is leaving to say something at the curtain call... this happens pretty regularly, and no one responds saying those people couldn't just let the performance speak for itself, or critiques what they say as being full of the same banalities that every other curtain speech has. I would have assumed Bette would say something after her last performance in this historic, record breaking, adored and awarded run of hers, a major career highlight for her especially in the last 20 years. I'm not shocked that she didn't, and I understand why she might not... but I'm not gonna act like it's foolish to have assumed. Naughty_Rob can certainly be hyperbolic, but let's not be silly either. |
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| re: come on everyone... | |
| Posted by: MockingbirdGirl 12:21 pm EST 01/15/18 | |
| In reply to: come on everyone... - Chazwaza 11:37 am EST 01/15/18 | |
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| It seems silly to me that the lack of curtain speech is worthy of comment but the entire performance that preceded it doesn't merit a word. | |
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| re: come on everyone... | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 12:48 pm EST 01/15/18 | |
| In reply to: re: come on everyone... - MockingbirdGirl 12:21 pm EST 01/15/18 | |
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| It seems silly to me that the lack of curtain speech is worthy of comment but the entire performance that preceded it doesn't merit a word. So true!! ;-) |
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| re: come on everyone... | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 11:48 am EST 01/15/18 | |
| In reply to: come on everyone... - Chazwaza 11:37 am EST 01/15/18 | |
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| I'm actually curious to know if any of the Dollys in the original run gave closing night remarks. No judgement one way or another on Bette. It was totally her choice, I'm sure, whether to speak or not, and it seems to me she chose to let the show speak for her. |
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| re: come on everyone... | |
| Posted by: JereNYC (JereNYC@aol.com) 12:15 pm EST 01/16/18 | |
| In reply to: re: come on everyone... - Chromolume 11:48 am EST 01/15/18 | |
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| When I saw the 1995 revival at the Lunt, Channing not only gave a curtain speech (this was not closing night, just a regular performance), but I checked the listed running time for the production in the Broadway Theatre Guide (remember those?) and Channing's speech had been incorporated into the show's calculated running time. The speech was seemingly off-the-cuff, but I imagine it was well-rehearsed and delivered at the end of each performance. |
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| re: come on everyone... | |
| Posted by: MarjorieMae 06:02 pm EST 01/15/18 | |
| In reply to: re: come on everyone... - Chromolume 11:48 am EST 01/15/18 | |
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| Don't know about closing night but every time I saw Dolly the star gave a curtain speech. | |
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| re: Bette Midler curtain speech! | |
| Posted by: MockingbirdGirl 10:56 am EST 01/15/18 | |
| In reply to: Bette Midler curtain speech! - Naughty_Rob 09:48 am EST 01/15/18 | |
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| No one said anything! Nothing! Guess we'll just have to let the performance speak for itself, won't we. |
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| re: Bette Midler curtain speech! | |
| Posted by: bmc 04:43 pm EST 01/15/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Bette Midler curtain speech! - MockingbirdGirl 10:56 am EST 01/15/18 | |
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| Maybe she was afraid she'd weep or , worse, leave someone off the Thankyou list. When MY FAIR LADY closed, Alan Lerner saved his comments about the great Moss Hart for the end of his speech. When he came of stage he noticed Kitty Carlisle Hart gave him a weird look, and a friend said to him "Alan, you forgot Moss". Lerner said I mentioned Moss at the very end. He hadn't. He apologized to Kitty, and later said 'I guess I still haven't gotten used to Moss Hart not being on the planet | |
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| re: Bette Midler curtain speech! | |
| Posted by: ryhog 10:37 am EST 01/15/18 | |
| In reply to: Bette Midler curtain speech! - Naughty_Rob 09:48 am EST 01/15/18 | |
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| Sometimes it is well to remember that actors are not dogs at the Westminster Dog Show. Midler does not make her choices based on camera crews, or gossips. She does not seem like someone inclined to reciting banalities (in fact she has made a pretty penny making fun of people who do), and I can't imagine what she would have said that would not have been banal. | |
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| re: Bette Midler curtain speech! | |
| Posted by: Delvino 10:51 am EST 01/15/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Bette Midler curtain speech! - ryhog 10:37 am EST 01/15/18 | |
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| And she said so much, with such heartfelt gratitude, at the Tonys. Backstage, she gave an extensive chat with the press, and covered everything. She'd have to recycle or indeed cannibalize her impassioned and articulate Tony moment in some nod to closure. I salute her for letting the final performance speak for her. | |
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| re: Bette Midler curtain speech! | |
| Posted by: CCentero 04:49 pm EST 01/15/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Bette Midler curtain speech! - Delvino 10:51 am EST 01/15/18 | |
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| Loved the show last night and wish they reprised every number. She's been unbelievably gracious during the entire run, bringing understudies out for a separate bow and moving on with the show when practically anyone else would stand there and milk the applause. You're right that a speech last night would have been anti-climatic, especially if she didn't want to make one. It also seemed like they had to get out of there and honor their commitment to all of these photo ops with audience members for The Actor's Fund. | |
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| re: Bette Midler curtain speech! | |
| Posted by: Naughty_Rob 10:48 am EST 01/15/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Bette Midler curtain speech! - ryhog 10:37 am EST 01/15/18 | |
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| Then your imagination needs expanding. Lots of wonderful, heartfelt things to say. In life one can always find something truthful and kind to say - you should give it a try. I agree, those Westminster’s dogs are awful - they base almost every decision on gossip and camera crews! Wink |
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| re: Bette Midler curtain speech! | |
| Posted by: ryhog 11:14 am EST 01/15/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Bette Midler curtain speech! - Naughty_Rob 10:48 am EST 01/15/18 | |
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| Is your "advice" directed at me, or at the queen of the acerbic tongue, Ms. Midler. I think I have said the kindest thing there is to say, which is that she deserves our respect and not our indignation for not choosing to toss us a sound bite. | |
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| re: Bette Midler curtain speech! | |
| Posted by: TGWW 10:56 am EST 01/15/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Bette Midler curtain speech! - Naughty_Rob 10:48 am EST 01/15/18 | |
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| To paraphrase the anti-stagdoorers here, all you are entitled to with your ticket is her performance. | |
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| re: Bette Midler curtain speech! | |
| Posted by: Thom915 01:28 pm EST 01/15/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Bette Midler curtain speech! - TGWW 10:56 am EST 01/15/18 | |
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| Was she being criticized? All I read is that people were surprised. I too am a little surprised but she tweeted what an experience it has been. Of course too it was not only her final performance but David Hyde-Pierce's, Taylor Trensch's and surprisingly Beanie Feldstein's final performance. I do wonder what she said, if anything to the cast and were there parting gifts? I know I am not entitled to know but I am entitled to wonder same as I am not entitled to expect an autograph or greeting at the stage door but am entitled to want one. I am so happy that I got to see Bette Midler's performance as Dolly (and the wonderful revival that featured all the above performers and more) It was one of my favorite Broadway experiences and I am truly only sorry that I can no longer recommend it to friends (always with the caveat that the ticket prices were a bit dear and that it was also a wonderful show with the incredible Donna Murphy) I also look forward to going back and seeing Bernadette Peters in this magical revival but in my memory it will always be about seeing Bette. | |
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| re: Bette Midler curtain speech! | |
| Posted by: ryhog 02:36 pm EST 01/15/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Bette Midler curtain speech! - Thom915 01:28 pm EST 01/15/18 | |
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| There's that word again: "entitled." It's the crux of the problem, even when just the mindset that you are entitled to want what you are not entitled to have. | |
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| re: Bette Midler curtain speech! | |
| Posted by: Thom915 03:55 pm EST 01/15/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Bette Midler curtain speech! - ryhog 02:36 pm EST 01/15/18 | |
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| I used it deliberately to simply say I have a right to want something. I do not have a right to expect that I will receive that something. My wanting or desire is a personal thing and it is up to me to resolve within myself that my wants are not going to always be realized. I realize that "entitled" has a negative connotation to it and I do not believe that my "entitlement" to my wants in any way gives me precedence over anyone else's rights or wishes. | |
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| re: Bette Midler curtain speech! | |
| Posted by: ryhog 05:35 pm EST 01/15/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Bette Midler curtain speech! - Thom915 03:55 pm EST 01/15/18 | |
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| I don't want to belabor the point, especially because I don't think you've said anything to make it appear you are actually the sort of person who is suffering from the "entitlement disease." But what concerns me is that, as a culture, we've come to accept a level of entitlement that makes it OK for even a reasonable person like you to want something that you are not entitled to. (And I'm not speaking any broader than the circumstances at hand.) I think we have come to expect sound bites, photo ops and all the other extracurricular obligations that have been thrust on our "stars" to the point that there is nothing genuine about their emotions or actions. I think we can all agree that if Bette had wanted to say something, nobody was going to stop her: no producer, no publicist, no agent, no manager. Admittedly, what struck a nerve was that word. I don't think you are a horrible person for having your feeling (as I might for some of the extreme cases of entitlement we've witnessed), but I also don't think we can write it off as pure fantasy as per the other poster's middle aged hallucination :-) |
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| re: Bette Midler curtain speech! | |
| Posted by: Billhaven 03:48 pm EST 01/15/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Bette Midler curtain speech! - ryhog 02:36 pm EST 01/15/18 | |
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| You can hope for something without necessarily feeling that it's your due. I hoped the evening would last forever. I hoped Bette would swoop down into the audience and give a kiss to the enthusiastic middle aged fellow in the fourth row who was bursting with happiness. I hoped she would sing all the songs from her first album or do a duel with Bruce Springsteen who was in the audience that day. I wanted the joy to never end. | |
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| re: Bette Midler curtain speech! | |
| Posted by: Thom915 04:20 pm EST 01/15/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Bette Midler curtain speech! - Billhaven 03:48 pm EST 01/15/18 | |
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| Please note in my post I did point out that none of the things I may hope for do I feel I am entitled to, only to the hope or in the more fantastical cases, dream. I am so glad you enjoyed the final performance. I feel certain that it was quite magical and I do wish I had been able to attend. I really lok forward to seeing what Bernadette Peters and Victor Garber do with the roles. I am almost more curious to see what Garber does than I am to see what Peters does. I feel sure they will both be fantastic. I have never seen Charlie Stemp and I look forward to the new Barnaby Tucker choreography. | |
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| "not a single person said a word after the final show" | |
| Posted by: young-walsingham 09:59 am EST 01/15/18 | |
| In reply to: Bette Midler curtain speech! - Naughty_Rob 09:48 am EST 01/15/18 | |
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| Is the production closing? | |
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| re: "not a single person said a word after the final show" | |
| Posted by: ianx73 06:38 pm EST 01/15/18 | |
| In reply to: "not a single person said a word after the final show" - young-walsingham 09:59 am EST 01/15/18 | |
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| Umm Seriously dude? | |
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