Barbra or Bette? It sounds like a speed dating question. I remember from the mini-series of Armistead Maupin’s Further Tales of the City (2001), choosing can be a problem. Michael Tolliver (played by Paul Hopkins) discusses breaking up with his partner: “We left each other I guess. It could have been a lot worse. Sometimes, it’s not so easy to pull out of an S & M relationship”¦ S & M: Streisand and Midler. He was into Streisand. I was into Midler. We were doomed from the start.”
But with both of these dynamic entertainers going full throttle with their careers, you don’t have to choose.
Now they are engaging in a role reversal of sorts. Barbra is in pre-production mode for the feature film of Gypsy, which was produced as a TV movie in 1993, starring Bette. And Bette is prepping to play the title role in Hello, Dolly! next year on Broadway. Barbra was delicious as the big screen Dolly Levi back in 1969.
I love that they show each other support, too. On January 12, 2016, Bette posted this gracious note to Barbra on Twitter:
Shoutout and lots of heartfelt thanks to @BarbraStreisand for her brilliant donation to @StagesForSuccess! EMULATE MY PAL AND DONATE NOW!!
With their causes and their caring, these two humanitarians are truly role models for today’s up-and-coming stars.
