KMB II: Uncasville, CT
by The Divine Miss P

Assuming that everyone is somewhat familiar with the songs, dances, and jokes
of KMB I, I will just focus on the changes. She came out looking as fabulous
and THIN as ever! She told some casino themed jokes since it was Mohegan Sun-
the one about people attached to slot machines by cords with oxygen tanks, while smoking! She did have a few George W. ones as well- he had seen her show in the 70's. His cocaine dealer got him a ticket! And in Kitty Kelly's book about the Bushes, it said that Laura Bush once sold pot. Finally something to like about her! There were a few boos and Bette booed them back, of course. And some jokes about old age and taking ginko biloba. She was very peppy and
asked the audience if she seemed like she was on speed. Also, she started inroducing the band early in the show, one section at a time, rather than all at once at the end. I guess it's easier to remember people's names that way and it doesn't take that much time up at the end.

Same jokes about being a ho to be a professional entertainer and that none of them call to say thank you, and about the 70's - "the decade of the avocado appliance", and about fat, stupid, hypocritical, oxymoron Rush. The first major change came after "Chapel of Love" during the celebrity couple segment. They added a little ditty about Britney sung to the theme of "The Brady Bunch" accompanied by a little video. Hilarious. Also "Hey There" and "Tenderly" seem to be pretty permanent now for the RMC part, but they could change it again. Who knows?

They also did a better job of letting the audience know that it is NOT intermission after "When A Man.." by putting a spotlight on the Harlettes immediately after Bette exits. Soph was particularly hilarious, for me at least. The hat on top the tent fell off her head...again! She used the joke heard in "Diva Las Vegas" - "don't you ever park in my space again!" and one I had never heard before about having "relations" with Mr. Kornfeld in the senior
citizen home. I won't give away the punchline, but it has to do with virginity and panty hose! After screaming out "Ain't ya got a vase?", Bette looked at me and said, "You think this is easy?" It was fabulous!!!

The big change in "Fishtails Over B'way" was the addition of a "Phantom of the Opera" parody. Bette appears as Delores hanging from a giant anchor above the stage, complete with Phatom-esque white mask. Also, new mermaid suit! Turquoise and pink rather than the brownish one last time. Very exciting!

The song "Septmeber" has been cut completely and after Mister Rodgers, Bette said, "You know what Mr. Rodgers would do when there was a problem? Look at things from a new perspective!" It was obviously a political statement, but said very tactfully and the audience really responded. "From A Distance" was particularly poignant, for me at least, with everything going on right now. I got a little teary, I must say.

After "Keep On Rockin'", she was visibly exhausted. She told the audience she was pooped and actually sat down to sing "The Rose". Unfortunately for us, this meant no encore! I'm sure she was just tired and it was no result of the audience because it was a great, very appreciative crowd. It goes without saying, Miss M was incredible, as always...

Midler lets her Brass hang out on tour
By Patrick Ferrucci
Register Entertainment Editor

Before there was Jennifer Lopez, before Beyonce, even before Madonna, Bette Midler tried her hand at music and movies, sometimes combining the two. The Oscar-nominated, Emmy-, Tony-, Golden Globe- and Grammy-winning Midler truly has achieved success at everything she’s attempted.

"Entertainers need to connect," says Midler, on the phone while taking a break from rehearsing in Hartford for the second leg of her "Kiss My Brass" revue tour, which stops at Mohegan Sun Saturday. "I make an effort. Those other people, if I were teaching a course, I would tell students to speak their mind. The best shows and entertainers, they talk and have a lot to say."

Midler, 58, grew up in Hawaii and moved to New York in 1965. By 1973, the performer had won her first Grammy, for her million-selling debut "The Divine Miss M." Since then, she’s had many memorable film roles ("The Rose," "Ruthless People," "Beaches," "The First Wives Club") and pop hits ("Wind Beneath My Wings," "From A Distance"), plus a television series, the short-lived "Bette."

"Things don’t happen all at once. Things seem to roll in," she says, explaining how she decides what projects to tackle. "It’s just a scheduling thing. Sometimes you’re lucky and things happen at the right time."

Right now, Midler’s time is occupied with "Kiss My Brass," a successful revue show that first came to the Sun for a New Year’s concert this year. The tour features Miss M. showcasing many talents: singing, dancing and stand-up comedy.

"I love making a show. It’s a whole lot of fun and a whole lot of stress. So, you want as many people as possible to see it," says Midler, adding, "I should be calling it ‘Kiss My Brass Again.’ Look, my tickets aren’t low. But I make an effort. They get the appetizer, entree and dessert."

While talking about the music, Midler clearly gets excited when the subject of horns come up. She’s never toured with them before and she loves the result. "I’m doing some songs that I’ve rarely ever played and the only reason I’m singing them has been the horns. It’s a real breakthrough. I didn’t expect them to be so kick ass and so much fun to listen to, especially when they have their breakdowns. It’s great to sing and swing."

The "Kiss My Brass" set contains most of Midler’s hits, but also visits some interesting covers. Last time around, she threw in Tom Waits’ beautiful "Shiver Me Timbers." The combination of the songs, the set and the horns have the performer speaking wistfully of the show as her best in more than a decade.

"The ‘Experience’ show in ’92 was hilarious. But since then, people have told me the ‘Millennium’ tour was fabulous. I thought (on that tour) there was too much pressure, and it was disappointing because I didn’t have enough time."

Midler says "Kiss My Ass" is her biggest traveling spectacle yet. And even though it’s been great, she says, the next one will be very different. "The (different touring shows) keep getting bigger and bigger, so that’s why I think the next one with be bare bones. I can’t haul this crap around anymore."