Midler
Is A Force Of Nature
Playbill.com
Andrew Gans
3-19-04
It's taken me 35 years to finally get to see Bette
Midler live in concert, and now I understand why Midler is, to fans
and critics alike, simply divine.
Last Saturday night — with an audience that
boasted Sarah Jessica Parker, Polly Bergen, Christine Ebersole and
Veanne Cox — I had the chance to catch Midler's current concert
tour, the lavishly and smoothly staged Kiss My Brass at the Meadowlands'
Continental Arena in New Jersey. Onstage, Midler — who has
never looked or sounded better — is a thrilling mix of singer,
comedienne and social commentator. The multi-talented performer
made a grand entrance, descending from the heavens on a merry-go-round
rocking horse. She proceeded to belt the hell out of "Kiss
My Brass" before launching into "Big Noise from Winnetka"
and "Stuff Like That There," the latter a tune from her
1991 WWII film "For the Boys." Midler was also ably supported
by her three newly minted Harlettes, Broadway's big-voiced Kyra
Da Costa, Kamilah Martin and Nicolette Hart.
I was utterly impressed by Midler's musicianship
during her rendition of the Johnny Mercer-Hoagy Carmichael standard
"Skylark." Midler played off the melody line at the song's
beginning and then offered a beautiful take on the classic tune
about searching for true love.
Director Richard Jay-Alexander, who masterfully
helmed the production, continues his string of diva hits with the
Midler tour. Jay-Alexander, who will be shepherding Rosie O'Donnell's
Find Me to the stage next season, also directed two-time Tony Award
winner Bernadette Peters in both her acclaimed Carnegie Hall and
Radio City Music Hall concert debuts and guided the one-and-only
Barbra Streisand through her farewell concert. Here, the director
has added some wonderful touches. I particularly liked his staging
of one of Midler's signature tunes, "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,"
which followed the aforementioned "Skylark." As she belted
out the Andrews Sisters hit live, three split screens featured Midler
— dressed in various outfits — performing the song on
a seventies television special.
Midler also poked fun at her recent, much-in-the-news
television sitcom "Bette" with a humorous video featuring
the star in Judge Judy's court. That led to a tongue-in-cheek version
of "I'm Sorry" followed by a medley of the sitcom's theme
song and her crowd favorite "(Ya Gotta Have) Friends."
Highlights of the first half also included terrific takes on two
Rosemary Clooney signature pieces, "Come On-A My House"
and "Tenderly" (both have thankfully been preserved on
Midler's newest CD); the moving "I Think It's Gonna Rain Today"
from "Beaches"; a belty "When a Man Loves a Woman";
and the first-act finale, "Shiver Me Timbers."
The evening's second half began with a treat for
Broadway fans. Returning to her familiar guise as mermaid/lounge
singer Dolores DeLago, Midler offered a "Fishtails on Broadway"
section featuring such theatre tunes as "Everything's Coming
Up Roses" (well, actually, here it was "Everything's Coming
Up Fishtails") as well as "Cabaret," "You'll
Never Walk Alone," "All That Jazz" ("All That
Shad"), "One," "Hello, Dolly!" ("Hello,
Dolores!"), "Oklahoma!" and even Dreamgirls' "And
I'm Telling You I'm Not Going."
The Grammy winner remembered the late Mr. Rodgers
with a poignant "I Like To Be Told" before launching into
a beautiful original song — "September" —
that paid tribute to the events of September 11.
"This was a hit during the last Bush war,"
Midler quipped before singing a particularly touching and thought-provoking
"From a Distance." "Do You Want to Dance" preceded
the show's finale, a full-voiced, joyous "Wind Beneath My Wings."
Midler returned for two songs from her Oscar-nominated
turn in "The Rose," "Keep On Rocking" and Amanda
McBroom's title tune. The latter brought the sold-out crowd to its
feet. The 48-city Kiss My Brass tour — which also features
notable choreography by Toni Basil — ends this weekend in
Atlantic City.
There are rumors, however, that the elaborate production
will return later in the year to more cities and possibly Radio
City Music Hall. Bette fans around the world also have reason to
rejoice, as there is also talk of Kiss My Brass playing Europe,
Australia and Asia. And, should the tour head your way, don't miss
your chance to see Midler live. There really is no one like her
on the concert circuit today. A true force of nature.
From Another Divine
Miss M
The Divine Miss Jamie M.
Photo: BaltoBoy Steve
The crowd Sat nite just didn't "get it"!!
It all started when Bette descended upon the crowd as no other performer
can do, and most
of the crowd just sat there & watched. However, we (me, Hil
& Kristy) were 3rd row, right side of the stage (isle seats)
and when she got over to us we were standing cheering and "bowing"
to Miss M & Seabiscut as she passed us!!
I'm not too sure what the crowd expected but, we certainly let Bette
know how much fun we were having. A few times, we were having our
own little fun w/the Harlettes as they sang right in front of us!
Bette rec'd warm ovations for her "hits" and the Rosemary
Clooney songs. I think she finally got the crowd on it's feet with
When A Man Loves A Woman - again, another incredible performance!
We had a fun moment with Bette when she was doing her Soph jokes...we
knew Bette put "the vase" joke back in the show and Kristy
and I were (literally) on the edge of our seats with every joke.
Bette started the joke walking from center stage and was in front
of us when she said..."I was having tea one nite..." WELL.
Kristy & I yelled with excitement!! Bette stops in her tracks,
looks at us with a typical "Bette look", then back at
the audience and says..."It has it's fans..." then continues
on with the rest of the joke!! What a riot.
She had to explain a few jokes to the "chairs dressed as people"
in the front rows but, as usual, Bette had fun with them.
Bette was brought to tears when she sang From A Distance, and by
doing so, brought us to tears with her. And Do You Want To Dance
was sung with perfection ( I LOVE that song and it was obvious!).
During Keep On Rockin', she unplugged herself and had no idea how
to plug herself back in but said to us "...not too bad for
not being able to hear myself, huh?? And I was there too god damn
it!!" No to mention the split she did afterward...I was impressed!!
We also had a few interaction moments w/the Harlettes during this
song too - what a blast!!!!
She ended with The Rose, letting the crowd sing the first verse
and I thought...finally, the crowd is appreciating Bette. It took
all damn nite!!
This was my 4th show and all I have to say to Bette & the KMB
band is a great big thank you, thank you, thank you and THANK YOU
for each and every show...I enjoyed the ride. Now, I'll hang onto
the memories of seeing each show with some of my closest friends.
Until the next time....Walk right in, walk right out...that's what
the song is all about!
~Jamie
The Divine Ms.Perry,
BetteHead
Photo: BaltoBoy Steve
 The
crowd was mediocre- they were responsive, but too lazy to get up
off their asses for Bette, which always irritates me a bit. I mean,
the woman comes descends upon the stage on a horse, I think she
deserves standing up for a second. BUT, I (and the rest of my section)
did spy a very exciting audience member- Sarah Jessica Paker! We
were in the third row on the floor in the section on the left and
she was in the first row in the elevated section very nearby. She's
teeny tiny and looks just as you would think- adorable. And...she
stayed for the whole show, every bit, so we love her for that!
I can't remember all the NJ jokes, but she named a lot of towns
(Livingston, Netcong, Paterson, etc.) and she commented on how when
she saw she was booked for NJ, she thought it must be the end of
her career. And her manager said, no, your career was over two years
ago when you're playing NJ! Also, at some point she commented that
she was worried who was buried beneath the arena- a mafia reference,
since we are Soprano land in NJ. But, by far, the most hilarious
NJ joke was during Sophie: "I said to my boyfriend Ernie, kiss
me where it smells...So he drove me to Newark!!!!" I will be
telling that one for a long time!
She told the Mary Tyler Moore story before "Skylark" which
cracks me up. And also she let everyone know that the set was based
on Luna Park, Coney Island because someone recently asked her why
she was singing under the Kremlin!
Anyway, she sang "Come On A My House" and the Harlettes
danced stage left to right up in the tower wearing colored raincoats,
two holding enormous pieces of fruit(apples, pears, peaches, apricots?)
and one carrying a Christmas tree. She sang "Tenderly",
but not "Hey There". Also, no "That's How Heataches
Are Made", much to my dismay because I love that one.
New Soph jokes! First of all, she told the "chaffeur"
one, which I don't think I've heard her do much on this tour. She
also added that NJ one and a new one where Soph is evicted from
her apt, loses her job, etc and meets up with a sailor who tells
her he bring her aboard ship as a stowaway on their way to Europe
where she can make a fresh start. He brings her food and they make
love hidden on the ship every night until the captain finds her
and she tries to explain that the sailor has been screwing her every
night en route to Europe. The captain says, "He sure has- you're
on the Staten Island ferry!" I feel like there was another
new one, but I can't remember. The "in the road licking his
balls" one was cut. Soph was fab tonight because she had a
lot of interaction with the audience.
Second Act was pretty routine- not that SHE was routine, but there
were no major surprises. There is NO new dress, as rumored- what's
up with all the rumors? She sang "September" from center
stage as opposed to the left, which she had done all the other times
I saw her. She did the joke about why we aren't told things anymore.
Is it because certain world leaders can't pronounce them? That comment
was received very well. She seemed to be crying as she started "WBMW",
but then pulled it together by the end. I wonder who she was thinking
of?
There was no standing O after "From A Distance", well
except for me. And at some point, she said "Tough crowd- no
wonder they call you motherfuckers!" in a Soprano-ish voice.
She did a split with the Harlettes after "Keep On Rockin'"
and everyone on the left got a nice look at Bette's undies! She
looked just like a little girl- adorable! She told us that she "wrenched
her (gesturing to crotch)". Too funny. Then she was silent
for a part of "The Rose", encouraging us to sing, which
I did VERY loudly. And she definitely heard because I was like the
only person singing and she looked right in my direction and motioned
to keep going. Fabulous!!!
There was no encore of "Friends", which was disappointing.
I actually don't think it was as much due to the crowd, as all the
people she had to see backstage. Toni Basil, Ula Hedwig, Christine
Ebersole, and Sarah Jessica were all there. We stood outside the
little "meet-n-greet" VIP door for a long time, begging
security guards to no avail. I told one guy I'd show him my boob,
and would you believe it, he didn't take me up on my offer. His
loss, let me tell you. Odds are, she was gone anyway, and it was
just the musicians and such left...or so I like to tell myself.
So that's it...I have Albany and AC left. How am I gonna meet this
woman after 10 concerts???
Thanks to Nigel
U.K. BetteHead
The New Jersey
show included a chorus of an old hit "Have you seen her?"
which Bette had seen in a Motown show on TV the night before, there
was also a new Soph joke "Soph is down and out and meets a
sailor who offers her free passage in a ship to Europe in exchange
for making mad passionate love all night, she reluctantly agrees
and by day is hidden in a lifeboat and brought food by the sailor,
and at night they make love till the morning, this goes on for three
weeks at which point she is discovered by the Captain, she explains
all to the captain that in exchange for getting screwed at night
she gets free food and passage the Captain replies "you certainly
are being screwed this is the Staten Island Ferry!" - great
joke"!
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