Elaine Stritch is one of my favorite performers and I adore her. I did pay to see her at Town Hall last year and I must admit I think I lost a few years off my life from that concert.
I seriously was mortified. She did not remember any of her lyrics and it was really painful. I seldom pay for tickets and paying for that one was tedious.
I don't think it has to do with age. Marilyn Maye is her age and she never forgets all of her lyrics. She is an amazing performer and is a delight to watch. While I love Stritch I do think it is time to either throw in the towel or rehearse more because it is very sad to see such a legend perform train wreck concerts.
Everybody's different. We don't all have identical physical resources. Mariln Maye's ability at the same age doesn't mean Stritch by necessity should be able to do the same thing.
Corine, some people are effected differently by age. My grandfather is Stritch's age, and sharp as a tack, but a lot of his friends are not. Her struggle is something that is absolutely understandable, but it's a shame that it's being aired so publicly.
What is Stritch? A class act? To me, she's incredibly brave.
Angela Lansbury has admitted to having to use an earpiece. Is Stritch too proud to use one?
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
though I must say, I was underwhelmed by opening night of Follies in LA. I think I'm in the minority on that one, though. Reading through snippets of his reviews (you can find both his Backstage and LA Times ones here: http://losangeles.bitter-lemons.com/?s=david+c+nichols&x=0&y=0), it looks like he really likes adjectives. Like, a lot. (Or should I say, he is an overt fan of modifying words with superfluous additions?)
Back to the topic at hand, though, my friend posted this picture of the program from the concert at Disney. "Elaine Stritch may or may not sing the following..."
I find most of McNulty's work to be bland and lacking in definitive commentary. Say what you will about Brantley, but at least he forms a coherent opinion. McNulty's reviews are all mush, and I think he faint-praises a lot of mediocre productions (thus providing the requisite complimentary pull quotes).
Makes me sad to hear all the Stritch stories. But yes, her performance in NIGHT MUSIC was a travesty, not because she has no talent, but because she was performing Madame Armfeldt as a standup routine, adding countless moments to an already slow-moving, formless production.
I still remember watching Stritch in COMPANY, during her drinking days, and wondering if she was going to make it through her final scene with Robert, and how long it might take.