Jason Danieley has launched a Kickstarter to help produce a CD of his and Marin's final NYC performances at 54 Below in 2017. This was a really special concert and I am so glad it was preserved. If you are able to do so, I hope you will consider supporting it!
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
Already hit its goal. Added a stretch goal: "We are adding a stretch goal. We filmed the final night, and would like to release the film on DVD and digital video in addition to the CD."
How awesome that this Kickstarter has reached $31, 648!
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
So lucky & grateful that we have this. I wasn't able to attend their concert, and listening to this makes me feel like I was in the room. Some highlights for me:
* The structure of the evening and song choice is great. It feels like a jukebox musical of their life together, a really really good jukebox musical.
* I am SO glad for the myriad of anecdotes that are scattered throughout the CD. I don't want to spoil them for those that haven't seen the show or listened, but I wasn't aware of the King and I "Tom" anecdote, which was sweet, the Passion anecdote, or the origin/creation of "I Miss The Music" - which makes the song so, so much more heartbreaking.
* Marin's voice is pristine despite being on chemo, and she churns out particularly powerful and moving performances of "Not a Day Goes By", "And The World Goes Round", and "Back to Before". Her 'Not a Day Goes By' may have topped Bernadette's even for me, and I love that "Back to Before" is basically the same arrangement but after 20 years of maturing in voice, 'acted'^ slightly more intensely than on the OBC and in the context of her life experiences it may have topped the OBC recording for me, too.
^ Maybe acted is the wrong word because it felt like it much more reflected her own feelings and life experiences than a character's
* Jason gives a particularly heartfelt rendition of "I Miss The Music" - especially considering the background of how the song was apparently written.
My only disappointment is that Marin did not sing Chita's lines in "You, You, You" - rather, Jason did it as a solo. I guess I kind of get it given Jason's connection to the song (which I also didn't realise), and it's nice for Jason to get his own moments too. But it's always better when Marin is involved, because she has one of those one-of-a-kind voices that are so unusual and rare.
Most of all, the CD has made me reflect on my own life and reconsider what is truly important, and the importance of enjoying the moments right now. Thank you.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
She was always on my lists of people I really wanted to see onstage. I never got to see her. I knew who she was and fell in love with her after the My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies concert. This will be wonderful to listen to.