Ruth Leon recommends… Ladies Who Lunch – Elaine Stritch
Ruth Leon recommendsLadies Who Lunch – Elaine Stritch
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As a lifelong musical theatre lover, one of the best ways to cheer myself up on the bad days is to watch some of the great numbers, the perfect moments, of the past. These are the times when it all came together – the show, the song, the performer. With all that’s going on at the moment, I’ve decided to share my favourites with you in the hope that you’ll share your favourites with me.
Here’s the incomparable Elaine Stritch, with her solo from the original production of Stephen Sondheim’s Company. There are several later versions of her performing Ladies Who Lunch but this, grainy and growly though it is, is our best chance to see what a fabulous performer can do with a fabulous song, just by sitting there and doing it.
The Ed Sullivan Show has apparently been posting on YouTube for twelve years including several Cab Calloway performances. Here’s “It Ain’t Necessarily So” from 1957.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmFMD_dVkzM
But I like him later even more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBOgH5f36cQ
Bonus opera playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRUSb10syVI&list=PLQWND5qZhbj2Gh0XU9VcyYDwi5W_8e0yQ
Superhuman. She was in a class by herself.
Had the joy of seeing her in the original London production of Company in the early 1970s. What a wonderful performer and an amazing delivery of a a great sing! Adored her ever since. Was so sad I could not get to see her doing her solo Act at The Carlyle when she was in her late 80s and shortly before she died.