Elaine Stritch at Liberty

Ansolutely mesmerizing. A legend, center stage.
This DVD brilliantly recaptures the sold-out show which played to packed houses at New York's Public Theatre before moving to Broadway. Eliane Stritch, one of the great ladies of the theatre, recounts her long, fascinating career and her life offstage with a candor which is nothing short of astonishing. In her inimitable voice, Ms. Stritch belts out a generous plateful of songs, including her still-potent THE LADIES WHO LUNCH, from her career-defining performance in Stephen Sondheim's musical hit COMPANY...but it's the revealing, often wrenching details of her long battle with the bottle and her struggle to face her demons head on which make this truly compelling viewing. The DVD perfectly captures the theatrical experience.

Elaine really chews up the scenery in this one!
No small feat. The scenery consists of a chromium bar stool and 60-foot brick wall.

Theater-buffs recognize Stritch as the legend she is. And most of us are rather pleased that her work in film has always been secondary (her best work in that medium was in Woody Allen's SEPTEMBER)...and that her heart will ALWAYS be in the THEATAH. Although this one-woman-show has plenty of musical numbers, it is mostly an autobiographical tirade, designed to woo our sympathies. As a stage performance it was incredible; as a filmed performance with many close-ups it's a bit disconcerting, like sitting on the corner stool in a prize fight. This is not to diminish the writing, pacing, humor, or the brilliance of Stritch's performance. It's just a little overpowering. At the center of her angst is her Catholic upbringing, lack of luck in love, and her struggle with alcoholism. In fact, she is so tough on herself that you almost fail to notice how tough she is on others. Just short of libelous, we get...

Once-in-a-Lifetime Performance by a Legend!
This bare-bones DVD (no cute extras) captures (on high-quality video) one of the finest one-woman shows ever to hit Broadway and the West End. Elaine Stritch, caught here in London, struts the boards with her still-lovely 78-year-old legs (in black tights) to share tales of life, love and lots of booze on the wicked stage. She has truly "been there, done that, got all the T-shirts"; she's dated Brando, understudied Merman on Broadway (and simultaneously stopped the show in "Pal Joey" in New Haven!), served as Noel Coward's muse, dazzled Richard Burton, drunk Garland under the table, and managed to give incredible performance after incredible performance-- with the help of alcohol for many years.

Stritch can still sell a song, even with her bellowing rasp of a voice (once described as sounding like a stickshift being shifted without the clutch), and she claims chestnuts like "Broadway Baby" and "I'm Still Here" as her own in this piece. But...

Click to Editorial Reviews