Elaine Stritch: Ladies Who Lunch (Company) - AMAZING VERSION 

The self hatred in her voice when she’s talking about the ‘girls who just watch,’ realizing her ‘type’ is just as ridiculous as the others, at least in her mind. Elaine Stritch was a treasure. I’m so glad a few of her performances are available to us for posterity. We’re so incredibly lucky.

I'd like to propose a toast to the loss of one of Broadway's greats. RIP Ms. Stritch

That smile that shows up right after she says "Does anyone still wear a hat," blows me away.

To the people that think it is too "growly" I think you are losing the meaning of being a person. This song is written to show emotion, not to be beautiful. Her growl makes it real and emotional. Music is still music, even if it isn't "pretty". And besides Elaine is just fabulous.

Wow! You had to be a woman in the 70's to understand just how confusing finding an identity was if you didn't have a strong sense of self to begin with. This song captures the misogynistic quality that so many woman had internalized. Elaine's character both mocks women and feels some empathy for them. "The dinosaur surviving the crunch"-not a very flattering picture or is it? You can see her conflict in the song as she mocks women and yet feels sorry for their struggle. I love how she doesn't miss an interpretative beat. With this kind of song, it's not about musicality. Her interpretation made me cry because of my own resilience finding my way. I wonder though if it has the same impact on women today?

Holy mackerel. THAT is the definitive interpretation of this song. Simply jaw-dropping, and a performance that drives home the sheer brilliance of Sondheim's songwriting here. RIP to both of these great artists.

This version, stripped down to just her and the piano, is raw and visceral. It moves me every time.

Holy shit, that is just incredible. The last couple of verses, when she seems to be singing about herself and realizes she's singing about herself and STILL has anger and empathy and sadness for the women she's singing about is just amazing.

That’s how it’s done!!! Perfection! This isn’t a “singer’s song” it’s an actor’s song, really a “feeler’s song” and no one has felt it with such gravitas as Elaine Stritch. All the other Broadway Joanne’s might as well have been in a college production compared to her!! Bravo! and here’s to you Elaine!!!

RT: Keep in mind she was first and foremost a live actress, not a singing in the studio kind of star. She had understudied Merman, so she knew how to deliver a song in the BIGGEST way possible, with no microphone. This might help you deal with what may now seem like a lack of subtlety or proportion in her delivery. (In person, in a theater, she was devastatingly effective, especially playing characters who were unpleasant, uncharitable and/or contrary. Does that help explain what made her a special favorite to LGBT people during the years when too many of us were trying to remain invisible, or to "make nice" in the hope that a hostile world might leave us alone?) It may well be that you'll never reconcile yourself to her (in the same way that some folks never "get" Merman or Carol Channing or even Alan Cumming, or feel comfortable around drag artists -- there's enough room in the rainbow for diversity of opinion, too). Just know that she was worth all the love and admiration that was thrown at her, because there was no self-pity in her makeup, only the drive to do more, and move forward, and to try to deliver a knockout performance to the best of her ability (which was truly prodigious).

Oh, my God. I am crying. The ferocity, the iron core, the huge heart of this actor. Elaine Stritch gives us her absolute all in this performance. She hurls it at us with deadly aim like a plate at a window.

This is for film, not theater. She doesn’t break eye contact with her audience…you! On the other side of the lens. Brilliant.

When people refer to a National Treasure, Ms Stritch is the benchmark to whom they should aspire. She was unique.

I don't understand the people who say she wasn't good looking. She was amazing looking. And those who don't understand that singing a song is telling a story and that one has to know how to act and play a character: all I can say is that I pity your ignorance of performance art and your inability to appreciate real genius when it's right in front of you.

Until you understand what Stephen Sondheim is all about, until you stop listening to things like "pleasing vocal quality" and start focusing on the intent of this song and how brilliantly it is interpreted by Stritch, you will not be able to appreciate what an important contribution she has made to broadway. W/O Stritch, no one would be taking risks with their voices and their emotions, allowing us, the audience, to feel more, too. You may be quite young (under 40) which may have a lot to do with why you don't quite get it yet. But you will, especially if you love Sondheim, the most disturbingly real hurricane of a talent of our time.

This is how it’s done kids. Still sounds hip and modern

I'm heartbroken. I honestly can't remember the last celebrity death I cried over, but this one really got me in the heart. This lady is a true legend, and she WILL live forever!

Stritch. There is nothing more to be said.

When you look for "performance" on the dictionary.

Brilliant brilliant brilliant !!! If you don't get it then you just don't get it. Beautiful 🥰🥰🥰

A blistering rendition, just earth shattering. She delivers a slow gradual crescendo from conversational to ever more melodic. Then virtually gargles that one phrase. What a pity I never knew her beyond 30 Rock as Jack Donaghy's mother. Thanks for posting this great tribute to a huge talent.

Absolutely hair raising. This is Art

RIP to a true theatrical legend and a star all around. You were, and forever will be, my inspiration through and through. Here's to the lady who lunched... x

IMO, this is one of the top ten of RU-vid. Doesn't get better.

RIP Miss Stritch! Everybody rise!

I saw ELAINE STRITCH AT LIBERTY at LONDON's OLD VIC THEATRE many years ago . Magical performance RIP X

I saw this as it was originally broadcast, on "The Great American Dream Machine," and it was transformative.

When Elaine is in the house - no one goes unscathed. 💔 Authentic and fierce. Uncompromising, unsparing even herself. What guts!! I’ll drink to that. 🍸 🍸

There are no societal arbiters for opinions on this performance; it's all just opinion. My opinion: Elaine Stritch is the first and best interpreter of this song. Look at all her recorded performances of the piece, both audio and visual, and you see someone immersed in the role, somewhat different every time. Emotion--sarcasm, anger, loss, ironic sadness--explode from inside where it has been compressed. I don't need to convince anyone else. For me, Elaine is the epitome of the Broadway broad who rasps and growls right into our hearts, making us vibrate to her tune. Ladies or gents, we can feel the heat because we're all of us out to lunch in some way or other, and Elaine makes us empathize with that. Lupone is great as well and I love her as an actress/singer, but for me her anger is more surface; with Stritch, I go deep. Just my opinion.

How did i never know that this existed. She truly was a legend.

RIP Elaine Stritch. The Company will never be quite the same without you.

Brava! Her version put this song into some serious perspective.

RIP Sondheim. Sorely missed.

A great example of a terrific performer boxed in. She's much bigger than the camera allows her to be. Thanks for sharing the rare clip though.

RIP Elaine. Here's to the lady.

amazing

I saw a video of her performing this during a rehearsal, the look of absolute delight on Sondheim's face said it all...Stritch made his vision reality, I suppose Ethel Merman did the same for Gershwin and Porter

I saw patti lupones cover of this with elaine RIGHT THERE and I had NO IDEA THIS WAS ELAINES

Her performance on the original cast album is the absolute BEST version of all.

God damn! You are so right. She breathes life into this.

It’s as relevant today as it was 1970. This is vintage torch song

Oh my word. I had forgotten how magnificent Julia is in singing this epic. Utterly beautiful.

Here's to "THE LADY": What an incredible, indomitable, irreplaceable force-of-artistic-nature she was...Rest in Peace, Madame Stritch...Broadway just won't be as bright without you, my dear ;)

She delivers the lyrics like she wrote them herself. Incredible

This is the first time I have really UNDERSTOOD this song! My mother (a housewife in the 1970's) loved it: as a teenager at the time, I didn't understand why. The song seemed stupid; it didn't make any sense. When I saw other performances later, as an adult, it still didn't do much for me. Carole Burnett plays it as a much boozier/loose drunk. The older Elaine Stritch didn't say anything to me. But THIS.... Wow. That tight, bitter, angry smile at 1:18 suddenly connected--and I "got" what the song is about! Thank you for posting this.

Elaine Stritch is sensational. As a child I first met her in the TV show 'Two's Company'. I love her. What a superb voice.

Elaine Stritch is an American Master.

I adore Patti's version, but Elaine will always be the best because she created it. Brilliant.

The ending is pretty incredible. So many different emotions blended together. And the way she raises her arms goes from conductorial to almost Biblical.

My all-time favorite Broadway song. Thank you, Stephen Sondheim and Elaine Stritch.

She was a Genius ... One of kind and we will never have another...

RIP to the Queen of Broadway!

Who’s here after watching Christine Baranski, Meryl Streep and Audra McDonald???

Sondheim, Stritch, "Company,"-- a true recipe for revelatory performance.

Easily, one of the best Broadway performances of the 20th Century. Period.

Sing it, Elaine. You were the best.

This particular clip was originally aired on a stunningly good PBS show called the Great American Dream Machine, which aired from 1971 to 1972. Seeing the amazing Stritchy that one time in my Colorado home town taught me about contemporary musicals, about Sondheim, about New York (a city I have still never been to) and about sophistication. A couple of years back, I was able to get a 4 dvd set of GADM highlights, which (of course) included this song. I loved the show (and wish they would have released the DVDs as a complete set) but Elaine Stritch and The Ladies Who Lunch made a major change in my life.

This woman embodies the character SO MUCH. Notwithstanding Sondheim's take on her performance, and also taking into account Ms. Stritch's raw, REAL take on the character, her performance is THE ultimate personification of Joanne. Brava!

Love this song- no one could do the song like Elaine!

My God! I am weeping like a child. Some things transcend art and brilliance. This is one of those rare things. Thank you so much for posting this.

Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii'll drink to that! 😂😂😂 that was so gritty.

Brilliant! And to think he wrote this song with a bossa nova beat about his mother Foxy. This is perfect cause it's as close to a document of Strich's performance in that groundbreaking show as we will ever get. Thank you VodKaStinger!

Oh. HELL! Yeah. She's AMAZING!

I could listen to this on repeat, forever.

Genius performance. I can see eons of women in her eyes. Rise.

This here is HONEST. So many ballads seem over-performative or ostentatious; pre-occupied with sounding polished and precise. But this performance is in full service of the character. There isn't even an ounce of vibrato, which is so refreshing. There's so much pandering in musical theatre, but thank God we have Elaine Stritch to show us what a real fucking human being sounds like.

I've always LOVED, Elaine Stritch!❤️

I was blessed to see one of her one woman shows at the Winter Gardens in Toronto in the early 2000’s. It was an unforgettable performance! She had the audience in stritches...I mean stitches, lol. Just totally fell in love with her!

A truly original talent. We'll miss you Elaine, I´ll drink to that!

Saw her for the first time in A Delicate Balance, then in Showboat, and twice in Elaine Stritch At Liberty. Never forget her.

Classic! RIP Elaine.

This woman had such heart, pathos, experience resonating in this performance...it's the ultimate artistic expression of a song....omg..the best

Jesus, this is so epic.

I love this! I love all her versions, but I think this my favorite. It's harsh and comes from a hardened character. Love it.

Thank you Elaine Stritch for bringing a luminous light into the world with your talent. R.I.P Elaine Stritch. You are tops in taps. Thank you for saving my life.

Elaine Stritch is amazing, the song goes under my skin.

I love her so much

Everybody rise! Here's to the ultimate lady who lunched, rest in peace Elaine. Also I'd like to admire the brilliant music and lyrics, way to go Sondheim, this is fantastic and she was fantastic too!

This must be so hard to perform. What an incredible performance! Unreal and so real.

She was a wonderful entertainer ...she brought smiles and entertainment to millions .. May she rest in peace ...

Strichie - a real mench and a wonderful performer. Nöel Coward last surviving star. I miss you already, sweetie!

I'll miss her. I'm tearing up and smiling at the same time while watching this. RIP Elaine.

she looks and sounds amazing here!

Truly a great artist, love her brash honesty and sassiness.

She is mesmerizing...

Love this!! Cheers to you Elaine Stritch👏🏼👏🏼

This song, this Lady.......my favorite moment in song of all time. Perfection.

This is real brilliance

Best version!

Elaine Stritch in fine form. I'll drink to that.

Who the hell is disliking this??!?!

RIP Brilliant lady. There will never be another like you.

OMG…this is phenomenal.

Thanks, Max, for telling me the name of the show. I saw it in 1971. She came on with no intro and then sang this amazing song in an amazing way. I had no real knowledge of Sondheim and had never seen Stritch perform. I was, and am still, in awe of both of them. Thanks, Vod KaStinger, posting this. I have wanted to see it again since I first saw it.

Damn she was a talented broad 😍So damn and effortlessly charismatic ⭐️💥⚡️✨🌟🔥 RIP Lady Elaine 💐💐

I am wrecked every. single. time I hear her sing this. Love her.

Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant!!!!

Genius in its purest form

This was, and still is, an extremely edgy performance. Sondheim’s genius is the kind that can see that choosing this phenom of a performer would never be equalled. It’s a masterstroke identifying an opportunity to question the conventions of aural conformism. Great artists question and push boundaries, almost like a conscious overton window shift. I’m in awe.

Saw her perform this live in COMPANY as a teenager. Brilliant. She nailed this song. RIP - you were one of the Greats ~