I am a long time fan of Elaine's, and was very fortunate to attend this event in person. With all due respect to Hal Prince, I would like to comment on one of his anecdotes about Elaine. Maybe he has forgotten this -- but I'd like to share the real reason that Elaine was dressed well and in full make-up when she returned to finish recording "Ladies Who Lunch" in the Pennebaker's documentary. The first attempt was very late on a Sunday night, in fact it was well after midnight. The second attempt was not recorded the next morning as he states in his remarks (which would have been a Monday) - but was on Wednesday morning, which is a matinee day. Elaine had her hair and makeup done in the documentary because she had a two o'clock performance that day, and needed to go directly from the recording studio to the theater. To clarify another comment that Mr. Prince makes, he says that,"...when Elaine married for the first time...." which gives the impression that Elaine married more than once. She did not - John Bay was Elaine's first and only husband.
+Ken L Yes I wondered about that... I thought she was only married once as you say... and in her one woman show she says that it was great but there was no repeat performance. Elaine was one of a kind... just fantastic... I suspect not always easy... but some talent
New in recovery 1-15-99, I spent 3 months in rehab. My counselor was a die hard recovery friend of Elaine Stritch. I bonded with my counselor and we went to meetings every Friday night for 5 yrs. He took me to see Elaine at Liberty in NY. I knew the name Elaine Stritch but was unfamiliar with her work . Her one month show was a lead basically in AA. Boy did I relate. Down and out reaching my bottom , remembering this along with Elaine retelling of her bottom brought me to tears as I related when she said” all of the sudden , God so quickly” as if I didn’t feel Gods presence all along. I realized I was just to busy with my own all about me stint using, Elaine reminded me as many recovering do that God is there, it’s us who get lost. My counselor took me to see Elaine after the show, Elaine hugged me when my counselor said to her “ a newbie” Elaine said “ welcome to the club, the price for admission is high but you earned it , and belly ached from laughing out loud. A laugh I hadn’t given in years. God I loved this woman. She helped me put the shame aside and feel human.I promised God I’d stay sober and I’ve kept that promise as a way to live my thank you .
I was fortunate enough to be at this event. It was a cold rainy evening and I went with my ex who besides Rob Bowman was with Elaine most of the time being her hairdresser, confidant, And the one who got Chiemi Karasawa to direct Elaine's documentary. And I could not believe that I was in the same room with all of those talented people who I had admired so long it was a great night. And Elaine used to always give out Bays English muffins to everyone for Christmas and they are the best and to this day I only eat Bays English muffins. What a great night that was. And I am lucky for getting to know Elaine and how wonderful a person she actually was under that tough exterior. The first 5yrs that I knew her she used to say lots of nasty stuff to me and then after she knew I meant no harm to her she started to warm up to me and would sometimes even compliment me. I miss seeing her and her big personality. And she was one very talented entertainer.
She tried to get the first London production after completing the London production of COMPANY. But her perceived lack of name recognition (and likely Arthur Laurents) prevented it. And so Angela Lansbury got to do it and the first Broadway revival.
