Saw the new documentary about Carol ( CAROL CHANNING - LARGER THAN LIFE) today and immediately regretted never having seen her live on stage. At least not yet. Since she's still going, who knows?! Check it out...amazing film!
When I was a young college student, my boss gave me a ticket to see this revival at the Lunt-Fontanne. It turned out to be one of the most memorable theater experiences that I have ever had. There was something truly magical about seeing a TRUE Broadway legend performing live on stage. I don't think my generation had experienced anything like that until then, and I don't think we have experienced it ever since. It was like going back 30 years and experiencing Broadway in its purest essence.
And furthermore, at 73 Carol remains a better Dolly than Barbra ever was. The movie was a complete mess! Barbra over-did everything, and turned the hilarious, charming, aggrivatiing widow that is Dolly Levi, and turned her into a pretensious, young, sex-driven, humorless girl (notice I didn't say woman).
Carol lights up on stage, she's such as sight to see! She recieved applause for her signature Dolly moves, and it's the sweetest thing to watch. The 1994 revival is so glamourous, I LOVE IT!
@paulsswans you are truly idiotic. Carol is a legend, and is a spectacular Dolly whether she's 43 or 73. Her act never was old, characters don't change. Dolly here is the same carrot-haired, raspy-voiced, charming, meddler she was in 1964, and that's exactly what people paid to see. That's why arenas were sold out for thoes 150+ shows.
Her dress is gorgeous and humorous, antyhing but cheap. The production is actually better than the original, and there are the same waiters. Try again hater.
well, i couldn't help it - watching this made me cry with joy. the show, the character, the song, and the actress: all legendary. i adore barbra, but it was truly criminal that carol channing was not allowed to make the movie version of this musical. carol was and is a force to be reckoned with - a huge amount of talent and love and joy constantly pours out of this woman.
Although I think she did pretty good for being 73 please keep in mind that the choreography isn't exactly challenging and as for the comment made about comparing her to Ms. Streisand....I'll take Barbra's voice and characterizationi over Ms. Channing's very recognizable but not very beautiful sound. Mr. Channing has always been unique and I'm sure she's a wonderful person but I've never quite figured out why she was such a big deal!
So many incredible memories. I saw this show 8 times, met Carol twice, loved every minute of every moment. No more gracious a lady has graced the Broadway stage!
So many incredible memories. I saw this show 8 times, met Carol twice, loved every minute of every moment. No more gracious a lady has graced the broadway stage!
She always ate healthy foods - she brought her own to the White House state dinner.
But. An artist knows when to give it up and graciously leave. Perhaps performing was a requirement for the Actors Equity health insurance and every actor must earn so much yearly income, but c'mon. Carol, have some dignity. Lena Horne knew when to softly go away.
@vergajo222 Good Luck! Though I was impressed with the "Anything Goes" number on the Tony Awards show the other evening, I tend to think the future holds more non-traditional material, such as "Spider Man." To me, Broadway has and should always mean spectacular tap dancing, jazz-based music, a certain sophistication and class; but, of course, that is so counter to modern society, which is all about casual and tacky.
Do any of you haters realize that Carol was 73 when she was doing this show in 1994 ! She was doing 8 shows a week ! She did each scene in ONE take not like Ms. S. who had take after take torturing the shit out of all she was working with ! She gave warmth and peosonality to Dolly where as "You know who plays" Barbra" in every role she does,including Yental , or as we called it " Victor Victoria goes to Yeshiva" where she supposedly plays a man! She still was Fanny Brice in pants !
Sad really, she deserved better than this tacky, cheap revival as her swansong. Here is a performer who has no home, lives in hotels and has spent a lifetime touring in either Hello Dolly or Diamonds are a girls best friend. Love her or loathe her she's an old trouper.
IT is impossible to capture on film the indefinable magic that occurs when seeing Miss Channing live. I saw the show in late 1994 in Boston and the electricity in the air when Miss Channing performed had the packed theatre on their feet multiple times. The video is a nice representation of a great star playing a great role but seeing the show live is a once in a lifetime experience. Merman was the same way. On film she came across as loud, on stage she was magic.
The orchestra has been cut by one half to save costs and her dress looks cheap. The revival didn't have the money to provide the necessary resources. There are half of the original number of waiters. There are times her when she appears to be demanding applause from the audience.
Stale, stale, stale. Consistent acting is dead acting and Channing's performances were exactly the same for decades and decades. Look at the waiters. They aren't taking her seriously. You can see it in their eyes. Channing's eyes are hollow and glazed over - it's not a geriatric issue. she just stopped living inside the role. In an interview she said "If a piece of business or a vocal intonation works, keep it." However, her's stopped working and she didn't understand how stale it became.
@paulswans all you say is true, but I saw this on a rainy afternoon performance at the Lunt Fontanne in NYC and STILL had goosebumps, its not about the show persé but about the occasion..yes she milked applause(aLOT, never sat through a show with so many standing ovations) but hell, I saw Carol Channing in Hello Dolly ! maybe it's a gay thing, maybe its not art, maybe its brainless, lmaybe it was a cheaper production...but I LOVED it and very happy I went!
Saw the new documentary about Carol ( CAROL CHANNING - LARGER THAN LIFE) today and immediately regretted never having seen her live on stage. At least not yet. Since she's still going, who knows?! Check it out...amazing film!
FogBuffy 3 weeks ago
When I was a young college student, my boss gave me a ticket to see this revival at the Lunt-Fontanne. It turned out to be one of the most memorable theater experiences that I have ever had. There was something truly magical about seeing a TRUE Broadway legend performing live on stage. I don't think my generation had experienced anything like that until then, and I don't think we have experienced it ever since. It was like going back 30 years and experiencing Broadway in its purest essence.
matienzony 3 weeks ago 2
And furthermore, at 73 Carol remains a better Dolly than Barbra ever was. The movie was a complete mess! Barbra over-did everything, and turned the hilarious, charming, aggrivatiing widow that is Dolly Levi, and turned her into a pretensious, young, sex-driven, humorless girl (notice I didn't say woman).
Carol lights up on stage, she's such as sight to see! She recieved applause for her signature Dolly moves, and it's the sweetest thing to watch. The 1994 revival is so glamourous, I LOVE IT!
MrPrince140lbs 1 month ago 2
@paulsswans you are truly idiotic. Carol is a legend, and is a spectacular Dolly whether she's 43 or 73. Her act never was old, characters don't change. Dolly here is the same carrot-haired, raspy-voiced, charming, meddler she was in 1964, and that's exactly what people paid to see. That's why arenas were sold out for thoes 150+ shows.
Her dress is gorgeous and humorous, antyhing but cheap. The production is actually better than the original, and there are the same waiters. Try again hater.
MrPrince140lbs 1 month ago
well, i couldn't help it - watching this made me cry with joy. the show, the character, the song, and the actress: all legendary. i adore barbra, but it was truly criminal that carol channing was not allowed to make the movie version of this musical. carol was and is a force to be reckoned with - a huge amount of talent and love and joy constantly pours out of this woman.
jmsz1964 1 month ago
Raaaassssssberries!
tdstar21 2 months ago
Ryan Stiles DOES sound like Carol Channing!! :)
Girlswithpotential 4 months ago 2
OMG! She's so adorable!
darkphoenix1312 5 months ago
She is a force! Go get em Carol!
bandnerdy 5 months ago
At the rate she's going, the next one will be dubbed "The Wheelchair Tour." And she'll still have the spirit.
Hylas19 5 months ago
Although I think she did pretty good for being 73 please keep in mind that the choreography isn't exactly challenging and as for the comment made about comparing her to Ms. Streisand....I'll take Barbra's voice and characterizationi over Ms. Channing's very recognizable but not very beautiful sound. Mr. Channing has always been unique and I'm sure she's a wonderful person but I've never quite figured out why she was such a big deal!
hard8993 6 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
So many incredible memories. I saw this show 8 times, met Carol twice, loved every minute of every moment. No more gracious a lady has graced the Broadway stage!
etiquetteguy 7 months ago
So many incredible memories. I saw this show 8 times, met Carol twice, loved every minute of every moment. No more gracious a lady has graced the broadway stage!
etiquetteguy 7 months ago
She's wonderful! I just wish I'll have that energy at 73, or 90, for the matter. Love you, Carol. You're fabulous and looking swell, yes you are.
benitodes 8 months ago
She always ate healthy foods - she brought her own to the White House state dinner.
But. An artist knows when to give it up and graciously leave. Perhaps performing was a requirement for the Actors Equity health insurance and every actor must earn so much yearly income, but c'mon. Carol, have some dignity. Lena Horne knew when to softly go away.
paulswans 10 months ago
id like to go one day to broadway and go to a musical like this
vergajo222 10 months ago
@vergajo222 Good Luck! Though I was impressed with the "Anything Goes" number on the Tony Awards show the other evening, I tend to think the future holds more non-traditional material, such as "Spider Man." To me, Broadway has and should always mean spectacular tap dancing, jazz-based music, a certain sophistication and class; but, of course, that is so counter to modern society, which is all about casual and tacky.
bplatt1069 8 months ago
im not american and only heard this womans voice once in alice in wonderland movie from that moment that voice is in my mind originial voice..
vergajo222 10 months ago
Do any of you haters realize that Carol was 73 when she was doing this show in 1994 ! She was doing 8 shows a week ! She did each scene in ONE take not like Ms. S. who had take after take torturing the shit out of all she was working with ! She gave warmth and peosonality to Dolly where as "You know who plays" Barbra" in every role she does,including Yental , or as we called it " Victor Victoria goes to Yeshiva" where she supposedly plays a man! She still was Fanny Brice in pants !
Joeinps 1 year ago 19
@Joeinps She's 90 years old now and still working, this woman is a true performer!!
TheOfficialDomoLuva 1 year ago 15
@TheOfficialDomoLuva Amen Carol is a true star and top performer!!!!
bigjohnmac 5 months ago
Saw her in the touring production. It was great.
dlturbyfill 1 year ago 2
Sad really, she deserved better than this tacky, cheap revival as her swansong. Here is a performer who has no home, lives in hotels and has spent a lifetime touring in either Hello Dolly or Diamonds are a girls best friend. Love her or loathe her she's an old trouper.
busolglou 1 year ago
Comment removed
Dereknola 1 year ago
hahaha! her voice is so funny!
barkingtree88 1 year ago
IT is impossible to capture on film the indefinable magic that occurs when seeing Miss Channing live. I saw the show in late 1994 in Boston and the electricity in the air when Miss Channing performed had the packed theatre on their feet multiple times. The video is a nice representation of a great star playing a great role but seeing the show live is a once in a lifetime experience. Merman was the same way. On film she came across as loud, on stage she was magic.
pebrogan 1 year ago 2
... you're looking great, Stanley - R
Ronizetti 1 year ago
Obviously you had to see this live ... It was sheer magic ~ impossible for you to judge by video, Brava Carol and cast!
Ronizetti 1 year ago
@Ronizetti Carols magic as Dolly shines even through this video recording.
newrochellephoenix 1 year ago
The orchestra has been cut by one half to save costs and her dress looks cheap. The revival didn't have the money to provide the necessary resources. There are half of the original number of waiters. There are times her when she appears to be demanding applause from the audience.
paulswans 1 year ago
@paulswans the dress may be cheap, but she still looks fab for her age
MusicalsFan15 1 year ago 2
Stale, stale, stale. Consistent acting is dead acting and Channing's performances were exactly the same for decades and decades. Look at the waiters. They aren't taking her seriously. You can see it in their eyes. Channing's eyes are hollow and glazed over - it's not a geriatric issue. she just stopped living inside the role. In an interview she said "If a piece of business or a vocal intonation works, keep it." However, her's stopped working and she didn't understand how stale it became.
paulswans 1 year ago
@paulswans all you say is true, but I saw this on a rainy afternoon performance at the Lunt Fontanne in NYC and STILL had goosebumps, its not about the show persé but about the occasion..yes she milked applause(aLOT, never sat through a show with so many standing ovations) but hell, I saw Carol Channing in Hello Dolly ! maybe it's a gay thing, maybe its not art, maybe its brainless, lmaybe it was a cheaper production...but I LOVED it and very happy I went!
Dirkdebruyne 1 year ago 3