Bette Midler & Me
by Chris Burgess
Garden Theatre, Eagle, Vauxhall
3 – 8 Nov 2020
Bette Midler and Me takes audiences on a lively, affectionate and often hilarious journey through the extraordinary career of the Divine Miss M. West End star Sue Kelvin explores how Bette Midler inspired her own career as a performer, combining stories and personal reflections with performances of Midler’s best-known songs and comedy material.
The show features songs including “From a Distance,” “The Rose,” “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” “I’m a Woman,” “Chapel of Love,” “The Glory of Love,” “I Think It’s Gonna Rain Today,” “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” and “Wind Beneath My Wings.”
It also incorporates highlights from Midler’s famous comedy routines and an outrageous three-minute puppet version of Beaches, giving the evening a mixture of music, comedy, storytelling and theatrical nostalgia
Reviews
from a previous production:
“a thoroughly dazzling hour”
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Musical Theatre Review)
“the audience were lucky to have caught the show, for it was brilliant”
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Plays To See)
“magical harmonies together”
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Fairy Powered Productions)
“their camaraderie on stage is infectious”
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Fairy Powered Productions)
“a show full of exuberance, humour and great music”
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Edinburgh Star)
“Memories, old favourites and lots of glitz”
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (FringeReview)
“one of the most emotionally raw [performances] I have ever seen”
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Fairy Powered Productions)
“this gal can belt!”
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Musical Theatre Review)
CAST
Bette Midler / Sue’s Story: Sue Kelvin
Supporting Performer: Jessie May
CREATIVES
Writer: Chris Burgess
Director: Erika Gundesen
Musical Arrangements: Sarah Travis
Original Director: Paul Foster
Original Choreography: Matthew Cole
Producer: LAMBCO Productions