Bea Arthur on Broadway: Just Between Friends

by

Billy Goldenberg and Bea Arthur

Edit

As a huge fan of Bea Arthur's, I was very excited when I heard she would return to Broadway to do a one-woman show. Not since winning the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for "Mame" has Bea Arthur been on stage. Well, what a way to follow up! This cd (which was recorded during a live performance) Bea gives fans an intimate look into her show business life. The stories are very funny and touching, and the songs (which Bea picked out herself) are fun, beautiful, and magical. A favorite part of this cd for me, is when Bea talks about her days on TV. She was the star of two very successful and groundbreaking sitcoms, "Maude" and "The Golden Girls" I am a huge fan of "The Golden Girls" and Bea's character Dorothy was always my favorite. This cd is a must for any Bea Arthur fan, but the appeal of this amazing show goes beyond her hardcore fans. Any fan of classic Broadway and cabaret songs will love this cd. This is one of the favorite cds I own, and should be treasured by more people. And finally, as a sidenote, Bea's one-woman show was nominated for a Tony Award in 2001 in the category of Best Special Theatrical Event.

I got this CD, never hearing Bea Arthur before. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Well, I am glad that I bought this CD, but I wish she could sing (althought later, I found out that Bea Arthur sounds like a man and is not such a great singer-just a little suprising!). What I really like about this CD is the stories she tells and some of the songs. One of her stories is about how Pia Zedora once played (horribly) the role of Anne Frank in "The Diary of Anne Frank" When the S.S. officers came to her door, the accidence stood up and yelled, "She's in the attic!" It is the stories like that which make this CD worth wile. Some of the songs that she sings, with her Base voice, witch she will make fun off a lot: "Emmagion at the age of 8 picking up the phone and having the person say, 'Hello sir, may I speak to the lady of the house.'" She will also tell stories about her first auditions and her first song in an off-off-Broadway show, "Garbage." It is very cleverly put together and is funny, yet it all depends what you are looking for, story or song.

I have to admit thought that even thought she can not sing, she is so much fun you will have a nice simile on your face after you listen to it.