Rating: 
Summary: THIS IS ENTERTAINMENT
Review: Funny how people who have nothing nice to say hide behind anonymous titles like "a viewer". That just tells me that you don't have the conviction to stand behind what you say. Anyway, I was there for the filming and this DVD is even more spectacular with the close ups and excellent dolby sound. I really thought that I had seen it all sitting there in my balcony seat watching such greats as Liza Minelli, Jennifer Holliday, and Nell Carter perform, but this DVD is as intimate as it gets. How can you get better than front and center at Carnegie Hall? This DVD, that's how.
Ignore the ignorant. If you enjoy Broadway, then you will treasure this forever. I promise.
Rating: 
Summary: To this we've come...
Review: I adore Julie Andrews, and was pleased as punch to see her host this show. I rate this DVD a 1 STAR, and that one star is Julie Andrews. The rest of the women on this DVD just aren't her, and they never could sing as well as Julie. Elaine Stritch is fantastic to have here though, but the rest of these singers aren't very convincing. Audra McDonald's breathing and pitch problems are just odd--you always want to root for her and hope she'll eventually find the right pitch, but alas... Bebe Neuwirth... who cares? who is she? who was she? I'm just not interested. The tragedy is, of course, that Julie Andrews hosts, but isn't singing. This lot of marginally interesting broadway singers is a display of what's wrong with broadway today. Yawn.
Rating: 
Summary: It's simply because of Jennifer Holiday
Review: I bought this CD just because of Jennifer Holiday, to bad he just sings one song. But I never regret it.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible vocal extravaganza
Review: I bought this DVD because I want to do some of the numbers in local drag shows. The songs range from torch songs to just plain camp...well worth the money, and what a collection of voices.
Rating:
Summary: Linda Eder Conquers
Review: I gave this show 4 stars because of Linda Eder's fantastic performance. I showed it to my wife and it made her cry. I was stunned that another reviewer negatively criticized her, but then again he loved Elaine Stritch's performance, which was embarrassingly bad. Also great performances by Jennifer Holliday and Karen Ziemba.
Rating:
Summary: One incredible performance after another
Review: I had not seen this on TV, nor heard the CD. I had a gift certificate for a birthday gift and decided this would be one item I would try. I admit being hesitant about my decision, being a man myself, and it was all ladies...but from the moment it began I was totally caught up in these stellar performances. (Okay, the opening with Robert Morse - one of my favorite entertainers - and Tony Roberts in drag was not that good, but the rest of the show -- oh, I am still reeling.)I admit to being stunned by how much female talent there is on Broadway nowadays, even though I am a Broadway fan I never realized the full extent of it. There are so many incredible performances that it would take too long to list all. However, I must single out Dorothy Loudon above all. Her "Fifty Percent" was a Dorothy Loudon I have never seen at all. Instead of the great comedy actress I have know her as, she sang a love song that reached so down in the heart of me that the tears rolled down my face and I felt my heart stick in my throat. Even now as I write this, I feel I am fighting back tears at the feelings it touched inside of me. After viewing the song, I was so overcome that I had to pause the DVD and walk away for several minutes before I could return to see the rest. This is a DVD that every Broadway musical fan - male and female - should own. And I thank heavens that I got to see it and now proudly own it. I picked a great gift for myself! Do the same for yourself.
Rating:
Summary: Should be entitled "Some Leading Ladies..."
Review: I have to begin by stating that I really enjoy this DVD, and watch it far more than I thought I would. Jennifer Holliday literally brings down the house with her classic rendition of "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" from "Dreamgirls"; Linda Eder shines on "Man of La Mancha" and contrary to other opinions Elaine Strich gives the definitive "Ladies Who Lunch" from "Company." The best performance came from an unexpected quarter (at least to me) Dorothy Loudon's "Fifty-Percent" from "Ballroom." She is heartbreaking, and moves me to tears every time. The downside is there are no real Broadway Divas...where is Bernadette Peters, Patti LuPone, Betty Buckley, or (even if she is more West End than Broadway) Elaine Paige? And as much as I love Liza Minnelli, she steamrolls through "Some People" from Gypsy to detrimental effect. To end on a positive note, if you love Broadway and the women who entertain us, this is definately worth your while.
Rating: 
Summary: Where is Chita, Bernadette, Patti Lupone...?
Review: I saw this show from the last row. I didn't care, Chita Rivera was scheduled to perform! She didn't. Nevertheless the show was fun. My only complaint is it relied too much on 3 newcomers and left out the older ladies. Having said that, check out Audra McDonald singing Down With Love, it's perfect!
Rating:
Summary: Broadway Ladies Review(Rebecca Luker fan)
Review: I saw this special on PBS. Too bad Julie Andrews,who hosts the special, can no longer sing because of her vocal problems. However, I just want to say Rebecca Luker who sings Falling in Love With Love is the best of the Broadway Ladies. I may be bias because I was in a play with her in college but she does have a beautiful voice and I wish the rest of the world could know her better. She has had the lead in several Broadway shows including the revivals of Showboat and The Sound of Music but just is known for Broadway. Also pleasing to the ears is Andrea McArdle, the original Annie, who sings a medley of Look For The Silver Lining/Tomorrow. I always thought her voice was wonderful and wish I could hear more from her. Enjoy the comical Life Upon the Wicked Stage performed by a little girl and a bunch of sordid "Ladies" of the evening. Adelaide's Lament by Faith Prince has good comic timing as well. Also enjoy Rosie O'Donnell hamming it up with Liza Minelli for Liza with a Z. My only complaint besides not having Julie sing which I guess was impossible was the strange number performed by a butch lady in men's clothes. I didn't get it and didn't really enjoy it. Maybe I should get out more, but don't know what the song was from and thought it quite weird. There is one other number I want to call attention to and that is a trio of Andrew Lloyd Webber songs which is quite good. Do wish they had let Rebecca sing more.
Rating:
Summary: exhillarating!
Review: I've given Broadway: The leadingLadies 4 stars not because it isn'tabsolutely great, thrilling andgoose bumpy, but, because the performances are not great across theboard. In fact I found myself getting bored during some of it.The opening number from Chicago isa stand up and cheer one that isthe next best thing to being there.I want to say that the visual andaudio recording quality are stellarmaking it that much more pleasurable to watch.Linda Eder, Andrea McArdle, LIZA,and some others give really goodperformances..but it is the greatJennifer Holliday that gives a performance that I have had to rewind and rewind over and over againit's that good. The audience thinksso too. She is the ONLY ONE theystand for in ovation at the endof any one performance that night.That performance alone is worththe price of admission.
|
