Barbara Walsh - Ladies Who Lunch - Company Revival

[@nerdygeek2012]

To all the people who complain about her voice not being clean and her voice being rather weak - her character is DRUNK.

[@aleafbackeast]

in my opinion, as a theatrical conductor striving for high-class art, I think that this whole production was perfect. And Barbara Walsh delivered this song exquisitely, both vocally and dramatically. Honest, desperate, and uncompromising. Brilliant.

[@bambooguy]

this is the most intelligent complex understated and potent interpretation of this song.i love patti. but patti serves the notes at the end like mugs of beer. patti has a toughness and walsh just breaks down and astonishes

[@rinwesley3092]

This is my favorite interpretation of the song.

[@helios1912]

Yes--levitating performance

[@nursebridgie]

Every single time.

[@liarcheckmate]

This performance floors me. Elaine's version is beautiful sung and "PERFORMED", but this version captures the little poisoned seed at the germ of this song. Brilliant. The first time I saw this I found myself ripped in shreds by the end of it. Whereas I have heard the Elaine version at least fifty times but never trully "got" the song. I hope Barbara knows how good she is.

[@JAR2369]

I think what makes this Joanne so good is the fact that Barbara Walsh herself is A) Able to harness to pure desperation within the character while B) Keeping a completely plastic smile and a sour disposition which is conveyed through her voice

[@carmenponce5227]

I love how those "rise" sound so lonely, a real kick in the gut.

[@jlmww]

And having the piano player stand up and abandon her as she’s losing control at the end was brilliant.

[@zolluuu]

This is an interesting take on it. Usually everyone plays this so coolly. She lets it get unhinged.

[@gasparmarino75]

A dramatic interpretation of the song...really showing a character development arc. Starts off snarky and sarcastic,,,end up bitter and dejected...Superb.

[@erikfreitas7093]

Yes, she starts out merely cynical but then slides into raw drunken anguish. Impressive!

[@erikfreitas7093]

She sings the “Aren’t they a gem?”, “Everybody dies” and “Everybody rise!” parts better than anyone! A heart-stopping performance!

[@ieatglue44]

I think it's just genius how they left her to stand alone for the last note. That way they give her cause to immediately turn to her husband and say she wants a cigarette. She doesn't want to feel alone.

[@Dombrowski1959]

Elaine's version will always be a classic, but Barbara's version is truly amazing. You can FEEL the pain in her character...her words....unlike the Stritch version. Can't wait to see more of Ms. Walsh on B'way again!

[@ChristopherCherry02]

How did she not get a Tony for this ?!

[@TheLadyWhoLunches]

I discovered "The Ladies Who Lunch" & Barbara Walsh last summer, and I still can't get over them both. (Note my username.) I remember the first time I watched this. I was hypnotized! When it was over, I immediately watched it again. And again. And again. The song was stuck in my head all day: utter bliss. This is perfectly brilliant and brilliantly perfect. Did you know it was Walsh's idea to have the piano stop? Genius. Barbara Walsh is an inspiration. Such a powerful performance. Enthralling.

[@helios1912]

Good one. I got to see this show and cast in 2006 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. Levitating

[@AllPwrflSteve]

Daaaaamn, I saw this live when I was in college and I have never seen an actress incorporate the material and tell the story with the song like Barbara Walsh. Patti Stritch may be icons, but Barbara literally makes you feel the pain of this character.

[@everestfarmer9250]

Stritch’s version was full of iconic rage, but Walsh has such a cold, cynical, subtly self-conscious vibe to it. I truly think it’s the best version out there

[@ThirdStrikeFilm]

Seems like the role was written for her. Very organic I completely agree.

[@MrStinker4]

Ms. Walsh's version of this song is my definite favorite. She does not have a perfect voice but she captures the spirit of the song more than any other actress. Props of course have to be given to Stritch for originating the role of Joanne, but I find her version a little campy. As for Patti LuPone, Egad!!

[@kennethj.ruffombarealestat1402]

I think Patti is overrated. Walsh is the best for this sing. She nails it!

[@decadencewhimsyandsarcasm]

I would say it’s not that her voice isn’t perfect; it’s that she’s playing the song absolutely in character. I don’t doubt she could do a note perfect sincere rendition, but there’s no way in hell that would fit this song

[@wackybrinyc29]

Its really interesting how this version brings more of the sarcasm and vitriol out of it in a more overt way as opposed to the staging done in the Elaine Strich version which is a bit more subtle. Hard to pick a favorite as they both are really good for very different reasons. Interesting how the same words and music can seem so very different when used by different performers.

[@Ryuuzaki25]

Cool~ My high school just did this musical, and it was so much fun!

[@theatrebritty]

I just can't get enough of Walsh here....

[@decadencewhimsyandsarcasm]

Having grown up around exactly this kind of woman, she is fucking PERFECT

[@stephaniejohnson5029]

This blows all the rest away

[@keepthemusicplaying0]

Great song and performance!!

[@319FBMZ319]

i love her "aaaaaaaaaaaaah-I'll drink to that" perfectly done and i love the ending!

[@quinnaddison420]

No one has brought such a fresh and interesting take on Joanne like Barbara.

[@pap4456]

Wonderful! Ms. Walsh brings her own style very admirably to the number originated by "Stritchie!"

[@Gracie287]

Goosebumps!!

[@mog04]

i agree genuis bit of direction there, really highlighted her desperation, and realisation that shes secretely one of these women too.

[@646guy]

No it's not as snappy or snippy as Elaine Stritch's Joanne but I think it's more real. I know people like Barbara's Joanne vs. Elaine's version so it resonates more with me. There's more of a vulnerability that comes through Barbara's performance than Elaine's. The strong facade she puts up is totally shattered and that comes across more than it does in the original.

[@mediavita1]

Great!

[@minimonsterism]

she's AMAZING.

[@sillyduckling86]

I wish I could sing this or blast this in my office.... I'll drink to that...

[@greensun92]

wow! that was great!

[@mattro1000]

thanks!

[@AtLastOnTheGround]

As an actress, it's not Walsh's job to entertain you. It's her job to believably play Joanne, and that's what she does. Stritch is more of a performer than an actress, so obviously she's more interesting to watch, but she may not be playing Joanne believably every second she's onstage because for her, entertaining comes before interpretation.

[@ieatglue44]

How was she not even nominated though?

[@646guy]

2:45 it is visually not to mention vocally noticeable that she is singing about herself. Personally I enjoy both Stritch and Walsh' performance. I feel more pain, heartache and loneliness coming from Walsh though

[@stylerunner7]

totally agree

[@RickvanVeldhuizen]

I really recognize my aunt in her character.

[@ManongChito]

She gave great justice to the character so cynical and her last rise has bitter sound of desperation.

[@Asylum07MasterMadman]

yeah i noticed that too

[@pitigam]

elaine stritch sang it so convincingly why joanne drinks barbara walsh sang it so joyless, sad, bitter, and ludicrously painful... makes me want to drink

[@MgrWiz]

She is BRILLIANT in Grey Gardens

[@TheLadyWhoLunches]

@kwgybo345 Don't worry about it ;) I heard that the instruments didn't really work for this, but they changed things for the PBS version (that's what this video was taken from), it works really well.

[@b0b3rt831]

Yes, she's Joanne

[@Arctophile2000]

exactly. if she tried to BE Elaine, it would have been awful. But she made the song her own and gave it a unique interpretation.

[@TheLadyWhoLunches]

For the crazy people who thought Walsh is too young: Elaine Stritch was 44 years old when she did Company. Barbara Walsh was 51. Barbara Walsh's version is far superior to Elaine Stritch's. Stritch is funny, yes, but Barbara Walsh really becomes Joanne.

[@ieatglue44]

@kaiyaxrawr You know what? I thought she looked identical to Jane Lynch long ago, before Jane Lynch was a recognizable name. I only knew her then from Two and a Half Men and Monk.

[@mattro1000]

I'm kinda confused...is her character name Joanne?..if not...which one?

[@OFreddieBoy]

@donaldcallen - you saw this version?? I am jealous. I can't stop watching this interpretation!!

[@steamedturtle]

It's both. This musical is all about being ambiguous and not having an exact answer.

[@jfl7887]

she is REDIC. so perfect.

[@mog04]

I have heard Elaine Stritch's versionmany times and I think she is also incredebly good at it, the two actresses are both very very different from one another, to compare to the two would take years because they dont claim to be one another, and what Barbara Walsh did wasnt what Barbara Walsh decided, its probably what the director and her worked on, just because you coudlnt connect with her doesnt mean it was bad, it means you couldnt connect with her message, thats neither yours or her fault.

[@Akuchan7]

I like Elaine Stritch's version better, but I must say, well done.

[@asmileisspecial]

What do you mean 'the notes she chooses'? Barbara Walsh did not write the music, Stephen Sondheim did and if you have issues take it up with him. I'm sure he'll have a perfectly valid intelligent reason for choosing the notes he did.

[@bitchofliving]

This is the only time that Barbara Walsh ever sang and I didn't either turn her off or walk out. Pretty decent for her.

[@hahaha-no123]

does anyone know in what key did she sing this song?

[@kanna9367]

It's in D but the original key is F. :)

[@ieatglue44]

Really? I only ever got that feeling from Barbara. I never get it from Elaine. It might not be halfway through but I think it's quite apparent by the end.

[@Asylum07MasterMadman]

ummmm she feels organic and real while elaine is more theatrical

[@koolmom46]

Im confused is she jealous of the ladies who lunch or is she one of them?

[@snag2772]

I think it's one of the more realistic performaces done...I've been around many of these women!

[@benbjamin1234]

When me and my parents were watching this, my mom thought this womans voice wasn't great, and I sort of agree, but I think that's a good thing, because it fits with her character.

[@Asylum07MasterMadman]

this Joanna is maybe five years younger than Stritch was at most

[@XOOOOElizabethOOOOX]

I prefer her over Patti in this role.

[@SilverArro]

@ianiml414 I've only ever seen one, and while it was a decent attempt (I could never completely dismiss a group of talented kids with a real love for musical theater - being one myself), the whole thing just seemed like a big joke. The entertainment value of the show was more that a bunch of modern day kids were decked out in 70s garb and the actual context/message of the show was mostly, if not completely lost.

[@mclaire12]

sondheim's women are miserable in a way that only the affluent could pull off. mclaire12

[@MacNair]

Watch "Camp"...

[@mog04]

Its called acting. Funnily enough her character is meant to be hammered. Or are you just another one of these 17 year old musical theatre wannabees who seem to know so much about how to perform, so much so that you cannot realise that sometimes unsustaining a voice is sometimes suitable. god you people irritate me, take some classes in acting then maybe youll understand these things.

[@ieatglue44]

Negative. The whole show goes on inside his head. Maybe he just imagines them playing instruments, metaphysically speaking.

[@bambooguy]

@donaldcallen i think you misunderstood me we agree with patti lupone, i think she is the wrong fit for joanne i was disappointed to see her do the neil patrick harris film version of company, she does other things well i like patti lupone's version of being alive over ladies who lunch.

[@mclaire12]

Are the ladies trying to escape the 50's and the floors they dont even have to wax?/ Will they eventually become neurosurgeons, lawyers, perhaps just as neurotic and miserable? What does this say about the way women get this way ? none of Sondheims women can move can they?Wonder what his mother was like. mclaire12

[@gnattybug]

I'm actually not fond of what they did with this song. I don't know if its Barbara Walsh's voice or how the raised it, but there's something that feels off about it.

[@seanisradd]

Elaine or bust

[@VicViper26]

Funnily enough, you are being incredibly rude. Yes, I know she's acting, and I don't claim to know a ton about how to perform. But you could ask the Washington Post, they seem to think I do very much so. But, have you heard Elaine Strich's version? She didn't make that last note unbearable and her point still got across. What Barbara Walsh did was a bit unnecessary.

[@paigebuffington7617]

I feel that this singer is not connecting with the material. She alternates between no expression and bellowing.

[@rinwesley3092]

Paige Buffington Clearly you haven’t been around many drunks.

[@Trixiath]

It's NOT the same notes when you're purposely flat/sharp for acting purposes. I understand the context and character, I just think it totally destroyed a great piece of music.

[@lindieinred]

Good, but Elaine Stritch does it better :-)

[@VicViper26]

It's perfectly good... Until she has to sustain a note. She should have dropped the accent for all of the sustained notes, ESPECIALLY "Everybody Rise, rise, rise etc.", I actually had to stop watching the DVD, take an Advil, wait for it to kick in, then continue to see Raul Esparza's marvelous version of Being Alive.

[@JSchnabbs]

She was trying to hard at the drunk thing...at least I hope she was. Otherwise those faces and vocal inflections were just flat out mistakes... Great voice though...

[@pudgeuncle]

Mediocre. Burnett better. Stritch better. Baranski better. The best I have ever heard without peer was Faith Prince. PERFECTION.

[@x7345x]

Compared to Elaine Strich? Bitch pahleeze! Barb Walsh sucks... pushed, yet not big enough; not organic either. B O R E D !

[@Trixiath]

I do NOT like this version. Her voice is so obnoxious. The notes she choses are so ugly. I understand she is acting the drunk, but god damn...that was horrible.

[@liarcheckmate]

This performance floors me. Elaine's version is beautiful sung and "PERFORMED", but this version captures the little poisoned seed at the germ of this song. Brilliant. The first time I saw this I found myself ripped in shreds by the end of it. Whereas I have heard the Elaine version at least fifty times but never trully "got" the song. I hope Barbara knows how good she is.