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Harper as Bankhead Gets Looped

 


VALERIE HARPER X180 | Advocate.com

Valerie Harper will go bi on the Broadway stage as Tallulah Bankhead in a new comedy Looped, opening in March.

According to producers: "Looped tells the story of Tallulah Bankhead, the internationally celebrated actress, being called into a sound studio in 1965 to re-record (or 'loop') one line of dialogue for what would be her last film — the dreadful 'Die, Die My Darling.' Southern, but by no means a belle, Ms. Bankhead was known for her wild partying and convention-defying exploits that outshone even today's celebrity bad girls. And given her inebriated state (and inability to loop the line perfectly), what ensues is a hilarious showdown between an uptight and conservative sound editor, Danny Miller, and the outrageous legend."

Harper is a four-time Emmy Award winner for her work on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and its spin off Rhoda.
 

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Reader Comments
  • Name: James Cody
    Date posted: 12/13/2009 9:33:32 PM
    Hometown: New York

    Comment:

    I want no part of Valerie Harper. She lavished repressive "feminist" anti-sex nut Andrea Dworkin with praise. The one who wrote all intercourse from a man is rape. Harper's political convictions didn't stop her from appearing in a film with "f-g" jokes. Tallulah is screaming from the grave against this idiot. When Tallulah told someone she was raped in a driveway as a child, the retort was "It must have been terrible". Tallulah answered "Yes, all that gravel".

  • Name: Lonnie
    Date posted: 12/13/2009 9:15:29 PM
    Hometown: Union City

    Comment:

    If every gay guy refused to see this, it would fail. Yes, Tallulah Bankhead used drugs but she was so much more than the mess she is shown here. And, I agree, we should never promote the career of anyone involved in a crusade against sex films, as Valerie Harper was (and is?). This play looked like fun at first but I am now convinced it would be a dis-service to patronize it.

  • Name: Darren Mason
    Date posted: 12/13/2009 3:39:02 PM
    Hometown: Orlando

    Comment:

    As someone who loves the late Tallulah Bankhead, who was pro gay, I am disgusted at this negative play of her as "Looped" meaning crazy. Valerie Harper has long supported the anti porno movement (something Miss Bankhead would hate) and that movement encourages police crack downs, raids, etc. Gay bars, gay people, gay publications and women are the victims of this bourgeois anti sex campaign. How ironic that Harper once protested the negative view of women yet now promotes a very negative view of another woman. I am sure that silly airhead type queens will howl when a drunk Tallulah appears on stage in campy outfits but it really puts down a person who was much more our friend than Valerie Harper. And Miss Bankhead was a real star, unlike this telly sit com has- been. I will not enpower that one by buying a ticket.

  • Name: Hector
    Date posted: 12/13/2009 9:49:54 AM
    Hometown: New York

    Comment:

    Doesn't work. A prude playing Tallulah? Why should I support someone who promotes anti-porn vice squad crack downs? It is insulting to the memory of Tallulah. Let Harper continue to fade from the scene. If she needs something to revive her long over career, that is her problem. And I go to theater in New York and London, not Pasadena.

  • Name: dave
    Date posted: 12/12/2009 8:37:35 PM
    Hometown: l.a.

    Comment:

    I saw the show in pasadena and Valerie was hilarious. it was a no-holds-barred performance and she really captured the sprit of the great Tallu.

  • Name: Harry
    Date posted: 12/11/2009 7:45:11 PM
    Hometown: Los Angeles

    Comment:

    Russ, I saw it too and thought it stunk. I liked Tallulah. Don't like VH. Rhoda was her high point.

  • Name: Russ
    Date posted: 12/11/2009 3:51:33 PM
    Hometown: Santa Ana, CA

    Comment:

    I saw this play when it was at the Pasadena playhouse last Spring with Ms. Harper playing the role. She was FANTASTIC. Chad Allen was the "looper" and did an excellent job as well. Wonder if he will reprise his role? The play was excellent with great comedic lines but also a realistic portrayal of Tallulah Bankhead (one of my personal faves) and all of the positve and negative aspects of her larger than life personality.

  • Name: Alfredo
    Date posted: 12/11/2009 10:24:51 AM
    Hometown: Laredo, TX

    Comment:

    there's actually a couple clips on youtube....she doesnt do half bad....i was surprised.

  • Name: Jason
    Date posted: 12/11/2009 9:57:11 AM
    Hometown: Atlanta

    Comment:

    There is no delicate way to say it. Playing the great women who we gay guys love: Joan Crawford, Judy Garland, Mae West, Bette Davis, Barbra Streisand, Tallulah Bankhead, etc is a man's job. I've yet to see any woman do it as well as a female impersonator. Maybe because these wonderful stars have been so male in outlook on sex and other things. It really takes a gay man to portray them well.

  • Name: Richard
    Date posted: 12/11/2009 8:22:12 AM
    Hometown: New York

    Comment:

    I love the photo of Ms. Bankhead (?) in her fur! Gay glam! I do think Valerie Harper is ill suited for this role, however. Ms. Bankhead was very, very bawdy, very sex positive. Harper is known for being anti-porn and rather prudish and prim . It will test her skills being Bankhead and making the audience believe it for more than a minute. I saw Adrienne Barbeau as Judy Garland and it just didn't work. Not for one moment did I see Garland on that stage ( Sorry, Adrienne). You can't have George Bush play Adam Lambert. I predict Harper will flop as Bankhead.



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