“When I’m on stage – it’s a party!” quipped Bette Midler. So join in the fun, and catch West End star and leading lady Sue Kelvin’s roller-coaster ride through the Divine Bette Midler’s fabulous career in Bette Midler and Me at the Garden Theatre at Eagle London from 3rd November.
The show explores how Bette inspired Sue to don seven-inch platform shoes, and become a musical diva herself! Sue has starred in many West End hits including Wicked, Les Misérables, Fiddler on the Roof and Chicago.
Sue covers songs such as Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, The Rose, I’m A Woman, From a Distance and Wind Beneath My Wings… Oh, and the show also features an outrageous three minute puppet version of hit tear-jerker movie Beaches… Simply divine!
Sue is accompanied by musical director Erika Gundesen; and is supported by actress and singer Jessie May.
To mark the new Garden Theatre run, we thought we’d ask:
Bette Midler and Sue Kelvin – Are they showbusiness twins?
Bette Midler grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii, where she began singing at an early age. After winning several talent shows, it was clear what she had to do… get the hell out of there! Sue Kelvin was born in Manchester and soon felt the same way about her hometown.
Bette landed a role on Broadway as one of the daughters in the original production of Fiddler on the Roof. Years later, Sue appeared as Golde (Tevye’s wife) in a West End revival of the show.
Bette landed a starring role in the film The Rose. She was nominated for an Oscar for her performance, but she lost. Sue has also not yet received an Oscar.
The similarities are uncanny, aren’t they? And there’s more…
Bette starred opposite Diane Keaton and Goldie Hawn in the mega-hit The First Wives’ Club, which she enjoyed shooting because she was playing the chubby gal and during filming could eat what she wanted.
Sue is a lapsed member of the Golders Green division of Slimming World, but she thinks she may be joining again soon.
Bette has recorded Bette Midler Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook and Bette Midler Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook.
Sue thinks it’s time somebody recorded Sue Kelvin Sings the Bette Midler Songbook. But nobody did. So she came up with the idea of a show called Bette Midler and Me so she could sing the songs anyway.
Bette recently said ‘I’m not retiring and you can’t make me’.
Sue can’t afford to retire, hence the show she has devised called Bette Midler and Me. She hopes you can come and see it, and that Bette Midler doesn’t sue.
Bette Midler and Me is at The Garden Theatre at Eagle London from 3rd November. Tickets and dates at www.gardentheatre.co.uk
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