CAJeannieFan57
01-15-2007, 08:59 PM
My husband and I were absolutely *privileged* to be in the audience for Bob Newhart's live touring show when it visited Escondido, CA, this past Saturday. It was a wonderful performance - he's STILL got it "after all these years".
The opening act was Broadway singer Susan Egan, who sang for 20 or 25 minutes, mostly stuff from Broadway. If the name does not sound familiar, she was the original Belle in Broadway's Disney's Beauty and the Beast. She's got a great voice, and we got a 2-fer....she's 8 months pregnant and VERY proud of it!
After Susan finished singing, they moved the 9-foot grand piano back, opened the scene curtain to reveal a small 6 or 8 piece "pit" orchestra, who went into the theme song from TBNS. That tickled me, of course. Bob came out and immediately started in on us.
We laughed and laughed - my sides were aching by the time his portion of the show was over, over an hour later. I thought he might go into a lot of his old routines from recordings, but was very pleased that we were mostly treated to new stuff. Some, honestly, I had read in his book which came out in September. The only one from the recordings that he did was "The Driving Instructor", which I love. Yes, he did a phone routine.
He showed a vignette of clips called "The Newharts in America", which was a silent film that starred Bob in all of the roles and done in sepia tone. He narrated it from the side of the stage. He also showed a lot of clips from old TV shows - his favorites. Ed Sullivan's introduction of Bob was on there, as well as a skit that Bob did with the incredible Dean Martin - but in this skit, Dean could NOT keep a straight face. One of Bob's last lines in the skit on the film was that he needed a straight man who could keep a straight face.
There was one clip from TBNS - from "Ex-Con Job" - and as each character entered the scene with him, Bob introduced them from the side of the stage....the man who played his patient, then Suzanne of course, and then "my friend Billy Daily".
There were two clips from "Newhart", one of which I have never seen before. Bob was imitating Jerry Lewis and doing a MARVELOUS job of it. Then there was the famous end scene where Bob wakes up in bed with Emily (Suzanne Pleshette).
He got a standing ovation which brought him back for another routine, after which he left.
I had planned to hang around at the stage door and see if he would sign my TV Guide, but it was SO cold (relatively speaking, for southern California) that I decided it just wasn't that important. We certainly enjoyed the show, though, and would hardily recommend to others - if Bob is planning to perform for the public in your area and you can get tickets, do so. You'll enjoy your evening. Check his website for information - www.bobnewhart.com - if the venue is linked, it's a public performance, if it's not, he's on for a convention.
The opening act was Broadway singer Susan Egan, who sang for 20 or 25 minutes, mostly stuff from Broadway. If the name does not sound familiar, she was the original Belle in Broadway's Disney's Beauty and the Beast. She's got a great voice, and we got a 2-fer....she's 8 months pregnant and VERY proud of it!
After Susan finished singing, they moved the 9-foot grand piano back, opened the scene curtain to reveal a small 6 or 8 piece "pit" orchestra, who went into the theme song from TBNS. That tickled me, of course. Bob came out and immediately started in on us.
We laughed and laughed - my sides were aching by the time his portion of the show was over, over an hour later. I thought he might go into a lot of his old routines from recordings, but was very pleased that we were mostly treated to new stuff. Some, honestly, I had read in his book which came out in September. The only one from the recordings that he did was "The Driving Instructor", which I love. Yes, he did a phone routine.
He showed a vignette of clips called "The Newharts in America", which was a silent film that starred Bob in all of the roles and done in sepia tone. He narrated it from the side of the stage. He also showed a lot of clips from old TV shows - his favorites. Ed Sullivan's introduction of Bob was on there, as well as a skit that Bob did with the incredible Dean Martin - but in this skit, Dean could NOT keep a straight face. One of Bob's last lines in the skit on the film was that he needed a straight man who could keep a straight face.
There was one clip from TBNS - from "Ex-Con Job" - and as each character entered the scene with him, Bob introduced them from the side of the stage....the man who played his patient, then Suzanne of course, and then "my friend Billy Daily".
There were two clips from "Newhart", one of which I have never seen before. Bob was imitating Jerry Lewis and doing a MARVELOUS job of it. Then there was the famous end scene where Bob wakes up in bed with Emily (Suzanne Pleshette).
He got a standing ovation which brought him back for another routine, after which he left.
I had planned to hang around at the stage door and see if he would sign my TV Guide, but it was SO cold (relatively speaking, for southern California) that I decided it just wasn't that important. We certainly enjoyed the show, though, and would hardily recommend to others - if Bob is planning to perform for the public in your area and you can get tickets, do so. You'll enjoy your evening. Check his website for information - www.bobnewhart.com - if the venue is linked, it's a public performance, if it's not, he's on for a convention.