Valerie, Stefanie & Tallulah: Looped

I'm definitely not an expert when it comes to actresses, especially classic Hollywood actresses.  I got excited though when I saw a few months ago that Valerie Harper, aka "Rhoda", was coming to Baltimore's Hippodrome Theater in the touring production of "Looped".  

"Looped" is about actress Tallulah Bankhead going into the studio and re-recording a line in what would be her last film, "Die! Die! My Darling!".  The only problem was that Bankhead, who was an alcoholic and drug user, had a great amount of difficulty saying the line "And so Patricia, as I was telling you, that deluded rector has in literal effect closed the church to me".  She did not make this a simple task.  

The role was originated by Valerie Harper and she was nominated for a Tony for her performance.  A few weeks ago I saw online that Stefanie Powers (from TV's "Hart to Hart") was filling in for Harper who pulled out of the tour due to an illness.  This caused the dilemma of  do I still go and see it or skip it?  I enjoy Valerie Harper and wasn't too familiar with Powers.  Definitely up in the air on what to do.

This past week, the illness which forced Harper to drop out of "Looped" was revealed.    

Terminal brain cancer and only a few months to live.  

This was heartbreaking news.  Such an incredibly charismatic, charming, funny woman enduring something that just didn't seem fair.  She had battled lung cancer in 2009 and won her fight against the disease and now this?  People Weekly ran the story and in it she is very candid and seems to be handling the tragic news incredibly well.  

One of the things she said in the interview really stuck with me:

 "Life is amazing. Live it to the fullest. Stay as long as you can."

3 short, simple sentences that speak volumes.  

She is truly a beacon in strength and I really admire her outlook on life.  Life is about getting out there in the world, taking chances, trying new things.  Don't be afraid to do what you want to do.

Jumping back into "Loop" (yes, I know this entry jumps around a bit)...

With only 2 weeks to prepare, "Looped" found it's replacement in Stefanie Powers.  Harper and Powers are friends and like Harper, Powers faced her own battle with lung cancer in '09.  Performing as Tallulah Bankhead is a full circle moment for Powers who starred with Bankhead in the movie "Die! Die! My Darling!" which "Looped" is about.  

My friend Joey who saw Harper in "Looped" a few years ago when it came to DC went to see Powers in the role yesterday and really enjoyed it.  I figured if he enjoyed it, I would as well and I ended up getting rush tickets for the afternoon show.  

It was fantastic!  Powers really captured Bankhead's mannerisms and voice perfectly.  It felt as though you were peaking in on the real Bankhead while she was trying to record her line.  She really nailed the part with the short amount of time she had to prep.  There is quite a bit of dialogue to memorize and she seemed to have picked it up effortlessly like a true professional.                                                                           

        

If you get a chance to see Stefanie Powers in "Looped", go!  It doesn't matter if you're not familiar with her or Bankhead.  I went into it only knowing a tiny bit about Bankhead and came out wanting to find out more about this amazing, ahead of her time woman.  It's a great well written comedy that delivers some great messages about finding yourself and being yourself.  

(Photos from wikipedia, playbill.com, broadway.com, people.com...no copyright infringement intended)