Bette Shows Her Pizzazz
Bucks County Courier Times - March 2, 1976
Milt Krugman

DEVON - There are many boobs in the world of entertainment, but it took bawdy Bette Midler to make the word a part of her charisma and a part of her act.

The recent sweetheart of the Harvard University Drama Society opened last night at the Valley Forge Music Fair to a devoted meeting of her fans.

The small, red-haired Ms. Midler is like a combination of chopped liver with a side order of Howard Cosell - either you like her or she gives you a-bad case of heartburn. There was no doubt of her alka-seltzer performance last night, as the audience roared its approval with every song and quip. 

Divine entrance
The Divine Miss M made her divine entrance by coming down the ramp under a white sheet on a stretcher being pushed by three groovy nurses singing "Oh My, My." The girls are her talented backup singers, "The Harlettes."

Then off she jumps into a bird cage with a heart around it. She's dressed in a multi-colored, loose-fitting pants suit that hides her features and a shimmering silver dress.

The banter comes quick and heavy, and if you are not ready, Bette will shoot by you. She speaks freely with the audience as they bring her flowers during the performance.

Dislike stage
Throughout the two-and-one half-hour show, she showed her dislike for the circular stage and made references to her displeasure. She said she is trying to get things straight in the circle-in-the-round.

Then a quick joke: "I recently went on an organic diet - I just ate an earth shoe."

A song, and then Bette assumes her favorite position on the stage - laying down.

Bette said she likes Cherry Hill, and said it would be a great name for a stripper. Like a bird, she moves across the stage, twirls, squats and turns around into another song.

Getting down
"In the Mood" brings the audience down. And the Harlettes really got down as they laid flat on the stage, singing "Hurry on Down to My Place."

The Divine One knows her Philly folklore well, but she did get confused when telling a story about Dick Clark, meaning Bob Horn - only a Philadelphia crowd would know and they did.

Don't get Bette Midler wrong. That girl is an entertainer. She is plugging away constantly with fine pipes, bawdy humor and even creating a degree of suspense. You don't know if she'll break down in a sea of tears of break out in a fast-paced boogie number. Last night, she did both.

A lot of Bette Midler can't be reported. She's something that must be seen and heard. Sure, her routines are blue, and if you go to see her, expect that. But, the kooky kid can carry herself well on anybody's stage, be it round, square or the first one leaving Abilene.