Bruce's Brokeback Jokes ... and a Brokeback Song?

[J-Man]

I went to a benefit concert last night (for the Valley Musical Theatre in North Hollywood, CA), and one of the performers was Bruce Vilanch. In between verses of "When You're Good to Mama" (from "Chicago") he previewed some of the jokes he's writing for the upcoming Oscar ceremony. Naturally, he had to share some of the alternate titles they had come up with for "Brokeback Mountain," specifically:

 

--Little Bathhouse on the Prairie

--Jeremiah's Johnson

--A Fistful of Jake

--Same Time, Next Rear

 

There were a few more ... they didn't seem "ready for primetime," in my opinion. He also did several minutes of Sophie Tucker schtick and jokes-- they weren't as good as my favorites that Bette used to tell.

 

However, another part of the concert also had a Brokeback theme ... most of the performers did Broadway material that was originally written for the opposite gender-- e.g., Sam Harris sang "Rose's Turn" (from "Gypsy"); an all-male ensemble sang "Hard Knock Life" (from "Annie,") and, of course Bruce doing a song written for Mama Morton.

 

So, two performers came on to the stage dressed as Brokeback-esque cowboys and of course the audience immediately got the reference. Then they started to sing "I Know Him So Well," a duet originally performed by two women (about a man) in "Chess." Here are the lyrics-- they're eerily appropriate to the Jake/Ennis relationship:

 

(FLORENCE)

Nothing is so good it lasts eternally

Perfect situations must go wrong

But this has never yet prevented me

Wanting far too much for far too long.

Looking back I could have played it differently

Won a few more moments who can tell

But it took time to understand the man

Now at least I know I know him well

 

(FLORENCE)

Wasn't it good?

Wasn't he fine?

Isn't it madness

He can't be mine?

 

(SVETLANA)

Oh so good

Oh so fine

 

He can't be mine?

 

(FLORENCE)

But in the end he needs

A little bit more than me --

More security

 

(SVETLANA)

He needs his fantasy

And freedom

 

(FLORENCE)

I know him so well.

 

(SVETLANA)

No one in your life is with you constantly

No one is completely on your side

And though I move my world to be with him

Still the gap between us is too wide.

 

(FLORENCE)

 

Looking back I could

Have played things

Some other way

 

(SVETLANA)

 

Looking back I could

Have played it

Differently

 

Learned about the man

Before I fell

 

(FLORENCE)

I was just a little

Careless maybe

 

(SVETLANA)

But I was

Ever so much

Younger then

Now at least

 

(FLORENCE)

Now at least

I know him well

 

(BOTH)

I know I know him well

 

(SVETLANA)

 

Wasn't it good?

Wasn't he fine?

Isn't it madness

 

(FLORENCE)

 

Oh so good

Oh so fine

 

(BOTH)

He won't be mine?

Didn't I know

How it would go?

If I knew from the start

Why am I falling apart?

 

(SVETLANA)

 

Wasn't it good?

Wasn't he fine?

 

(FLORENCE)

 

Isn't it madness

He won't be mine?

 

(SVETLANA)

He won't be mine?

 

(FLORENCE)

But in the end he needs a

Little bit more than me --

More security

 

(SVETLANA)

He needs his

Fantasy and freedom

 

(FLORENCE)

I know him so well

 

(SVETLANA)

It took time to understand him

 

(BOTH)

I know him so well

_______________________________________

 

What it made it even more appropriate is that it was instantly clear that they were singing about each other, not about a third party. Anyway, kudos to whomever came up with the idea to use this song this way!

[bigguyinpasadena]

I would have LOVED to have been there!

Ya'know-a little advance notice on something like this would be very welcome.

I know there is one poster here who is VERY close to Bruce Villanch :+

[SAdler]

You should hear some of the ones he cant even tell to the non-prime time crowd. But the true aspect you completely forgot to mention about the fabulousness that is Bruce was how much weight he's lost