Carol Hatchett, Melanie Taylor and Rhae Ann Theriault

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’d Like Some Melba Toast and a Velvet Sundae and Don’t be Stingy with the Bananas
Michael Holloway

The Divine Miss M, Bette Midler, has worked with some amazing people during her 40-plus-year career, and among the beautiful and inspirational artists are the infamous Staggering Harlettes. The Harlettes have been touring with Midler in her live shows since the 1970’s as backing vocalists, dancers, and comediennes. They are every bit as integral to the brilliance of a Midler show as the Divine One herself.

Not only are they gorgeous and talented, not only are they fantastic singers and dancers, but they also think Midler is God. Paraphrasing Midler’s own tongue-in-cheek humor, it is one of the prerequisites to being a Harlette.

In all seriousness, however, being a Harlette is an intensive rigorous training period for those brave enough to make the attempt, for one has to be strong enough to stand the grind. It is a rewarding process, but also a demanding one, as Rhae Ann Theriault is quick to assert:

“The talent search for the Harlettes is in-depth and intense. We don’t simply dance our butts off, we are first, and foremost, Bette’s back-up singers. What makes this so special is that you must dance, do comedy, twirl poi balls, play ukeleles, and more. However, you would never even be considered if you didn’t make the cut as a singer first. The singing auditions included hours of learning all types of music, styles, singing solo, harmonies, getting mixed & matched with two other voices…it’s very intense,” said Theriault.

There have been several different groups of Harlettes since their early days, including: Ula Hedwig, Jocelyn Brown, and Diva Gray who performed with Midler in her 1980 concert film Divine Madness, Linda Hart who went on to play Mazeppa, Revolutions In Dance in Gypsy, which featured Midler as Mama Rose and Cynthia Gibb as Gypsy Rose Lee, Jenifer Lewis and Charlo Crossley-Fortier, who also starred with Whoopi Goldberg in the Sister Act films, Katey Sagal who became famous as Peg Bundy in the iconic TV sitcom Married with Children.

There have been many more and they are all fabulous, but my favorite trio would have to be Carol Hatchett, Melanie Taylor, and Rhae Ann Theriault from the sublime Diva Las Vegas concert film from 1997. Here is a spotlight on each of the ladies alphabetically.

Carol Hatchett

Born: Carol Hatchett
June 22
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois

Multi-Talent is an Understatement

In Diva Las Vegas, Carol Hatchett appeared as a tall, elegant beauty whose stylish chic gave her a sultry air of sophistication. She dances with wind beneath her feet and sings like an angel with devout emotion and a dash of humor.

Hatchett is not only a superlative singer-songwriter and dancer, she is also a renowned choreographer (serving as assistant choreographer in films such as My Best Friends Wedding and That Thing You Do), and an actress. She appeared in the musical comedy short film You Ruined My Career, which was a hit at the Telluride Film Festival. She also appeared as a nun in an episode of Crossroads Cafe, a program designed to teach the English language to foreign speakers, and she played one of the Pointer Sisters in the biopic Ali, which told the life story of boxing legend Muhammad Ali (played by Will Smith).

In 2008, Hatchett appeared in Sizzle: A Global Warming Comedy, which was a combination mocumentary/documentary exploring the issue of global warming, its conspiracy theorists, and its staunch detractors who ignorantly refuse to see the crisis as a real threat.

On Stage with Bette

The scene in the image on the left is from the Delores DeLago sequence Mermaids in Wheelchairs. Midler humorously decides to use the Harlettes as a bridge on which to perform Bridge Over Troubled Waters. The song ends comically
and abruptly when Hatchett is the first of the trio to feel the strain and collapses from the powerhouse on top of her. Most people remember this as being Rhae Ann Theriault’s “My spleeeen…” splitting moment, but Hatchett does get to shine in here, too.

Hatchett’s Velvet Sundae

As a musician, Hatchett helms the dazzling band, Velvet Sundae, and wrote all the songs for their live shows and the sublime album Velvet Sundae: Live At The Mint.

It hasn’t been my pleasure to see Hatchett perform live, but her live CD is truly one of the great albums of all time. Heart Of Mine is my favourite song; it is about forgiveness and second chances for those who have done you wrong. Hatchett delivers it with such poignancy and emotion that it makes it impossible for the listener to not want to rush out and forgive anyone that has ever done them wrong.

If this is the quality of the rich, flavorful dessert Hatchett and Velvet Sundae serve on a regular basis, then sign me up for second, third, and fourth helpings, and screw the calories.

If you’re also looking for a delectable dessert to fill your day with love, check out Hatchett’s websites: Carol Hatchett Official MySpace, Velvet Sundae Official MySpace, and Velvet Sundae Official Facebook

Melanie Taylor

Born: Melanie Taylor
January 1
Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana

An Electrifying and Warm Bardeaux

With her million dollar megawatt smile, spunky demeanor and beautiful spirit, Melanie Taylor bubbles with life, love, and energy. Her performance in Diva Las Vegas adds a saucy sparkle to the heady brew of Midler’s divinity, Carol Hatchett’s elegance, and Rhae Ann Theriault’s cheeky shenanigans.

Taylor is an electrifying presence, from her sojourn with the duo musical act Bardeaux, to her appearances in movies and television, to her years of stage work, performing commercial jingles, and singing gigs on other artists’ albums. Among other things, she has appeared as a choir singer in the Ben Affleck comedy Surviving Christmas, as well as cameos in TV’s iconic Ally McBeal, The Jacksons: An American Dream, Stop The World I Want To Get Off, and she sang Wonderland in the 1998 film The Promise.

I Look Good

In the opening number I Look Good (an accolade which is definitely shared among all four women), the Staggering Harlette Taylor greets the audience with a smile and eyes so warm and beaming, that you instantly fall in love with her. Nicknamed “Melba Toast” by her Harlette buddies, she is the epitome of sweet and savory; much like her namesake.

Music for the Holidays

Taylor’s Christmas album ,This Christmas,  only has five songs, but they are the five most soulful and heart-stirring renditions of songs you can imagine. The title track This Christmas, Hang all the Mistletoe features the trademark Taylor sparkle. Although, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas has been performed by virtually every singer known to music, Taylor gives it a haunting nostalgia of Christmases past and the uncertain, yet hopeful anticipation of Christmases future. She recorded two songs which have been performed by Amy Grant, Merry Christmas Darling and Grant’s own composition Breath Of Heaven (Mary’s Song).

Taylor’s mother, Althea Waites, plays piano for Breath of Heaven and Joni Mitchell’s River on the album. The magical mother-daughter bond is absolutely the driving force behind this labor of love.

If you would like to spend Christmas (or any other season) with Melanie Taylor, you can visit her at Melanie Taylor.com.

Rhae Ann Theriault

Born: Rhae Ann Theriault
August 1
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois

A Heart as Big as Texas

She’s beautiful, talented, compassionate, and crazy as a box of crackers. Rhae Ann Theriault, the cute and cuddly cheekiest member of the trio, has the soul of a red squirrel; she’s adorable, funny, and mischievous to the core. She will pinch your nuts if you’re not careful, especially if they’re chocolate-coated.

She’s also got a heart as big as Texas and has a strong compassion for people of all kinds and she is a golden-hearted advocate and champion of animal rights. She does extensive rescue work saving cats, dogs, and other neglected, unwanted, or abused pets and she finds good homes for the precious souls with fur.

She also has an amazing portfolio of the zaniest side-splitting, belly-laughable photos of butt-related merchandise, banana paraphernalia, and other amusing jokes and quotes which she heartily shares with friends. Although, she has had her fair share of life’s disappointments and heartbreaks, Theriault rises above all adversity and gives her whole heart to life, and those dearest to her.

On-Stage with Staggering Harlettes

Theriault’s many memorable appearances in the Diva Las Vegas concert footage show her as a precocious and playful kid sister type. I was so fascinated with her performance, I just had to see if she really was as squirrely as I imagined her to be. I’m kind of squirrely myself, so I knew we would be great friends. I was not disappointed and found her to be as delightfully engaging and downright hilarious, just as my thoughts had imagined.

Unfortunately, Rhae Ann Theriault does not have a solo album available (although that has not and will not stop her most devoted fans from begging and pleading with the lady to release such a Holy Grail), but she does have a rich and extensive history of stage work, film and TV appearances, and voice over performances on various commercials and other media. There have been talks about her releasing a holiday album with the other Harlettes, and while fans wait in eager anticipation, no further reports have come forth from this as yet. One can only hope.

In the meantime, you can enjoy Rhae Ann Theriault on film and on CD with the fabulous Diva Las Vegas 2-disc set which features the concert film and the CD soundtrack packaged together.

Also, Bette Midler’s re-release of her Jackpot: The Best Bette (Greatest Hits) album, now simply retitled The Best Bette, also features Diva Las Vegas as a bonus DVD.

If you feel brave enough to enter the Macadamia Ranch and spend some time with the rest of the nuts, then join Rhae Ann Theriault and her tricky wicky wacky woo-woo’s here: Rhae Ann Theriault Official MySpace.

Tagged Bette Bidler, Carol Hatchett, Diva Las Vegas, melanie Taylor, Melanie Taylor and Rhae Ann Theriault, Rhae Ann Theriault, The Harlettes