Customer Reviews

Mondo Beyondo [VHS]

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Despite what other reviews say, this is a great collection of diverse performance art. Bill Irwin has lasted, La La La Human Steps was an interesting dance duo, and the Yes/No People went on to become Stomp. Not everything in this set works, but it is quite interesting, even if you don't like Bette Midler.

The negative reviews on this video tape must have been looking for a Bette Midler performance, which you don't get with this video. Bette is a phenomenal performer, and did a very wonderful thing by taking the MC role and collecting together some of the most influential artists of the 1980's and putting them on TV for all to see. But why this HBO special was considered a "comedy special," I have no idea. There are some comic moments, but it is the artistry and performance that you want to own this video for. If you want a snapshot of the 1980's performance art movement, this is your video tape, and if you'd like to know why these artists were chosen most of them have websites which unfortunately I can't publish in a review, but please look them up. Here's a condensed version:

Paul Zaloom, best known as Beakman of "Beakman's World" is also an Obie Award winner, continues to perform all over the world and was very influential in the 1980's performance art movement

David Cale won an Obie Award for his Off-Broadway show "Lillian," as well as still performing today and is a well-known lyricist

Kipper Kids were very influential to performance artists in the 1970's and the punk movement

Pat Oleszko has won numerous awards and is still performing

La La La Human Steps is one of the leading Canadian dance troupes even to this day

The Yes/No People eventually developed into "Stomp"

As for Bill Irwin, well, who doesn't know how incredibly talented this man is and has toured numerous one-man shows all over the globe.

I saw this video maybe 30 years ago and remember it enough to look for it all these years and I have finally found it!!

Bette is, of course, wonderful and all the performers are amazing! You find some a bit "peculiar," but amazing, nonetheless!

And Better met and married one of the Kipper Kids and they are still together. He is Sophie's Dad. A little known love story!

This video is a must for every Bette Midler fan. Some of the perfomances featured in the show are really bizarre and you may even feel uncomfortable watching them, but the laugh here is the presenter Mondo and guest singer Eudora (both plaed by Bette). Her Italian accent is side-splitting. This is Bette at her nutty best! If you like "Outrageous Fortune", "Ruthless People" and "Big Business", you 'll love "Mondo Beyondo"!

Creative numbers, funny situations and wild 80's fashion can't help this little (1 hour long) 'show' from being a total flop.
Bette Midler plays a Euro-styled Ed Sullivan, presenter of the crazy and Bizarre. Her Variety show includes comic Davie Cale, Shuffling Bill Irwin, the 'explosive' Kipper Kids, dancers La La La Human Steps, the weird Pat Oleszko, the Yes/No People and Comedian Paul Zaloom.
This is ridiculous~! What was Bette thinking? All that hair/awful clothes and that Italian accent.
Get this only if you are a Midler completist.