Bette Midler took a break for a costume change halfway through her two-hour, incredibly entertaining Divine Intervention performance on Saturday, May 16, at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.
A slow-motion, Oscars-style memorial video montage featuring Midler’s brassy mermaid alter ego Delores Delago filled the time. Delores appears to be dead.
Most likely, it was time for her to leave. Delores’ Broadway parodies, which have been a mainstay of Midler concerts for years, required a lot of work. Delores and her fluttering fishtail were restricted to a wheelchair on a tour in 2004.
Age was definitely catching up to her, if not to Midler. The 69-year-old Midler may be admitting that, at least on paper, she’s aging by retiring the outrageous Delores.
If so, it was the only admission of its existence.
What is Bette Midler’s Alter Ego?
Bette Midler once declared as a young girl that she just wanted to become one thing: a legend. Years later, she succeeded in her mission and rose to fame as a legendary figure in comedy, theater, music, and film.
Her fame has endured for many generations. Since the 1970s, she has had a hit song, movie, or TV show. She has won nine American Comedy Awards, three Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards, and four Grammy Awards.
It would be a turning point in Midler’s career and introduce everyone to “The Divine Miss M,” her alter ego.
