#1
Posted: 1/4/04 at 1:58pm
I saw the current production of CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF and was very disappointed.
I'd seen the acclaimed 70's production of this play which starred Elizabeth Ashley, Keir Dullea, Fred Gynne and Kate Reid and it had left a deep and searing impression upon me. No one could be more spellbinding as Maggie than Liz Ashely--her every move and gesture was feline. She spoke with that magnifient throaty voice of hers that oozed sex appeal and titillated the audience. Sadly, the same cannot be said of Ashley Judd.
Simply put, Judd is out of her league. She's lost on the stage and rattles off her lines without illuminating anything she's saying. I have to admit she looks good in a slip, but she has no stage presence at all and totally lacks sexiness. Her Maggie is a young girl TRYING to be determined. Liz Ashley was a WOMAN who was FILLED with determination. Unfortunately the whole first act of the play is a virtual monologue for Maggie and in this production it's a long and tedious first act indeed.
Jason Patrick fares better as Brick. He's very easy on the eyes and had the mannerisms of an alcoholic down pat. This is one time where I could see the drunken stupor building in Brick as the play progressed. However, in the second act confrontation scene with Big Daddy, absolutely no tension is built and the play just continues to limp along. (Note: TSMrW has a much better 6 pack than Jason does!)
Ned Beatty is a good Big Daddy. He truly becomes the Southern red-neck. He dominates the stage from the moment he enters in Act Two. He contributes one of the better performances of the evening. However, in my mind, Margo Martindale steals the show with her perfectly honed Big Mama. This is exactly the character that Williams had in mind when he wrote the play and this actress hits all the right notes in her performance.
The question in my mind as I left the Music Box Theater last night was: why present a chestnut like CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF unless there's an illuminating factor to be found in it? This is a dull, uninspired production of a great play, but it merely coasts along without any real fuel.
I'd seen the acclaimed 70's production of this play which starred Elizabeth Ashley, Keir Dullea, Fred Gynne and Kate Reid and it had left a deep and searing impression upon me. No one could be more spellbinding as Maggie than Liz Ashely--her every move and gesture was feline. She spoke with that magnifient throaty voice of hers that oozed sex appeal and titillated the audience. Sadly, the same cannot be said of Ashley Judd.
Simply put, Judd is out of her league. She's lost on the stage and rattles off her lines without illuminating anything she's saying. I have to admit she looks good in a slip, but she has no stage presence at all and totally lacks sexiness. Her Maggie is a young girl TRYING to be determined. Liz Ashley was a WOMAN who was FILLED with determination. Unfortunately the whole first act of the play is a virtual monologue for Maggie and in this production it's a long and tedious first act indeed.
Jason Patrick fares better as Brick. He's very easy on the eyes and had the mannerisms of an alcoholic down pat. This is one time where I could see the drunken stupor building in Brick as the play progressed. However, in the second act confrontation scene with Big Daddy, absolutely no tension is built and the play just continues to limp along. (Note: TSMrW has a much better 6 pack than Jason does!)
Ned Beatty is a good Big Daddy. He truly becomes the Southern red-neck. He dominates the stage from the moment he enters in Act Two. He contributes one of the better performances of the evening. However, in my mind, Margo Martindale steals the show with her perfectly honed Big Mama. This is exactly the character that Williams had in mind when he wrote the play and this actress hits all the right notes in her performance.
The question in my mind as I left the Music Box Theater last night was: why present a chestnut like CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF unless there's an illuminating factor to be found in it? This is a dull, uninspired production of a great play, but it merely coasts along without any real fuel.
"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)
