Cat on a Cold Tin Roof

[robbiej]

Posted: 10/14/03 at 11:06am

Yes...I know...it just started previews. I knew that going into the theatre on Friday night. But one expects the fundamentals of a very familiar piece of theatre to be in place. Like the heat. It's the south...it's hot. Even if the actors flubbed every other line, if they make you feel the heat in that bedroom on the Ochello/Straw plantation, then they've done part of their job. But no. It was a rather chilly evening down in the delta. And that was the first of many problems.

Does anyone want to see a production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof where you can't slam the bedroom door? I've seen sturdier doors and door frames on high school sets. When Big Daddy has to be genteel when kicking Big Mama out of the room so as not to literally knock the door off its hinges, you know you need to drop a few more bucks on the set.

When one goes to light Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, would one naturally choose as many of the 'coolest' colors possible, without even attempting to suggest the haze and humidity that precedes a southern thunderstorm?

When you have the incredible body of Ms. Ashley Judd as your mannequin, do you put her in ill-fitting clothes? Or in uncomplimentary colors that do nothing for her skin tone?

One must wonder why a director would instruct Jason Patric to get more and more lethargic during the course of the evening, although the script keeps telling us that Brick is restless? Why would the character become so drunk as to slur nearly every word in his big Act II speech, even though he hasn't heard the 'click' yet?

Ned Beatty is quite a good actor. But Mr. Beatty has made a career of playing lovable losers. There is something inherent in him that inspires our compassion and, at times, our pity. Apart from a slizable belly, there is nothing 'big' about this Big Daddy. Would I kill to see Mr. Beatty's Shelly Levene in Glengarry Glen Ross? Absolutely. But his performance here left me undernourished.

And then there's Ms. Judd, a strikingly beautiful woman. However, she is surprisingly missing any semblance of sex appeal. Her Maggie is neurotic, a flittering bird batting its wings against the cage that traps it. But she is not a cat...and the temperature she needs to bring to this production is shockingly low.

I'm all for a new interpretation of a classic. But one must respect and follow the sign posts laid out for you by the playwright. To go against what Mr. Williams has gloriously laid out is foolish.

In the end, after being disappointed with this production for a good two hours, I closed my eyes and concentrated on the beautiful language Mr. Williams created so many years ago. Cold comfort for a cold production.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 10/14/03 at 11:23am

Yikes. I am sorry to hear this. Hopefully it will get better. But Robbie, you neglected to mention, does Mr. Patric take his shirt off? That would be pretty hot!

By the way, I love your suggestion of Beatty as Shelley Levine, that would be something.

PS. How were the others in the cast?

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 10/14/03 at 11:30am

Brilliantly worded review--you MUST have been conjuring William's poetry as you wrote it!

Let's hope they can get it together by opening night!

[robbiej]

Posted: 10/14/03 at 11:46am

Oh heavens, yes...Mr. Patric does indeed take his shirt off. But the play is so sexless that it is more a study in anatomy than a vision of erotic delight!

The Big Mama was pretty good (cannot for the life of me remember her name). But, she's being reigned in by the subpar performances surrounding her.

The Mae was not particularly shrill (which was a welcomed change), but she bounded about that stage like a woman with a pillow stuffed down her shirt and not someone carrying her sixth child. Gooper didn't make much of an impression.

But the kids the cast as the no-neck monsters truly had no neck!

I'm sure much work will be done. But, in truth, this particular British director just doesn't get what the South is all about.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 10/14/03 at 11:56am

Thank you. I've been awaiting specifics on this show... I was startled by the casting -- you build any revival of CAT around ... well, the cat, don't you? Ms. Judd has performed successfully in films, yet to my knowledge, has never carried one that has any emotional weight. Has never found her NORMA RAE or ERRIN B. Having seen her underwhelming performance as Madge in PICNIC at the Roundabout a few seasons ago, she seemed an unlikely Maggie. Madge is a restless ingenue in an ensemblbe; Maggie is one of the greatest female roles in the American theater, who must hold an audience in the palm of her hand for the entire first act. Even if Ms. Judd had demonstrated the chops in films, it sounds like she (still) lacks the stage experience that builds craft. Or maybe I'm unfair. I wish her well, but I don't have 80 bucks to spare to see a revival without a reason -- a centerpiece justifying the reinterp - for its being. Does the mind go: "Ashley ... Turner ... Judd?" Maybe someone's; not mine. This sounds like Williams Lite, and I've seen one of those (Natalie Wood tried it on TV and failed to ignite, and to me, Ms. Judd is more wood than Wood.)

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 10/14/03 at 12:02pm

Auggie, did you see Judd's excellent film, "Ruby in Paradise?"

[Auggie27]

Posted: 10/14/03 at 12:05pm

Isn't it Margo Martindale? As Big Mama? She's terrific, isn't she? Authentically southern. (I was born in Atlanta, and I can't bear those stage-y faux southern accents.)

Anyone have a dream Maggie? I remember when Jessica Lange did STREECAR -- say what you will, as a casting idea, it just made sense. Is ther someone else of Ms. Judd's generation that could tackle Maggie? I'm blanking. Maybe someone not to traditionally glam.

[tpdc]

Posted: 10/14/03 at 12:07pm

Friends who saw the London production of CAT with Frances O'Connor, Brendan Fraser and Beatty said Beatty was the only good thing about it. I think the London reviews said the same. I hope the Williams Celebration production of CAT next summer is better than what I am hearing about this production. Isn't Margo Martindale Big Mama?

[Auggie27]

Posted: 10/14/03 at 12:21pm

No, I didn't see that Judd film. Thanks for reminding us. She must have some film credits (unknown to me) that justify this casting coup. I may have been unfair. Her fans will likely show up here and shout me down. I'm not one of those folks who's Hollywood Star-phobic. I guess I sometimes think: try these things out first at, say, Williamstown or Seattle Rep first. If anything, it's the economics of B'way that makes such revivals high stakes for everyone -- the star, and the paying public who has a right to their high expectations. Plus, we just don't get to see Williams enough. I selfishly want to see the best. We had reivals of MENAGERIE in the 80s with Julie Harris and Jessica Tandy. I'm just old fashioned enough to want that caliber in a CAT. Hey -- if not Nicole Kidman ... Laura Linney? Ms. Linney is ideal, perhaps. (A stage and movie star. But before someone tells me she won't sell tickets ... I have to say: Is Donna Murphy selling seats to WT? That DON'T cost 5 bucks?)

[Gothampc]

Posted: 10/14/03 at 5:59pm

Margo Martindale does a wonderful job of playing Southern women. I wish I could see this production, but I don't have $80 either.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 10/14/03 at 9:11pm

I saw the London production mentioned in 2001. Beatty did a fine job in my opinion. I must also add that Brendan and Frances were also extremely good.

The casting of this NYC version of that production did not induce me to buy tickets unfortunately, and I believe Williams' work is probably the highest in American drama after O'Neill.

That being said I would reccommend others to see this production and the reason is WILLIAMS. Any production of his work is far superior to most of what is offered these days on Broadway in the way of drama. One is not spending unwisely.

Yours for a better Broadway! Updated On: 10/14/03 at 09:11 PM

[magruder]

Posted: 10/14/03 at 9:12pm

I'll echo that. I even loved Clothes for a Summer Hotel.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 10/15/03 at 3:11pm

Magruder, i've always thought CLOTHES would make a great small chamber musical.

[magruder]

Posted: 10/15/03 at 3:24pm

Clothes for a Summer Hotel has had a history of bad luck, but I think it will come into its own someday. I think it's a haunting work, with some of his best late writing.

[jumpindan]

Posted: 10/15/03 at 4:36pm

Margo hails from Jacksonville Texas via Harvard. Extremely talented actress, highschool cheerleader and Home Coming Queen.
She was a star 35 years ago, and that star is still
climbing."Tony" will call her name one day. She is NOT the daughter of "Wink"...
I am proud and honored to be her friend.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 10/15/03 at 6:03pm

Bulldog, I beg to differ. Bad productions of Williams can turn people off to him for life. Better to read the poetry than have it mutilated and distorted.

Think of Rosie O'Donnell as Amanda.
Bette Midler as Blanche.
Malcolm Getz as Stanley.

I think you get my drift...

[Dollypop]

Posted: 10/15/03 at 9:14pm

I have such incredible memories of Elizabeth Ashley's Maggie that anyone else in the role would be a let-down. Still, I love Williams' prose and am planning to see this production.