Cate Blanchett as Hedda

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 8:36am

I'm seeing this on Tuesday, but the reviews are all over the place. Some think she is the best Hedda of all time, some believe she is too mannered, and some think she was okay, but not great.

For those of you who have seen it, how does she rank amongst the best of the Heddas?

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 8:52am

I'd put Hedda Lettuce on top.

But I suppose this does give a reason to take a field trip to (gasp) Brooklyn. Anyone know how to get there? (scratches head)

[wexy]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 8:58am

Very easy. They even run a bus for terrified Manhattanites
All trains go to Atlantic/Pacific
Here's the BAM site

http://www.bam.org

[Garland Grrrl]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 9:12am

i have posted my comments already on BWW --Hedda at BAM: Lean and Very Mean

the chief fault i see with brantly's comments and his commentary style in general is that he will tell you in colorful terms what cate blanchett did using all sorts of similes, etc but he won't tell you the implications for these actions within the production. the way she behaves changes the play -- it's called interpretation or direction.
as much of a bastard as he is, i'm interested in reading john simon's review. is it the best Hedda of all time? hers is certainly a great Hedda that works well in terms of this director's vision of this particular --rather liberal-- adaptation. she is thrilling to watch.

Updated On: 3/3/06 at 09:12 AM

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 9:17am

Does it feel like she is using a lot of different acting styles, or does it seem like a woman who has multiple personalities, or is it all the same woman who is trying different ways to "muddle though"?

[Garland Grrrl]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 9:33am

look at the play -- the time and the place...there is a private face that people wear and a public one. decorum, manners, gossip and public opinion are very important. hedda has gone past the point where she can cope with polite conversation and it shows in the opening scene. she does seem a little "nuts" but she has lost her public face, her ability to put up with her confinement. it is not a pleasant thing to witness -- but within this production it makes perfect sense. her more thoughtful, internal moments are of a different character -- i believe this is what brantley refers to when he talks about her being downstage and using her deep, resonant tones. this is a play about manners, control, public and private faces and i think her portrayal is in keeping with that. she goes all out and it may bother some people -- but it's chilling. on the thread with my review i've commented on the ny post review and i don't want to duplicate that here...