Cherry Jones Out of Menagerie

Heard from a few friends that Cherry Jones was out sick over the weekend—I'm assuming for the first time in the run. Did anyone catch her poor understudy? My friend said she was absolutely brilliant, so I'm curious to hear some other opinions. What big shoes to fill!

Her "poor" understudy? what does that even mean? Especially since the very next sentence you said someone called her brilliant.

Cherry Jones isn't exactly a household name, which is going to get a stampeding to the box office in her absence.

---

I have a lot more sympathy for understudies who never get to go on. Congratulations to her for earning such an impressive Broadway credit.

I see your point, but we should all be so "poor".

I saw the show Friday night, and Karen MacDonald appeared as Amanda. I didn't arrive at the theater until 8:01, and was in such a state of panic over being late that I missed the notice in the lobby, and although I registered the line of people stretching from the ticket window out into 45th street, I was in too much of a hurry to think that it meant something.

It was only when the usher laughingly told me to "calm down--they're giving her a few minutes to get ready" and I saw a sparsely-seated crowd mingling and chatting several minutes after 8 that I understood something was up. Contrary to what someone posted here earlier, the usher--whom I assume has some first-hand knowledge?--told me that it was Ms. MacDonald's first time going on.

Broadway tickets are not inexpensive and--having been promised a "definitive" performance by an extraordinarily talented actor--I can understand why people might opt to get their money back. Those of us who stayed, however, were rewarded for our forbearance with a performance that was subtle, powerful, nuanced and deeply moving. Ms. MacDonald was sure in her lines and movements and her performance was absolutely on par with the rest of the (extraordinary) cast. I am an old 'Glass Menagerie' hand, and I found emotional clarity and complexity in this production that was new to me. Ms. MacDonald gave us an Amanda whose monstrosity made Tom's decision to leave inevitable and something you root for, but her fragility and desperation made it clear that it was a decision that would haunt him for the rest of his life.

The audience gave Ms. MacDonald--and no-one else--a brief but energetic round of applause when she appeared on stage for the first time. At the curtain, she was given a sustained and heartfelt ovation. Zach Quinto handed her a good-sized bouquet, and she was embraced and kissed warmly by the other performers. While she seemed supremely confident throughout her performance, she looked absolutely drained and stunned during the curtain call. It was a warm and exciting theater Moment and I am sincerely glad to have been there for it.

---

Updated On: 2/10/14 at 09:37 AM

Ohhhhhh, Karen MacDonald. She's an ART stalwart and goes back to pre-Cherry Jones days there. I've seen her play everything, everywhere. Mary Tyrone, Coriolanus's mother, one of the lesbians in 8, the title character in Ryan Landry's Fritz Lang's M, various characters in Cupcake: The Musical, you name it, she's done it. And well.

---

Namo--Kudos to you for paying attention when you go to the theater.

I have to confess that I had seen many of the roles in her 'Playbill' bio, but could not conjure up a face to go with the name.

I'm sorry that--unlike in Eve Harrington's day--there aren't dozens of daily papers with theater critics she could give a head's up to come see her perform.

---

Sounds like it was full of "fire and music." Some people were probably disappointed, but it's always great to read about a spectacular performance that was totally unexpected.

It's flu season. Unfortunately actors sometimes get sick.

I hope Ms. Jones gets back soon. This could ruin her Tony chances-which seemed unstoppable until now.


I highly doubt that missing one weekend of performances a week before the end of the run, after having perfect attendance for nearly six months, will have any effect of Ms Jones's award prospects.

---

And if Cherry Jones does not win a Tony because she was out sick in February, this affects your life how?

---

I don't know much about the process, but I would think that Cherry Jones has enough respect that her performance can be judged on the quality alone and not how many performances she missed due to illness. I saw in an interview of hers that she never missed a performance of "The Heiress" which ran for about a year...(I think?) so I doubt she has a reputation for missing. She always strikes me as very professional and mindful of her art. And I agree, her performance in Glass was breathtaking.

Does anyone know if Cherry will still be out tonight? I have tickets and wondering if I should figure out how to change them to when I can see Ms. Jones.

Cherry Jones has been back in the show as of Tuesday night.

---