Christine Ebersole Grey Gardens 5/12

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 12:30am

So I saw Grey Gardens' matinee today and to say that Christine is exahusted is an understatement. Unfortunatly she really held back her her dialogue and singing in the first act. The second act was a little better and she really let loose for "Around the World" and "Another Winter...". The wear and tear of this role is very visibly taking a tole on Ms. Ebersole and I wish she could have taken a long weekend break before the Tony nominations come out. As a side note, she was beyond gracious at the stage door and spoke, signed and took pictures with the crowd waiting for her.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 12:37am

Wow. I guess I'm glad I opted for Vanessa Redgrave tonight. I loved GG when I saw it in December, and she seemed to be fighting a cold or something then but was still awesome. I've wanted to go back and see it when she's well...sounds like this isn't the time though. Sad.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 12:39am

As much as she may need a rest (even if it would logically prevent future absences,) the buzz is that Ebersole's been told she is not to be out until after the Tony's unless it's an absolutely dire circumstance.

The producers don't want anything jeopardizing her win, particularly voters coming to see the show without her in it.

Unfortunately for her, if she does end up winning (as all signs seem to indicate) there will be even more pressure on her to not miss as audiences will be coming to see "the Tony winner" (though the word of mouth on her at this point holds just as much weight.)

Updated On: 5/13/07 at 12:39 AM

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 12:40am

I hope she gets some much needed rest. I can imagine that role must be really exhausting to perform eight nights a week. I hope she feels better.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 12:41am

Well this thread wasn't ment to deter anyone from seeing it. She's still giving a hell of a performance. I don't know if she's sick but she's tired.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 12:42am

When I saw it, she just looked bored.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 12:43am

That sounds rather odd that the producers don't want her to miss a show until the Tonys. Honestly, wouldn't they want the voters to see a well-rested Christine in the part, than someone who is worn out to exhaustion?

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 12:45am

Well, in reality the producers don't want the voters seeing anyone else but Christine in the role that she would be nominated for. The producers can't mandate when tony voters see the show so its no telling when one will be in the audience on *just* the day Christine takes a break.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 12:46am

That would be the logical thing wonderfulwizard, but they seem to think differently.

I was pretty surprised upon hearing it too but they are just trying to protect their investement at all costs (though they are really risking further absences by pressuring her to stay in.)

I believe the story even leaked out into the Post a few weeks back, which also surprised me as they'd tried to keep it quiet around the theater.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 12:46am

That's true. But, I mean, do they think every voter will be there on the same night and miss her? I think they could spare her for one day. Maybe the day of the nominations, perhaps?

[Princeton78]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 12:47am

I don't think it sounds odd at all.
GG is doing lousy business at the Box Office. When I attended the show 3 weeks ago, at a Saturday matinee no less, and the orchestra was only 70% full, the mezz had about 30 people in it and the balcony was empty.
Ebersole winning the Tony may be the only chance that GG has to survive past June. And on top of this, Audra McDonald is giving a spellbinding, brilliant performance in 110 in the Shade that can, and I belive will give Christine a good run for her money at the Tonys. I'm not sure if she has to listen to them, but I don't blame the producers for asking her to not miss shows between now and the Tonys. The producers can't afford for her to be out.

Updated On: 5/13/07 at 12:47 AM

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 12:48am

I don't think her being out the day she is nominated would look too good. If anything I would assume they'd have been the most comfortable with her being out right before the nominations are announced, but obviously that did not come to pass.

Updated On: 5/13/07 at 12:48 AM

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 12:50am

But, Princton, with people such as McDonald and Murphy, don't you think they would want her to be fresh and relaxed, instead of exhausted?

And somethingwicked, that makes sense. Maybe they could give her tomorrow off in addition to Monday which she already has off.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 12:52am

Well, all I'll say is that I personally (and i'm not bashing here), preferred McDonald. Perhaps the GG people should have waited until later in the season to open. Two crackerjack ladies (Audra and Donna) are fresh in their shows with fresh raves in their pockets. I've always said to NEVER lay all your money on a Tony race with Audra in it.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 12:56am

I don't think it would've been wise for them to open this late. They needed a theatre, and ti's very unlikley the Jujamcyn people would keep the theatre dark for such a long time until GG came in. LoveMusik and 110 didn't have this problem, as they are being produced by not-for-profit theatre companies that already posess theatres they can use.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 12:58am

Grey Gardens opened at the perfect time and why its struggling at the box office is as much of a question as why Company is also. Unfortunatly, today I would estimate that the balcony was completly empty and the center mezz was full with the left and right being empty. The orchestra was full though. I don't know. Personally, i dislike the new advertizement strategy and the only thing that can save this show in my opinion are Tony awards for Christine and maybe the show itself.

[Miss.Vanessi]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 12:58am

Glad you got to see the show!
On another note, going by what I see every other week on this board, one would think Christine was, I don't know, near death or something. Of course, I had someone in the Schubert Alley gift shop tell me she had mono, but she seemed perfectly alright to me. Perhaps I just have a distorted vision of her, but I honestly don't think Christine is as sickly as this board makes her out to be. For all we know, she's got allergies. She's said that the role is very taxing, and I'm not trying to dispute that fact, but I really think she needs more props for continually going on and doing one hell of a job rather than speculations about her health.
And, if she is that sick, my bad. Just add it up to me being a person who walks around with her foot dangling out of her mouth. Either way, I hope the best for her.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 12:59am

I understand the race for theatres and that's always a shame. I'm simply saying that the only thing universally praised about GG is Christine and she's now got some serious competition, in my opinion.

Updated On: 5/13/07 at 12:59 AM

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 1:02am

Though honestly, as much as I love the show (and Christine) I don't know how much her winning would help. If they publiczed the hell out of it, maybe. But whatever nominations they get on Tuesday they really have to make the most out of them. I think they show could probably maintain a run through July, and from th, I don't know.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 1:04am

The thing that may hurt Ebersole is that, for some voters, the nostalgia of her performance may very well have worn off. While she is terrific and delivering work for the ages, she's also been playing this role (to wide notice and acclaim) for what.. the last two years (including Off-Broadway)?

McDonald and Murphy are beloved stars getting rave reviews in shows that are newly opened and fresh to the voters. This could prove a formidable obstacle for Ebersole to overcome (particularly the threatening opposition of McDonald.)

People point to the gushing reviews as proof of Ebersole's victory, but let us remember that most of the critics who wrote such glowing notices won't be voting when the time comes to cast the Tony ballots (not to mention the fact that, to me, Audra's notices were almost equally as praising.)

For me, I'd give the Tony to McDonald. She, as Brantley put it, is an overwhelming presence in an underwhelming (though admirable executed) piece. She is giving a profound performance on par with Ebersole and Murphy using material that isn't giving her near as much to work with.

Keep in mind that Edie and Lotte Lenya were real people. That alone gives the actresses playing them tons to work with, where as Audra is discovering a fictional character from scratch (though I don't mean to discredit Christine and Donna's work by saying that.) It just, for me, proves McDonald's talent all the more.

It's all going to come down to endurance. If the voters aren't tired and over Ebersole, then she is in just as good standing as she has always been, but if what sticks in their mind most is what they've seen most recently-- McDonald may just trump her.

Updated On: 5/13/07 at 01:04 AM

Posted: 5/13/07 at 1:44am

I saw the Saturday evening show and Christine knocked my socks off...perhaps she rebounded.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 3:56am

What is the new advertising strategy?


Keep in mind that Edie and Lotte Lenya were real people. That alone gives the actresses playing them tons to work with, where as Audra is discovering a fictional character from scratch (though I don't mean to discredit Christine and Donna's work by saying that.)

I think that it would be WAY harder to play a real person than a fictional character. Updated On: 5/13/07 at 03:56 AM

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 4:22am

The new advertising strategy is to use ads that look like tabloids. You can get the feel of it on the website.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 9:52am

bump

[Nick Plasia]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 10:42am

I saw the show on Friday and she has never sounded better.

There is no possible way Audra or Donna will win; sorry, Princeton,
time to hang out the black bunting.