Cicely Tyson's literal trip to "Bountiful"

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Cicely Tyson's literal trip to "Bountiful"

Posted: 4/15/13 at 11:22am

Nice piece/photo essay (though with a couple of factual errors) from the Times this weekend about Cicely Tyson' prep for "Trip to Bountiful." Also interesting in that they claim everyone has her age wrong. She's 88??
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Cicely Tyson's literal trip to

Posted: 4/15/13 at 3:43pm

Oh an actress who lies about her age -- how shocking!

Producer Fran Weissler's age varies from article to article, some say she is 82, others say she is 83 and a NY Times article shortly after CHICAGO opened in 1996 put her age at 72 -- and if the Times is the paper of record that means Fran will turn 89 this year.

Cicely Tyson's literal trip to

Posted: 4/16/13 at 3:20am

This is such a lovely story and Miss Cicely is a legend.

I'm glad she got to do this role since she has been wanting to get back on Broadway and do it for a long time.

I don't know what to say about the age thing but I believe she is 79 born in 1933 turning 80 this year - either way the fact she is leading a play on Broadway is very special.

Hesione Hushabye thinks it tastes like ashes.

Cicely Tyson's literal trip to

Posted: 4/16/13 at 3:33am

I adore Ms. Tyson but isn't she a little long in the tooth for Mrs. Watts? Lilian Gish was 61 when she created the role and Geraldine Page 60 when she won the Oscar for the film. The fact that her son and his wife are still of child bearing years is a plot point. Although she looks like a million bucks and a star can usually get past the age thing (Mary Martin could only play Maria at the age of 46 because she was Mary Martin). I wonder if Hallie Foote has approved a few tweaks to the script. Vanessa William's dialogue about her contemporary friend fretting about not being able to get pregnant and Vanessa's character not really caring if she gets pregnant or not might be a little awkward.

Cicely Tyson's literal trip to

Posted: 4/16/13 at 6:53am

Well, if Tyson is indeed 88, she looks incredible, and reads younger in this production. Not to mention that the actors playing Ludie and Jessie Mae are 45 and 50, respectively, far past the normal child-bearing age in the times the play is set. Also, Lois Smith was 75-76 when she gave her universally acclaimed performance as Carrie and I don't remember a word being said about her age.

"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe." -John Guare, Landscape of the Body

Cicely Tyson's literal trip to

Posted: 4/16/13 at 9:47am

I don't think Cicely Tyson is 88. I think the 79 age is likely the correct one. It doesn't really matter-she looks wonderful. That interview was really interesting-she's a sharp lady and a talented actress (I saw "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman" when I was five-and haven't looked back since). I can't wait to see her on stage in this.

Cicely Tyson's literal trip to

Posted: 4/16/13 at 10:52am

I'm one who believes that chronological age seldom matters in the theater. There are no "HD" stages that reveal the truth of an actor's age, and the combination of stage makeup, wigs, and lighting can make an actor look the part in either direction. (Funny how I seldom see issues regarding, "He/she is too YOUNG for the role...")

I'm also one who thinks that Geraldine Page's performance in the movie version is sacrosanct. I feel that way (although not as strongly) about Jessica Tandy in Driving Miss Daisy, too.

Still, the casting of an African-American actress as Carrie Watts seems like such a perfect idea. I don't know why it hasn't been considered before. I realize I'm stereotyping, but casting a black actress seems a perfect "fit" with Carrie Watts' character traits, and (for me) opens up a new perspective on seeing the character and the story, especially since it's set in the 40s.

I'm very interested to see what differences there might be in the storytelling between an elderly white woman, traveling alone, in the 1940s, and an elderly black woman in the same situation. I wonder what changes (even if they're subtle) might appear in the characters' interactions?

I wish that the producers had cast a white actress in the role of Thelma. How interesting would that bus ride be to see unfold (considering its scripted outcome)? Those scenes will be powerful with Condola Rashad as Thelma, too, but in a different (possibly more expected) way. Even if the roles were acted exactly the same as what I saw in the movie version, would I see something different in the two women's characters just by changing the race of one of the actors?

If this new production is received well, I'd be interested in the possibility of a movie re-make with Cicely Tyson.

Updated On: 4/16/13 at 10:52 AM

Cicely Tyson's literal trip to

Posted: 5/17/13 at 8:30am

I wouldn't be surprise to find out that she’s in her early 80’s, but 88 seems to be too extreme. There is no way this woman is pushing 90.

Cicely Tyson's literal trip to

Posted: 5/17/13 at 9:27am

She's amazing regardless of her age. She really made the role her own. (I have seen it and it was a very special performance, indeed.) What energy she puts into that role. She's really something onstage. (Her presence is most incredible. She dominates the stage.)

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