Enchanted April was enchanting
Enchanted April was enchanting
Enchanted April was enchanting#0
Posted: 5/25/03 at 5:17pm
Watching Enchanted April the story of four dissimilar woman in post-World War One England deciding to go on a holiday to a secluded villa in Italy, is the next best thing to a vacation. Since I am going to Italy in the fall, it was putting me in the mood. The play casts a warm, relaxed spell that bolsters sagging spirits. The scenery in the second act when they are at the villa was beautiful. I did not get to see Molly Ringwald as she was in absentia. I do not know if it was because she is pregnant. That was my only small disappointment. My favorites were Elizabeth Ashley as the pompous matron, Michael Cumpsty, The husband of Jayne Atkinson, who was hysterically funny in the "bath" scene, and Patricia Connolly as the Italian servant. It is worth seeing. I saw Charlotte Rae in the audience. Remember her from The Facts of Life? Little Andrew would have died. I chatted with her a little. I wanted to ask her how "Tootie" was, but she talked about the play. She looks exactly the same but very tiny in person and now a little frailer. Very sweet person. 
Who was Ringwald's understudy#2
Posted: 5/25/03 at 10:46pmThe lady that replaced Molly Ringwald was Isabel Keating. She said she stepped in for her three times.
re: Who was Ringwald's understudy#3
Posted: 5/29/03 at 10:20pmMaybe she was out because she is now pregnant.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
re: re: Who was Ringwald's understudy#4
Posted: 5/29/03 at 10:24pmThat's a fetching picture that you use for your loge. BL. What happened to the Mutt and Jeff shot you previously used?
re: re: re: Who was Ringwald's understudy#5
Posted: 5/30/03 at 7:39am
When they cropped it, you could not make out the faces. I would rather look like Marilyn anyway. I still have the Mutt and Jeff picture.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
Enjoyed the play#6
Posted: 6/5/03 at 10:24am
I saw ENCHANTED APRIL last night and really enjoyed it. The script is well-written and the cast is flawless. Didn't realize that Molly Ringwald had gotten so "busty" lately. Jayne Atkinson merely "glows" onstage and Elizabeth Ashley gives another marvelous performance. I also enjoyed Michael Cumpsty and Michael Hayden, as well as Patricia Connolly as the maid. I couldn't believe that this was the same Patricia Connolly who played Stella in the Rosemary Harris/James Farrentino STREETCAR many years ago at Lincoln Center (one of my cherished theatrical memories!)
My only cavil is the second act set. It's hideous! Had the set designer ever seen a Tuscan palazzo? What's onstage at the Belasco is incredibly garish. Besides, the flowers and plants all look like they've come out of a five-an-ten and the plants onstage are all blooming at the wrong time. Wisteria DOES indeed bloom in April, but orange trees are not bearing fruit yet at that time of the year. Petunias are not in full bloom in April, either--even in Tuscany!!!! Oh yeah, those little garden ornaments scattered about the stage can be found in the garden center at K-Mart. I kid you not!!!!!!
Joined: 12/31/69
re: Enjoyed the play#7
Posted: 6/5/03 at 11:02pm
Dollypop,
Glad you liked Enchanted April so did I. I went twice.
The reason Molly Ringwald is "so busty" is because she is 7 months pregnant.
I LIKED THE VIEW OF MICHAEL CUMPSY.
BOOM!
I was most impressed with Ms Atkinson who was wonderful in the role. Elizabeth Ashley was also very refreshing she kind of reminded me of your past personality. LOL!
Maybe since Enchanted April you were also Enchanted and are acting like a peach. Care for some nuts?
Enchanted April is marvelous.
Costanza was fantastic as the maid. She worked very well with the entire cast and she stood out.
The whole cast were wonderful together.
La Dolche Vita.
Updated On: 6/5/03 at 11:02 PM
re: re: Enjoyed the play#8
Posted: 6/6/03 at 2:12pmI loved how the villa was decorated. But to each his own. All in all, it was a great play and not to be missed.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
re: re: re: Enjoyed the play#9
Posted: 6/6/03 at 5:16pm
Ah, I must emphatically state that ENCHANTED SPRIL is a GOOD play and an ENJOYABLE play, but it is not "great". A great play is STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, or WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?, or AMADEUS--where drama meshes with profound thought. Everytime I read or see STREETCAR, I am struck anew by Williams' symbolism and poetic language. That cannot be said for ENCHANTED APRIL.
I don't want to denigrate the play, but it cannot be put into the category of "greatness". TAKE ME OUT is far more profound. It has layers upon layers of meaning and the whole analogy of baseball and life in itself is intriguing.
I might see ENCHANTED APRIL again to enjoy the acting, but I will see TAKE ME OUT AGAIN to gain insight into the complex text.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
To Corine#10
Posted: 6/6/03 at 6:34pm
The only nuts I like to nibble on are not the ones you can offer.
Thanks anyway.
Featured Actor Joined: 5/11/03
re: re: re: re: Enjoyed the play#11
Posted: 6/6/03 at 7:19pm
I agree with Dollypop. It was enjoyable but by no means was it amazing or revolutionary.
KB
Stand-by Joined: 5/21/03
re: re: re: re: re: Enjoyed the play#12
Posted: 6/6/03 at 10:09pmI think Enchanted April sounds like a splendid time, and I think if Broadwaylady thinks it's a great play, then thats fabulous. I'm sure many of us think shows are great that others may not, but I wouldn't enjoy someone telling me my opinion was wrong.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
re: re: re: re: re: re: Enjoyed the play#13
Posted: 6/6/03 at 10:38pm
So much for your two cents. Now, let's get on with our discussion of what makes a play "great" rather than "good"...
Thank you very much!
Joined: 12/31/69
Stand-by Joined: 5/21/03
re: To Dollypop#15
Posted: 6/7/03 at 10:38am
What is that supposed to mean Dollypop? Some peoples "two-cents" matter more than others? I was just defending broadwayladys opinion, I wasn't trying to be rude.
THANK YOU very much!
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
re: re: To Dollypop#16
Posted: 6/7/03 at 3:24pm...and I was just clarifying her use of adjectives. I wasn't putting her down in any way. BroadwayLady and I have known each other for quite some time now. As an English teacher I appreciate the precise use of language. I'm sure you'll find that "amazing".
Understudy Joined: 5/26/03
re: re: re: To Dollypop#17
Posted: 6/7/03 at 6:30pm
Enchanted April was very entertaining.
Costanza was hysterical. Jayne Atkinson was incredibly animated and was very wonderful in her role.
Denis O'Hare- In Take Me Out was outstanding as Mason both are passionate portrayals of unhappy, unsatisfied lonely people who are longing for joy and companionship.
Both find it in the end. YAY!
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
To Dame Edna#18
Posted: 6/7/03 at 8:20pmEvery time I read one of your postings, I realize that a glib tongue is a genuine blessing!
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