GREY GARDENS - First Preview- Page 2

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 10/4/06 at 3:05am

Yes, Ms. Ebersole signed. Yes, there is a lot of fun merchandise to be bought if you like.

[mirandajrs]

Posted: 10/4/06 at 3:07am

Thanks :)

[fengshuihellnyc]

Posted: 10/4/06 at 5:42am

But were there window cards???? LOL

[Unknown User]

Posted: 10/4/06 at 6:55am

i am sad to hear about the new prologue...i thought the transformation from Old BE to Young BE with the song TOYLAND & the drawing room of GREY GARDENS opening up to the audience was one of the most magical & brilliant things i'd ever seen....& i think it would dampen the thrill of revealing documentary-era LE @ the top of ACT II.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 10/4/06 at 8:27am

As much as I was sorry to lose the sparkling "Toyland/Five-Fifteen/Body Beautiful Beale" segment (much of the meat of it is still there, though diced up and given to other cast members during Act 1, though I miss Goulds' acrid musical commentary during it), the instinct to open with Christine as Little Edie is a good one, and serves to introduce the story to GREY GARDENS newbies, as is the gorgeous waltz "The Girl Who Had Everything". Of the other songs... I was not all that crazy about "Better Fall Out Of Love", but "Goin' Places" sounds like a temporary song used to hold the spot for a better replacement. But "Marrying Well" is a far better number than "Being Bouvier" and it also emcompasses snatches of the cut "Tomorrows Woman".

I also really liked Erin Davie. At times she seemed a bit tentative here and there, but it WAS her first performance and I'm sure she'll settle in just fine. She totally got the Little Edies unbalanced quality and RAGE at her mother, that made the scenes with Christine late in Act 1 especially powerful - it seemed right out of MILDRED PIERCE.

I thought Christine's version of "Will You" was especially magical tonight and "Another Winter In A Summer Town" was shattering. Christines face was wet with tears and she seemed totally empotionally spent for the rest of the act.

Act 2 is essentially unchanged except for the finale which I think is a great improvement. Yes, though I love the "Peas In a Pod" reprise too...but on another level it was too cheerfully Vo-De-Oh upbeat coming right after the wrenching "Another Winter in a Summer Town". The "Girl Who Had Everything" reprise and last 'shot' of Christine staring out of the screen window with an expression of utter defeat and desolation, is a far tougher and more affecting way to conclude GREY GARDENS.

But THIS IS ONLY THE FIRST PREVIEW. More changes are coming. I spoke to someone connected with the show during intermission who told me that "We are going to trying out lots of things. That's what previews are for."

Updated On: 10/4/06 at 08:27 AM

[Smartful Dodger]

Posted: 10/4/06 at 8:29am

Yes, the house was full. It's the Kerr, so it's wicked small. If Cherry Jones can fill it for a year, Ebersole might be able to give 'em two.

In Act I, the prologue is way, WAY more explanatory than it was OB (at least as recorded on the cast recording). Michael Greif is fundamentally incapable of directing a show where there is a "gimmick" that ties two acts together. He failed to help audiences map the characters and provide exposition in RENT (the "relationship maps" didn't appear in the original Playbills but started showing up at the start of the Angel Tour); so, now, he overcompensates here.

BTW, the first song with Little Edie, Lee, and Jackie is wretched -- perhaps the most cloying, annoying, and shrill thing I've seen on stage ever. It's not on the OB cast recording but precedes "The Five-Fifteen." Two words -- CUT IT!

[luvtheatre11]

Posted: 10/4/06 at 8:37am

I am seeing this on Nov. 11th and am looking forward to it. I have the OB recording. I am sorry they cut Better Fall Out of Love, but hopefully the new stuff is better!

[gustof777]

Posted: 10/4/06 at 10:33am

Ok I searched I swear and I know this question gets asked all the time but does anyone know if there is Rush?

[folkyboy]

Posted: 10/4/06 at 10:35am

it's so fun for me to read about all the stuff cut/added as i have the off-broadway recording but refuse to allow myself to listen to it as i want it to be a whole new experience when i go into the theatre on October 21st :)

i love the movie so so much that it's going to be surreal to see my girls on stage talking about how Jerry likes her corn.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 10/4/06 at 1:05pm

I believe that there are window cards at the theatre. I could be mistaken on that.

[Phantom2]

Posted: 10/4/06 at 5:04pm

How's Mr. Cavenaugh?

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 10/4/06 at 5:06pm

Having recently watched the documentary, I am very intrigued by this show. I hope to get to NYC in the spring to see it.

[Broadwaylady]

Posted: 10/4/06 at 6:00pm

I am seeing it on the 6th of October. I am sure it will be great!!!!!!!!

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 10/4/06 at 6:27pm

im seeing this the last day of the year, December 31st
very excited to end my year with this :)
i am glad to hear it is amazing! i CANNOT WAIT to see this!

what other merchandise do they have as of now?

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 10/4/06 at 7:09pm

Matt is fine, if a bit underutilzed. Joe is kind of a thankless role, though he makes more of an impression as Jerry.

They have especially well-designed T-shirts and canvas beach bags.

[logan0215]

Posted: 10/4/06 at 7:18pm

------------------------------------------------------
quote: Christine Ebersole belongs on Mount Rushmore...or something.
------------------------------------------------------

Didn't that happen in Richie Rich already...

[Joshua488]

Posted: 10/4/06 at 7:21pm

I am so excited! I am seeing the show on Tuesday.

[sally1112]

Posted: 10/4/06 at 7:25pm

I'm confussed.

Is 5:15 in the new show or not?

I love that number.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 10/4/06 at 7:26pm

5:15 is there, but its not in the exact place or form it was Off-Broadway.

[sally1112]

Posted: 10/4/06 at 7:37pm

AHHH!

Thank you, I would have been devastated to discover it missing the night of the show.

I am still planing a trip to NYC just to see this show.

Glas everyone's reviews are positive!

[uncageg]

Posted: 10/4/06 at 7:39pm

Nice that Matt has made it back to Broadway. I saw, and enjoyed, him in "Dorian" here in Denver. Saw it 3 times.

Updated On: 10/4/06 at 07:39 PM

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 10/4/06 at 7:47pm

"Didn't that happen in Richie Rich already... "

I thought the same thing. Especially because the movie was on TV this afternoon.

[clintonct]

Posted: 10/4/06 at 10:59pm

Yes, Christine came out and signed and then went back into the theatre.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 10/4/06 at 11:17pm

Christine Ebersole is depicted on Mount Rushmore in Richie Rich?

I have never seen the movie and didn't even know she was in it (or anyone else for that matter.)

That's quite a coincidence. Okay, let me change my remark.

She should be canonized.

My point: she is remarkable.

Updated On: 10/5/06 at 11:17 PM

[Just_John]

Posted: 10/4/06 at 11:45pm

ON Monday the guy at the box office told me there was definately student rush but they were still deciding on the details and to check back the next day (yesterday), which I didn't do.