GREY GARDENS LONDON- Page 2

[ahmelie]

Posted: 8/22/07 at 10:53pm

I don't believe London will fare any better than it did in NY. Though the show and it's style are very "London", the story and context could only be appreciated by an American. The Kennedys were American royalty. That won't translate in London.

[AnnaK<3LMIP]

Posted: 8/22/07 at 10:56pm

But maybe it doesn't need to. Maybe they can enjoy the show without having to appreciate the Kennedys the way an American would.

[zooxanthellae]

Posted: 8/22/07 at 10:58pm

It's ashame it won't go over to London! I agree with AnnaK<3LMIP that the public of London would appreciate the artistic end of the show, however it maybe harder for them to understand some of the context.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 8/22/07 at 11:02pm

They really should have used this (authentic) pull-quote to death:

"Watching this performance is the best argument I can think of for the survival of the American musical." ...Ben Brantley, New York Times (November 3, 2006)

[Johnnytoc]

Posted: 8/22/07 at 11:05pm

I was in the city today to see a show ad a bus went by with the GG ad on it.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 8/22/07 at 11:10pm

Also, GREY GARDENS isn't about the Kennedys nor Jackie Onassis, which upset quite the many audience members who thought the show was about them. I know a few people who are among these clueless ones.

GREY GARDENS is strictly about Big and Little Edie. Nothing more; nothing less. IF you were fortunate enough to see the documentary, then their story became even more interesting. If you never did, the show is simply about the relationship of a mother and daughter. That's it. It has NOTHING to do with the history of the Kennedys nor the life of Jackie O.

The fact that the GREY GARDENS documentary is pretty much just known thru the gay community and a few selected 'art world' aficionados speaks for itself as the show had a limited demographic. The rest was simply composed of theatre followers who went due to the word-of-mouth. My mom was interested in the show since she remembered the news/media coverage of the Beales during the early 70's and of course the documentary. I'm sure a short selected few were like her.

[Nick Plasia]

Posted: 8/22/07 at 11:30pm

The show will be performed in London, across the U.S.
and around the world. The Bway producers are no longer
involved and word is that many other theatres & presenters
are angling to snare it.

[broadwaybelter]

Posted: 8/23/07 at 1:30am

I really hope so. I need to see this show.

[Bubba2]

Posted: 8/23/07 at 11:44am

This just did not do the trick.....

Updated On: 8/23/07 at 11:44 AM

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 8/23/07 at 12:29pm

"It has NOTHING to do with the history of the Kennedys nor the life of Jackie O. "

Despite the fact that Joe Kennedy, Jackie O, and Lee Radizwell are characters in the musical. And despite that they are mentioned a bit in the second act. You are right. It has NOTHING to do with them.

DID you see this show?

But regardless, your source gave you faulty info. And my sources are SOOOOOO much better and more reliable.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/23/07 at 12:53pm

"Also, GREY GARDENS isn't about the Kennedys nor Jackie Onassis, which upset quite the many audience members who thought the show was about them. I know a few people who are among these clueless ones.

GREY GARDENS is strictly about Big and Little Edie. Nothing more; nothing less. IF you were fortunate enough to see the documentary, then their story became even more interesting. If you never did, the show is simply about the relationship of a mother and daughter. That's it. It has NOTHING to do with the history of the Kennedys nor the life of Jackie O.

The fact that the GREY GARDENS documentary is pretty much just known thru the gay community and a few selected 'art world' aficionados speaks for itself as the show had a limited demographic. The rest was simply composed of theatre followers who went due to the word-of-mouth. My mom was interested in the show since she remembered the news/media coverage of the Beales during the early 70's and of course the documentary. I'm sure a short selected few were like her."


I agree with BrodyFosse, here. And I don't need a "reliable source" to tell me what any show's about, either. I saw it with my own eyes, and loved it dearly.

But it's not about the Kennedys, in the sense that you're going to see a biographical piece about Jackie O. She's in it as a supporting and peripheral character to the main goings-on. And I know (average) audience members who were disappointed in that, as well. It has to do with preconception.

Audiences today like to know what they're going to see before they see it. Particularly when the story has "real people" in it. Pretty pathetic actually, but true. There's too much money at stake to buy a ticket to a Broadway show, without an "escrow" pre-approval first. And if the average folks sit in their seats and don't get exactly what they expected, they're not thrilled, even if it's a good show.

They would have done better to make it fictional, because then there would be very little preconception going in (other than "I heard it was good").

I don't think it's a "New York thing" either. I had never seen the documentary before I heard about the musical. None of my friends (some in NY and some not) knew anything about it either. The ones (like me) who saw the doc first, got more out of the musical. The ones who didn't thought it was good, fascinating... and sadly forgettable.

Unfortunately, as much as we would like to think the musical stands on its own two legs without knowing the doc, it doesn't. If people aren't fully aware of the lines, scenes and situations from Act II (the doc), then the set-up of Act I becomes tedious and ordinary... instead of a fascinating, compelling prelude to the older Edies, with glimpses of what they will become. It's a wonderful study of human nature and life... but most bystanders who didn't do their homework aren't going to be as impacted by it.

I'm very glad and grateful that I was one of the ones deeply impacted by it.

Updated On: 8/23/07 at 12:53 PM

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 8/23/07 at 12:57pm

I was referring to the notion that the piece has NOTHING to do with these people when clearly it has SOMETHING.

And the sources part was referring to his sources on GG making it to London.

[MyGreyGardens]

Posted: 8/23/07 at 3:11pm

I have to agree that if one has seen the original documentary, the musical is much more meaningful. When I first heard that they were doing this, I thought "what a bad idea ! " The script and the music, however were unreal, but they did stretch the truth a bit, and maybe could have done a bit more of the same for "artistic sake". I have no idea what direction the movie will go. Al Maysles, the film maker said to me "I just hope they get it right"
MyGreyGardens

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 8/23/07 at 3:21pm

When I heard they were making a musical of it, I thought, "What a great idea!" With Big Edie whole singing and what not, I thought it was a great idea.

[whiskersknows]

Posted: 8/23/07 at 3:52pm

I think we know the same source uncageg.

My acquaintance had dinner with a key cast member for another project at about that time and was told that the London story was a NY Post plant, on the same order as the Reidel slam on the Gondas.

It was all PR.



Updated On: 8/23/07 at 03:52 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 8/23/07 at 3:58pm

jrb..was that "sources" comment directed toward me?

[artscallion]

Posted: 8/23/07 at 3:58pm

Are you saying the slam on the Gondas was PR? because Christine has since elaborated on this in a radio interview. (a link was posted here last week if you search) She was very clear and went on at length blaming the closing on the inexperience of the producers.

[whiskersknows]

Posted: 8/23/07 at 4:14pm

No, I was saying that the story about London being an actual planned event and the leaks to Reidel were both coordinated PR. Maybe unrelated, maybe not. I think Reidel's story was basically true, although some of the details were a stretch. But I also think that going to London is Christine's wish, just like coming to Bway was mainly her wish. She got Bway done by her own will and influence, mostly. The London planted story was an opening shot in another strategy that ultimately may have been derailed by the airing of the Gonda unpleasantness.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 8/23/07 at 5:05pm

no, uncag--none of my comments are aimed at you.

london is a real possibility. it's not merely wishful thinking or a PR plant. is it possible it doesn't happen--of course.

[Studmuffn520]

Posted: 8/23/07 at 5:41pm

i really hope the tour happens. its my only chance to see the show.

[americanboy99]

Posted: 8/25/07 at 6:04pm

On the website, it says "OPENING NEXT SEASON IN LONDON".

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 8/25/07 at 6:06pm

So? That doesn't mean anything. When a cast is announced, and a theatre is announced, then I'll believe it.

[americanboy99]

Posted: 8/25/07 at 6:12pm

I was just letting everyone know.

And I would call that a pretty substantial piece of evidence... reason for hope.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 8/25/07 at 6:20pm

No, they can post anything on their website, but that doesn't mean it's a good piece of evidence it's going to happen.

[americanboy99]

Posted: 8/25/07 at 6:29pm

Well, I would say it is the best evidence we've got at this point.