Grey Gardens... a SPOILER's review!- Page 2

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 6:23pm

Jerby, I'm sure you're right. The momentum is picking up quite a bit now... and I think there are enough people starving for emotional "magic" just as much as SFX "magic." I don't believe that Mr. & Mrs. Midwest are flying into NYC blind and plopping down $114 (or whatever) per ticket to see a Broadway show anymore. It's too big of an investment for them. I think they are relying strongly on word-of-mouth from people they trust... also relying on awards... flashy ads... and (some) critics... if they read enough to trust any of them. But I remember when I lived in Kansas, we all knew who was taking trips to NYC to see theatre... and we would call each other in advance of our trips and ask advice on what to see. Word-of-mouth is VERY powerful. Just look at the sales for Drowsy Chaperone.

* * * *

"I do have a question, what did you think of Matt Cavenaugh and Erin Davie's performances???"

FoscasBohemianDream---They were both VERY strong performances. Erin has a beautiful voice that she uses to "hint" at Edie's shrillness, and at the same time "shimmer" in her youth and beauty. And toward the end of Act I, when her "demons and torments" come out... that's when she truly shines as an actress. Her final scenes in Act I are tremendous.

Matt is equally terrific. As the slick, handsome suitor Joe Kennedy Jr. in Act I, he is sweet, charming, funny... and ultimately you HATE him for not loving Edie exactly for who she was. His political and social future meant too much for him, and I found myself resenting him deeply for it. But (as they say) that's politics. At the same time, I was sad for him... knowing that Joe Jr. dies only three short years later in World War II. He sacrifices his love for Edie Beale... for his political gain... which he never achieves due to his untimely death.

In Act II, Matt is vastly different as the congenial slacker Jerry. His voice and physicality were in stark contrast to the dashing young Kennedy in Act I. Jerry was a simple soul, operating on a fascinating level of understanding with the Beale women.

Honestly, I could see them both landing "featured" Tony nominations... but Erin will (if nominated) likely go head-to-head with Wilson... and Wilson would definitely win, hands down. I haven't mentioned yet how brilliant her performance was... but her Edith Bouvier Beale in Act II is dead-on and just as memorable as Ebersole's leading performance.

John McMartin is also extremely good, but his role is small in Act I (where he has one incredibly powerful award-worthy scene with Ebersole) and an even smaller role in Act II, where he is relegated to "featured" player. I don't think it's a big enough part to win awards... but he's terrific nonetheless.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 6:44pm

Jerby: Do you think Grey Gardens will be playing to 50% houses in January and February?

[fflagg]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 6:48pm

It would also help to have the songs exposed to mainstram America. Barbra Streisand was in town during previews; someone should have grabbed her by the butt, tied her to the chair, and screamed 'record ANOTHER WINTER IN A SUMMER TOWN immediately'.

Alas, it prob won't happen.

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 6:59pm

I'm not sure the songs will help its success. I'm not implying that they aren't any good... but I would almost take the "movie trailer approach to promoting a musical." You barely knew that Dreamgirls, Chicago, Rent and Phantom were musicals by watching their movie promos and ads. I would do the same with Grey Gardens on Broadway. Sell the story... sell these women as people... show some documentary footage... newspaper headlines... then show Ebersole and Wilson on stage together... and play "Another Winter" in the background... and don't show them singing, except perhaps briefly.

I think that's how you'll get the people to come who base their decisions on effective ad campaigns (which some definitely do). The same fascination with these two ladies will lead people into the theatre... just as it has with the documentary for over 30 years now.

And they should run these promos outside of NY. They should run them on national TV... and in the movie theatres... especially the art houses.

Updated On: 11/13/06 at 06:59 PM

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 7:03pm

I hope this show have a good marketing strategy in place (already love the free buttons idea). This show is great and deserves to last.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 7:11pm

I think the show will sell well above 50%. In fact, I think it will continue to sell very well. But I know that no matter how the sales are, the producers will not close this show before the Tonys.

[All_For_Laura]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 7:13pm

I have already seen it twice, and I plan on seeing it a few more times and it better not close any time soon.

[dirty rotten guy]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 9:53pm

I saw the show on Broadway for the first time Thursday after seeing it twice off-Broadway. I have to say I LOVE this show.

As for the changes, I liked the original opening better but I understand why it was adjusted because it does make for a stronger end. The song changes were alright, although I dont think the new ones really left an impression on me.

As for Erin Davie, I must say I was a bit dissapointed. I had loved Sara off-Broadway and Davie just didnt match up for me. I think Sara had more of the staunchness of Little Edie, where as Davie is much more smiles and happy. During "Mother, Darling", Sara would actually shout at Edith and was visably upset. Davie on the other hand almost showed no sign of conflict. It's not that I disliked her though, I just missed Sara and I really dont understand the need for the change.

Christine and Mary Louise are still in top form as always and I think each deserves that Tony, and if Christine does not win it will be a travesty.

I will be back many, many times to see this show as long as it is open!

Also, after the show when I got my poster signed, deff saw Jerby manning the stage door! :)

Updated On: 11/13/06 at 09:53 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 10:05pm

dirty rotten guy---Thanks for weighing in on Sara. I have nothing to compare it to, because I only saw Erin on Broadway, and I was impressed. What I did like was that she started out seemingly "normal" and then developed signs at the end of the act into the "disturbed" Edie that we see in Act II.

Did anyone see Jennifer Laura Thompson as Young Edie? I'd love to hear how she compared, as well.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 11:02pm

I liked Sarah too, but in retrospect she was TOO strong and solid a Little Edie. You couldn't quite see how such an assured young woman could turn into Christines Act 2 Little Edie. Erin's Little Edie is more a flighty porcelain doll with a steely edge who shows her cracks early on, then shattering in her unhinged "Daddy's Girl" (Joe increasingly looks at her in puzzlement, then mild repulsion). Erin does some very subtle work here and captures Little Edie's finishing school twang better than Sarah.

(fflagg, When I first heard "Another Winter In A Summer Town", I instantly thought this was such a classic Streisand song in the vein of "Have I Stayed Too Long at the Fair?"

But I can see Barbra saying to Messers Korie & Frankel: "Ya know, guys... I love this song, but can we change the lyric from 'middle-aged woman' into 'glam-or-ous woman'? It would fit the structure of the song abit better, YaKnowWhatIMean?")

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 11:52pm

I can add nothing to all the glowing praise of GREY GARDENS except more glowing praise!

Someone did ask about cutting "Better Fall Ot of Love" and replacing it with "Goin' Places," which bothered me a lot, too, when I saw the show in October. After Saturday's performance, however, my husband made a really good point about the change.

"Better Fall Out of Love" is more of a cute romantic interlude, which gives you a glimpse into what appears to be a sweet, touching, youthful relationship. "Goin' Places" is more about Joe's ambition and the real reason for this "engagement." It has a tougher edge and moves the plot forward by suggesting that Edie isn't in a relationship with someone who deeply loves and cares for her. As soon as Joe discovers that Edie's reputation is questionable, he drops her as quickly as he can. After all, it could adversely affect his future and his father's plan to secure the White House for a Kennedy.

So when the confrontation occurs and Joe bails, it doesn't seem out of character or incongruous to the storyline. "Goin' Places" sets that up for us. It also intensifies the gravity of Edith's disclosure to Joe about her daughter's "promiscuity." The audience gasps as Edith reveals to Joe how Edie turned "scandal into triumph"--all the while smiling, as though she has no notion that such information could scare away her daughter's suitor.

If we are completely unprepared for Joe's abandoning of Edie, practically at the altar, that moment would detract from the dramatic effects of Edith's scene with Joe...and Phelan Beale's abandonment of his daughter, as well. Both these scenes play better as a result of this change.

I'm just glad I can hear "Better Fall Out of Love" on the CD whenever I care to.

P.S. I still think Sara sang the show beautifully, but I agree that her Edie was way too strong and confident.

[All_For_Laura]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 7:03am

Dirty Rotten Guy, I was standing next to you at the stagedoor thursday night lol. I was so confused when Christine walked away and I was like...WTF? But then she came back and I was happy.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 8:03am

it makes me happy to see that I'm not the only one who liked Sara in the role!

i am sure i will grow to love Erin too...but i do hope she works up a little more S-T-A-U-N-C-Hness!

i *can* see your point about Sara being a little too strong & confident...you could see that she could've easily picked up matt cavenaugh & snapped him in half!

she's an amazon goddess!!!

[FrontRowCenter2]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 8:08am

best12bars - thank you for one of the most eloquently written and powerful reviews I've ever read.

[Lorelai]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 10:50am

Great review...couldn't agree more. I've seen the show once off-Broadway and twice since the transfer...and I hope to see it a few more times!!