Grey Gardens London and National Tour- Page 2

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 6:11pm

"Ebersole's year-long contract with the Broadway production will end in October 2007, and her Broadway replacement is now being sought."

They're playing 50% full houses in May 2007 mostly because of Ebersole's performance, and they're searching for a replacement for October? That's laughable.

Updated On: 5/16/07 at 06:11 PM

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 6:13pm

I'm glad to see the producers of GG talking about a Broadway replacement for Ebersole. Sadly, I missed Ebersole's performance when I saw the show in April, but thought Moore did a fine job. A tour like this is never going to do the kind of business "Wicked" does, but there are many musical theatre lovers across the country who will be glad to see GG in their hometown (me included).

[ElFantasma14]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 6:18pm

This really has nothing to do with the topic, but Gypsy1527, the Sweeney Todd tour is not very small at all; it's a major cross country tour with stops in many different cities; much different than what we on the board expected. Perhaps Grey Gardens' tour will be extensive too? Or maybe more along the lines of Caroline or Change?

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 6:27pm

Well, when they mention "national tour" I imagine, they mean a tour to various cities across the nation, not L.A. and San Francisco only.
I don't think Mary-Louise Wilson will sell more than a handful of tickets, it is whoever they cast in the dual role that will matter in terms of the finances. I keep trying to come up with an actress who would tour AND sell tickets and still haven't been able to come up with anyone.
Now, I really really hope that Erin Davie tours with the show.

[HughE2030]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 6:56pm

I saw the play, I love Christine Ebersole and Mary Louise Parker, but I really don't understand the universal appeal about this show. It's really a sad, sad commentary about two mentally ill women who live with a lot of cats and in filth. We read about these people all the time and often people are disgusted by such behavior, and god forbid anyone live next to them, or even help them out. So really tell me why does everyone love this show so much? Thanks:)

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 6:59pm

It's Wilson, not Parker.

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 7:05pm

Menzel is to Wicked

as

Ebersole is to Grey Gardens

[TechEverlasting]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 7:55pm

HughE2030, I'll try to explain why GG appeals to me. If you've watched the documentary Little Edie is an almost mystical figure. She's living in this run down mansion with a bunch of cats, but she has an unbelieveable sense of style and speaks in poetry. She alternates between being child-like and being a world weary middle aged woman. No matter how decrepit the surroundings, both of these women are aristocrats.

Little Edie isn't just a crazy person living in ruin. There's a sense that if even one thing had changed in her past she might even now be a socialite living in posh surroundings playing with her own little future lawyer and stock-broker grandchildren. One also has to wonder how many successful "normal" people might have ended up like Little Edie with just a slight change in the flow of their lives.

The structure of the play develops these ideas, providing a back-story that makes sense of the bizarre situation of the Beales, and the score amplifies all of this dazzlingly.

Can anyone else imagine Patti LuPone as Big/Little Edie?

[jaystarr]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 9:08pm

I am glad to hear that ! Go Grey Gardens !!!!

[The Boy From Ohio]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 9:10pm

I can't wait to see this show. I hope it actually makes it on the road and not another Pajama Game. I want to see the show everyone in NYC is talking about! So happy!

[traveler2]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 9:22pm

HughE2320, Little Edie is has a staunch character, that's the appeal.

[bwaygal1]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 9:37pm

I love GG to death, but I'm really leary about a London production. Especially because they're not casting a well-known Brit in the lead. (I adore Christine as everyone knows. But, I've actually lived in England and attended London theater. They have their own set of stars like we do. They don't know who she is and even if she were to win best actress at the Tonys, as expected, they won't know her much better.) Plus, the show, as someone pointed out, even with her, on Broadway, where people do know who she is, is only playing to 50% capacity. Most Brits don't know who the Edies are except for the Jackie connection. (Some woman who sat behind me a few weeks ago thought Christine was playing Jackie!) I think the national tour is more bankable-Americans know who these people are certainly better than the average English theater goer.
I think London is really tough to pull off unless you get someone well known from England/Great Britain in the roles. (How about Elaine Paige and Judi Dench?! That would sell it out!)

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 9:40pm

"But, I've actually lived in England and attended London theater. They have their own set of stars like we do. They don't know who she is and even if she were to win best actress at the Tonys, as expected, they won't know her much better."

American stars go over to the West End to recreate their Broadway roles frequently and tend to do just fine. London audiences can recognize talent regardless of who they are.

Tonya Pinkins recently played to packed houses and rave reviews in "Caroline, or Change" in London, for example. British theatergoers (who probably had no idea who she was) seemed to have no problem identifying with and praising her.

Updated On: 5/16/07 at 09:40 PM

[Princeton78]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 11:37pm

"They're playing 50% full houses in May 2007 mostly because of Ebersole's performance, and they're searching for a replacement for October? That's laughable."

Exactly.
This is clearly an attempt to catch road voters' eye and make the show seem tourable.

[folkyboy]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 12:12am

i don't know why people say that Edie was mentally ill. she clearly was NOT. even if you ask Christine Ebersole she would say the same thing.

sad and depressed, yes. but hardly mentally ill.

[andyf]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 12:57am

Epilepsy is sick, Jessie.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 2:45am

Neither one of them were "crazy," that's such an oversimplification. It's way too easy to just dismiss them as two loonies instead of actually confronting who they really were and why they were like that. I think people hate to admit how much like them we can be at times, or how much like them we wish we could be.
I think the show will have no trouble in London if it plays the National. Ebersole's performance shouldn't be missed.

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 3:32am

HughE2030, it's like a Chekov play happening in real life. To me, it's incredible because you can look at it in different angles. You have them being aristocrats who were brought up as if they were better than the rest of the country, and they end up living like this forgotten by the rest of their family. You can also take away the Jackie O connection and the fact that they were aristocrats to see that Little Edie life was full of promises and opportunity and it ended up with regret and bitterness and resentment towards her mother whom she blames all of her problems on. It is VERY relevant to many people who live life and experience disappointment and anger and yes, even bitterness.

I had to watch the documentary in my Plays and Playwrights class after reading the Cherry Orchard, and it really blew me away. How both Little Edie and Big Edie sit there and go through the routine over and over again and yet they don't do anything about it. They just sit and it's all waste. However, you can't blame them for that because they feel helpless and weak and overwhelmed, so they find it easier to just live their life as is than to shake it up and risk making it worse or suffering further and hurtful disappointment. Most people would react in the same way though the consequences of their actions might not be as extreme as it was to the Bouvier-Beals.

[Claire4]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 8:38am

I'm so happy Grey Gardens is going to have a life outside of NY! I actually think it will do better in London that is has done here. It will be interesting to see who they get to tour. For Middle America, you are going to need a "name" for one of the ladies.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 10:50am

"Ebersole's year-long contract with the Broadway production will end in October 2007, and her Broadway replacement is now being sought."

They're playing 50% full houses in May 2007 mostly because of Ebersole's performance, and they're searching for a replacement for October? That's laughable.

Talk about spewing vitriol all over the place for a show.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 10:59am

Can you elaborate FOA?

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 11:02am

I won't go into detail.

Suffice it to say I was accused by a certain poster of posting nothing but hatred about SPRING AWAKENING when, in fact, I enjoyed the show but was simply commenting on how I didn't think it was TONY worthy over GREY GARDENS.

And now it seems that certain poster's comments toward GREY GARDENS have gotten significantly more rude.

[bwaygal1]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 11:11am

I adore the show but I think they may be overextending a bit. Hope for nothing but the best, but I have my doubts. Doesn't mean I hate it or am trying to spread vitriol. Quite the contrary. I still think a well-cast, well-executed national tour would be better than trying to go to London, where the theaters are much larger, more expensive as a rule, and the scene less forgiving than New York. (and where the story doesn't necessarily have the recognition.)
That's my piece. I wish it nothing but success. (And will continue seeing it here.)

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 11:14am

FOA, I'm not stating an opinion. I'm simply pointing out the facts. For the producers of ANY show that is playing at 50% capacity in May to announce that they are looking for an October replacement for the show's star is just completely transparent. They're obviously trying to make it seem as though the show is a big success and will continue to run past the original cast when anyone who looks at the numbers can see that simply is not the case. It's quite obvious that once Ebersole is gone, the show is history.

Updated On: 5/17/07 at 11:14 AM

[harris007]

Posted: 5/17/07 at 11:25am

SWEEET

very excited about the tour,




oh and foa and foster will you two geeks make out or something and stop the bitchin and snipin

Updated On: 5/17/07 at 11:25 AM