James Earl Jones in On Golden Pond at The Kennedy Center

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 10/10/04 at 11:37pm

I saw this Saturday night. Not much of a play -- surprise, surprise -- but a decent showcase for James Earl Jones, who remains a formidable theatrical presence. I've seen him in a half dozen plays over the years doing Othello, Fences, Paul Robeson, a couple of Fugard plays, et al and it was great to see him again on stage again after an absence of some 17 years.

Petronia Paley made for an able substitute for Leslie Uggams in the role of Ethel Thayer (reminiscent in some ways of Ruby Dee) and Peter Francis James and Alexander Mitchell acquitted themselves well as the new son-in-law and grandson, respectively. Linda Powell was underpowered as the daughter.

One wonders why Jones would choose such a mere trifle of a play as a return (and, perhaps, farewell?) to the stage. He's still clearly quite capable of very great things as an actor and one longs to see him tackle Lear (again), Prospero, Claudius, Willy Loman, Big Daddy, and all manner of other roles worthy of his talents.

It was wonderful to see him again on stage unleashing at least a small portion of still quite enormous talents on a text, but this play is so beneath him, it came off to me as a something of a vanity production (his character gets all the laughs, and he, of course, handled them with aplomb). Here's to hoping he'll be willing to commit himself to at east a limited engagement in a REAL play sometime before he decides to hang it up altogether.

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 10/10/04 at 11:43pm

Thanks for the review, Margo. It sounds like once again, an amazing actor, giving an amazing performance in a mediocre play? The symbolism of choosing On Golden Pond is apparent, but as you've said, he's so much worthier of better plays...

[Marquise]

Posted: 10/10/04 at 11:49pm

Margo, what happened to Leslie Uggams? Did she bow out at the last minute?

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 12:03am

Margo,

OK.. ON THE GOLDEN POND not a good play, but what about movie?

Henry Fonda/Katherine Hepburn/Jane Fonda?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 12:17am

Marquise,

Apparently Ms. Uggams had a previous commitment for Friday and Saturday (known by the producers when she took over the role from Diahann Carroll). She was back in today for the Sunday matinee.

Mary-Ethel,

On Golden Pond the movie got Oscars for Henry Fonda and Hepburn (the behind-the-scenes drama of Henry and Jane working together after many years of estrangement, elevated the project into something noteworthy, far more than anything in the actual film), but, frankly, it is a piece of sentimental claptrap that is even less compelling in its original play version. James Earl Jones is actually so compelling that I wasn't completely bored (though part of my brain knew that I was watching a really crappy play the whole time -- I only looked at my watch about four or five times .... I cannot imagine I'd have survived even to intermission if Jones hadn't been on the stage).

Updated On: 10/11/04 at 12:17 AM