Jennifer Jason Leigh in Picnic: video

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 3/1/14 at 6:59pm

Showtime filmed this regional/touring production of Picnic in the 1980s. I think it's largely very strong, and certainly does the great play better than the overblown film Logan directed (which still has things to recommend it.)

I wish someone would track down a copy of the Margot Kidder Bus Stop Showtime also aired, according to a friend with the original Aronson set.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1DuiV_cl7A

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 3/1/14 at 7:15pm

What a wonderful cast. Thanks for posting!

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 3/1/14 at 8:13pm

My pleasure! I have an issue with some of the scene transitions, but otherwise I think it's pretty great--I wish it were on DVD.

[Tink2]

Posted: 3/1/14 at 9:11pm

Thank you, Eric! I loved this when it aired. I remember it very well. I've been looking for a recoded version of it ever since.

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/1/14 at 9:41pm

I saw this show at the Ahmanson in Los Angeles. It was a fantastic production, and I was surprised it didn't transfer to Broadway.

By the way, Dana Hill stole the production away from all the other heavy hitters in the cast. Her Millie was definitive, and the standing ovation and response from the audience when she came out for her bow at the end confirmed my impression.

Her life ended too soon, but I'm grateful for having seen her in this play. I'll never forget it.

P.S. --- everybody else was excellent, too! But she was unforgettable.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 3/1/14 at 9:52pm

I too saw it life at the Ahmanson. I wasn't as taken with Miss Hill, but otherwise I second best12's account.

[Tink2]

Posted: 3/2/14 at 7:35am

I remember the production of Bus Stop with Margot Kidder, which I liked very much. Others I remember being aired around the same time were Dracula and Barefoot in the Park. Only one I was able to find was Barefoot with Richard Thomas and Bess Armstrong. Loved this...

Barefoot in the Park

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/2/14 at 8:54am

I remember loving that Barefoot in the Park. Such a great cast!

Richard Thomas, Bess Armstrong, Barbara Barrie, James Cromwell ...

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/2/14 at 9:03am

You know what's interesting, skimming through that Picnic video, is how different the acting seems.

I saw it from the balcony at the Ahmanson. The standout for me (as I said) among many standouts was Dana Hill. I didn't add that the one weak link for me was Jennifer Jason Leigh. She seemed very disconnected and almost too subtle. Like she wasn't doing much of anything.

Watching sections of it just now on that video, it's entirely different. Dana Hill seems a bit overblown (which she didn't on stage), and Jennifer seems great. A very nice acting job. What was subtle and toned down (almost nonexistent) from the balcony is easily read by the camera in closeups and medium shots. Her performance works better on the video, and Dana's worked better (by far) in the theatre.

[AC126748]

Posted: 3/2/14 at 11:27am

I've never seen Jennifer Jason Leigh be entirely successful on stage. She does always seem to be in a different show than the rest of the cast. (Very apparent when she played Bunny in HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES) But in the PICNIC film here, she comes off as quite perfect. Perhaps she's one of those actors whose talents are more readily visible on screen.

[Tink2]

Posted: 3/9/14 at 8:45am

^AC126748 I remember a very good production of House of Blue Leaves on Showtime, as well. The only cast member I remember was John Mahoney.

I had forgotten about another one, too. Something's Afoot with Jean Stapleton and Andy Gibb.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSBgYdCbcUA

[AC126748]

Posted: 3/9/14 at 9:31am

That HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES is based on the 1987 Tony winning revival, filmed with Mahoney, Swoosie Kurtz, Christine Baranski, Julie Hagerty, Ben Stiller, and Danny Aiello. Unfortunately it's never been available on DVD and I've never seen it posted in its entirety on any of the video sharing sites.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 3/9/14 at 6:30pm

It is worth hunting down. I assumed it was filmed for PBS/American Playhouse--my copy has a PBS screen logo.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 3/9/14 at 8:26pm

It was indeed the late, great GREAT PERFORMANCES who also brought you SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, INTO THE WOODS, STAND & DELIVER, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, FIFTH OF JULY and LONGTIME COMPANION.

They also filmed PAINTING CHURCHES, LEMON SKY and BLUE WINDOW. God only knows what happened to any of them.

Updated On: 3/9/14 at 08:26 PM

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 3/9/14 at 8:34pm

You mean American Playhouse right? :P GP is still around...

I have Lemon Sky on DVD. Fifth of July (which I also have) and some of the others were released by the Broadway Archives label but for some reason Lemon Sky is a different commercial release (maybe trying to sell the adaptation off of Kevin Bacon's name.)

(Amazon has Lemon Sky for 5 bucks http://www.amazon.com/Lemon-Sky-Kevin-Bacon/dp/B0001US7YA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394411659&sr=8-1&keywords=lemon+sky)

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 3/9/14 at 8:47pm

Of note: LEMON SKY was where Kevin Bacon met Kyra Sedgwick.

[Tink2]

Posted: 3/10/14 at 8:28am

Yes! Swoozie Kurtz was in the production I saw. It could have very well be shown on PBS. I just remember watching it around the same time I saw the Broawdway shows that were aired on Showtime. I really wish we could see more of these productions. It is difficult for many to get to NYC to see these wonderful shows. If they would only video them when they were closing. So sad that so many great performances are lost forever.