Kathleen Turner, Albee's new Martha

[Auggie27]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 9:27am

Interesting news. After everyone from Judith Ivey to (fill in the blank) was considered, they've decided on Turner. As most people know, "they" means Albee, who is fiercely protective of the role and any new take on the play. I am generally ambivalent about Turner, and thought her ghastly in THE GRADUATE. All lazy camp, playing to the mezz rather than with anyone on stage. But this seems an inspired choice. Perhaps more than anyone else she possesses the perfect blend of star quality and the Martha persona -- and the chops, when she has the discipline and focus to use them. (To me, she's been phoning it in for a while, relying on The Voice rather than acting.) Bill Irwin, as George, seems more of a depature. But he was effective in THE GOAT, and he's been annointed by Albee as well. This looks promising.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 9:40am

Turner's an excellent choice. Her work in The Graduate was more of a directorial problem, but the script just wasn't strong enough to do much with it. It was a fun play, but poorly constructed.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 9:44am

Sounds like a good idea to me (though I can't seem to get the image of her as Chandler's Father on Friends out of my head)

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 9:51am

I don't think there could be many better choices for this role. This could be quite a comeback in the making for an extraordinarily talented woman who has had more than her share of bad career choices and direction (although I also loved her as Chandler's father!).

[Auggie27]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 10:02am

Yes, I agree that she's made a series of lame choices. GRADUATE was a tacky, diluted (despie the lurid touches) version of a classic film, and Turner unfortunately put herself up against one of the iconic film perfrmances, Anne Bancroft's. Interesting about Mrs. Robinson: Bancroft had fewer scenes, fewer words, and was able to make far more of the woman's inner life (and pain). Even taking into account that film is more economical in terms of dialogue, etc. thatn the stage, it was a reminder that less often is more. Expanding the part for b'way, they turned her into a horny cartoon, and Turner couldn't do much with it.

Some of her interesting film work is in very understatated performances, like the basically supporting part in ACCIDENTAL TOURIST (the money scenes all belong to Geena Davis, even if her Oscar was "supporting."). I watched that again recently, and she's really lovely and effective with Hurt.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 10:15am

Although certainly some of her best work has been in comedies, i.e., War of the Roses, Peggy Sue Got Married and Serial Mom (and Friends), there is a wonderful little film called House of Cards, co-starring Tommy Lee Jones as a psychiatrist working both for and against Turner as they both try to pull her young daughter out of her autistic world. Turner's performance is heartbreaking and compelling.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 10:19am

I love Turner in The Accidental Tourist. It's one of my favorite films and one of her best. I think she was also the most gorgeous in that film. Pegy Sue Got Married was cute, but I have difficulty sitting through it due to Nicholas Cage. I also thought one of Turner's best roles was in The Virgin Suicides. It took so about 15 minutes to realize that it was really her in that film.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 11:42am

And let's not forget her great comic turn in Romancing The Stone...her as Martha is pretty inspired. Looking forward to it. Now if they could just get Maggie Gyllenhaal as Honey...

[mallardo]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 11:56am

I agree with Auggie27 about her phoning it in - or foghorning it in - recently but I'm not so sure she does have the chops for this complex role. She'll probably be the toughest nastiest Martha ever.

[robbiej]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 11:57am

That's GOOD, Borastal (who would have loved to have seen Ms. Gyllenhal's Laura in the upcoming GLASS MENAGERIE).

Who for Nick? Paul Rudd? Patrick Wilson?

Or can we maybe go against the grain with, say, Taye Diggs?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 12:03pm

I saw a reading of Virginia Woolf in the fall with Denis O'Hare as George and he was fan-friggin-tastical. I hadn't seen a production in years but the staged reading reminded me that the show is loooooong. And the lingo is in many places totally sqaresville, daddy-o. All the times Martha calls Nick "lover" will provide Miss Turner plenty of opportunities to do that phoning it in thing she does. Good strong direction could help prevent that.

Updated On: 6/11/04 at 12:03 PM

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 12:10pm

David Harbour has been cast as Nick. Anthony Page is directing. Both are strong choices.

Updated On: 6/11/04 at 12:10 PM

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 12:17pm

Did anyone see her in "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof" in the early nineties?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 12:39pm

I saw her in CAT. She was great. Quite dimensional.

Posted: 6/11/04 at 12:55pm

The opening set piece of Ken Russel's CRIMES OF PASSION usually makes me laugh so hard I'm crying. And SERIAL MOM makes me laugh as well. As far as going up against iconic portrayals, matching up against Uta takes some guts (although, obviously few will have seen both) - and some might even think comparing to Liz would be difficult.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 1:00pm

Serial Mom - that is one hilarious friggin movie.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 1:04pm

Turner and Irwin...not the first two I think of when I dream of this generations Martha and George. What happened to Pryce? And now we will never get to see Stockard or Swoozie get their day with the role. And where did Bill Irwin come from? What about Spacey? Lithgow? I am pretty upset about this.

[robbiej]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 1:06pm

Really, Sueleen? I think Irwin is a magnificent choice because it will add the surprise factor. I'm sure he'll be wonderful and everyone will say 'who the f*ck knew???'

Now Stockard...that's another story altogether. She would have been my first choice.

And wouldn't she be a remarkable Joanne in COMPANY?

[Deena Jones2]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 1:08pm

Great typecasting for Kathleen!

Posted: 6/11/04 at 1:09pm

I heard Stockard read Margo in the Actor's Fund benefit in LA (talk about going up against something iconic!) She had a great time doing it and was magnificent. It didn't hurt to have Tim Curry reading Addison - brought the house down on a number of occassions. The thought of Swoozie is also stimulating - she's always been one of my faves - especially in FIFTH OF JULY.

[robbiej]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 1:15pm

In Frank Rich's HOT SEAT, he writes an essay (basically a review) of the VIRGINIA WOOLF starring Mike Nichols and Elaine May, featuring James Naughton and Swoozie as Nick and Honey. Swoozie's Honey was apparently spectacular!

[~FloweryFriend~]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 1:15pm

YES on Stockard! I had to dream-cast this play for a college presentation, and I definitely chose her!!!

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 1:23pm

So what happend to Jonathan Pryce?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 1:33pm

Albee didn't want him. He loved what Irwin did in "The Goat" a few seasons back, and when Irwin and Turner read together that sealed it.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 6/11/04 at 1:45pm

So Albee just suddenly decided he didn't want Pryce? After about a year? I hope you are right about Irwin, Margo. But I still want MY dream cast.