Kathleen Turner, Albee's new Martha

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.

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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)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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

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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.

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.

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Great typecasting for Kathleen!

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!

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So what happend to Jonathan Pryce?

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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.

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