Mary-Louise Parker Responds to Critics

[somethingwicked]

Mary-Louise Parker Responds to Critics#1

Posted: 3/4/09 at 1:41am

Mary-Louise Parker addresses a lot of the criticism directed at her revival of HEDDA GABBLER rather bluntly in this Broadway.com piece.

One of the more interesting exchanges:

"How are the audiences responding?
With the exception of some of the matinees, the audience is really into it. Our audiences seem to be, for the most part, people who don’t really know the play. They want to know what’s going to happen next, and the first act ends well, so people stick around to find out. With a subscription audience, there’s generally a high percentage of walk-outs at intermission. Apparently, for this play, there’s a lower percentage of walk-outs than there’s ever been. I certainly don’t think the show is perfect, or that I am, but there must be something to it or there wouldn’t be anyone there. And we wouldn’t be selling tickets after The New York Times shat on it. It’s really sort of remarkable that there’s anyone in the house at all! The show is selling fine—maybe not as well as when I usually do a play? But it’s hard to sell tickets when someone ****s on the show.

Do you feel the reviews were unfair or off-point?
Well I only read one, and I wouldn’t have read that one except I was getting texts at 7 in the morning saying, “F*CK him, I hate Ben Brantley!” Then people started sending me presents to [make me feel better]. I figured at that point I really needed to see the review. So I read it and, yeah, that was kind of a mistake. It would have been better to have someone say, “It’s really horrible. Don’t read it!”

How do you get onstage and do the show after reading something like that?
Oh, you can’t even explain it. I should have thicker skin, but you’re human, and you have to go out there in front of 800 people and pretend nothing happened after someone peed on something you worked on for nine months.—and attacking it as if I didn’t know the choices that were made, or I’m incapable of classical theater, which is all I did for the first five years of my career. I wasn’t approaching it as a traditional character, but I’m not really a traditional person, so what do you want?..."

http://www.broadway.com/Mary-Louise-Parker/broadway_news/5022500

Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.

Updated On: 3/4/09 at 01:41 AM

[dramamama611]

re: Mary-Louise Parker Responds to Critics#2

Posted: 3/4/09 at 1:45am

Because it's HIS fault the show isn't good???

If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

[somethingwicked]

re: Mary-Louise Parker Responds to Critics#2

Posted: 3/4/09 at 1:50am

Parker also goes on to talk about confronting Michael Reidel over The Post's claims of her supposed backstage behavior:

"One last Hedda question and we can move on: The New York Post wrote that people were not getting along, that this has been a nightmare show. How did you respond to that?
I went and talked to [columnist Michael Riedel].

Really?
I just said “I don’t know you and I know I’m not supposed to be sitting here, but I just have to tell you I’m not that woman you [wrote about]. I’m a single mother! I don’t have the energy to be that kind of person.” I mean, look: I turned down films to do this because I love theater and want to support it. So please don’t attack me when I’m here. I was talking to Laura Linney recently and she was saying that there’s really only a handful of us [female film and TV stars] who love the theater and will always come back to it no matter what. But we’re going to stop loving it if you’re this mean, because that sort of [gossip] hurts, and it’s untrue. I’m not going to say I’m not occasionally over-impassioned. I’m an extremely passionate person, and I have a strong point of view, but I would feel completely comfortable with you walking into the dressing rooms of the other actors here, knowing they would say nice things about me. I love theater actors! That’s why I’m here! I come backstage at night and just bow to [co-star] Ana Reeder because she’s an amazing woman and actor.

Good for you.
Certainly there are problems on this production. There are on every production you’ve ever heard of. Considering it’s a difficult play and some aspects of it don’t fully work, we worked great. But [the Post] saying that [director] Ian Rickson went back to London because we didn’t get along? He was at my house for Christmas! He’s not my best friend, but it’s just…Riedel did the same thing when I was working on Dead Man’s Cell Phone, and it was a complete fabrication. The rumor was that I wouldn’t go onstage for the first preview because I didn’t like the end of the play. That’s, like, crazy! The first preview was cancelled because I was vomiting, and was sent home after I showed up anyway. I was puking, going, “No, no, I can do this!” And they were all yelling at me to get the **** home. But it’s more fun to write about me [being a bitch]. They want to create these iconic, infamous, ruined women wreaking havoc. It’s so mean..."

Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.

Updated On: 3/4/09 at 01:50 AM

[muscle23ftl]

re: Mary-Louise Parker Responds to Critics#3

Posted: 3/4/09 at 4:34am

I feel bad for her.

"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one". -Felicia Finley-

[MrMidwest]

re: Mary-Louise Parker Responds to Critics#4

Posted: 3/4/09 at 7:35am

my publicist calls and says, “[The Post] is publishing this item about you…”. And I’m like, “I’m just making oatmeal cookies! Why are you jacking my happiness?”

haha

"The gods who nurse this universe think little of mortals' cares. They sit in crowds on exclusive clouds and laugh at our love affairs. I might have had a real romance if they'd given me a chance. I loved him, but he didn't love me. I wanted him, but he didn't want me. Then the gods had a spree and indulged in another whim. Now he loves me, but I don't love him." - Cole Porter

[RyToast1]

re: Mary-Louise Parker Responds to Critics#5

Posted: 3/4/09 at 7:49am

That was a really, really great interview. What Counting Crows song is about her?

[Wanna Be A Foster]

re: Mary-Louise Parker Responds to Critics#6

Posted: 3/4/09 at 9:49am

That was an INCREDIBLE interview.

Especially what she said to Riedel.

"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad

"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

re: Mary-Louise Parker Responds to Critics#7

Posted: 3/4/09 at 10:04am

I give her so much credit for being so honest.

She's very talented and I think I'm the only person on the face of the earth who didn't despise HEDDA. I didn't love it either, but I didn't hate it. I'm just confused why the word "sh*t" is bleeped out of the interview but "f*ck" isn't. Ha

[Wanna Be A Foster]

re: Mary-Louise Parker Responds to Critics#8

Posted: 3/4/09 at 10:08am

Because there is a quote mark before it, so the censor thinks that's part of the word.

"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad

"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)

[best12bars]

re: Mary-Louise Parker Responds to Critics#9

Posted: 3/4/09 at 10:11am

Love her.

"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

---

blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

re: Mary-Louise Parker Responds to Critics#10

Posted: 3/4/09 at 10:18am

She no Jeremy Piven but she ain't too bad!

[Brick]

re: Mary-Louise Parker Responds to Critics#11

Posted: 3/4/09 at 11:07am

I love how candid she is, even regarding this HEDDA not being what she had hoped it would be, or even "entirely successful".

And she has a major point with Reidel, as have many others, when they wonder why a theatre columnist is fabricating or exaggerating stories in a manny detrimental to the theatre community by discouraging many talent from returning.

Wonderful interview.

[ColorTheHours048]

re: Mary-Louise Parker Responds to Critics#12

Posted: 3/4/09 at 11:55am

I'm glad she's honest. She's not blaming anyone for whether or not the production misfired. She's simply saying it hurts to read a review like the NYT and then go on stage that night. It sucks for an actor to read something like that and then have to perform. Should you have a tough skin being an actor? Sure. But actors are only human. She handled it very well. And as for Riedel, good for her. More celebrities should stick up for themselves. No one wants a bad name for themselves. Especially if you're not doing it for the fame, but the love of the craft. I love her.

And WiCkEDrOcKS, you're not alone in not despising HEDDA. I, personally, liked it a lot. Flawed, but very enjoyable. I've seen it twice and I plan to again.

Yay, MLP.

[pattilupuppy]

re: Mary-Louise Parker Responds to Critics#13

Posted: 3/4/09 at 12:11pm

go her... thats incredible

[hmpeterson]

re: Mary-Louise Parker Responds to Critics#15

Posted: 3/4/09 at 12:43pm

I'm glad she called Riedel on his lies. That guy is just a pompous sleeze.

[snowskittle]

re: Mary-Louise Parker Responds to Critics#16

Posted: 3/4/09 at 1:08pm

Anyone kow if Reidel has replied to Mary Louise's comments?

[Gothampc]

re: Mary-Louise Parker Responds to Critics#17

Posted: 3/4/09 at 1:23pm

I don't think she should have acknowledged bad reviews. It shows that the critic has gotten into the actor's head.

If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

re: Mary-Louise Parker Responds to Critics#20

Posted: 3/4/09 at 3:37pm

snowskittle, Riedel would never admit that one of his attacks on an actress was a total lie.

"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad

"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)

[hmpeterson]

re: Mary-Louise Parker Responds to Critics#22

Posted: 3/4/09 at 5:37pm

Gothampc: I am with you on that. In one sense I am glad she did address something that was being reported incorrectly because she has every right to defend herself. But I don't think these critics need anymore of their head's blown up thinking they actually affect an actor and their performance. I know it can happen, but they don't need to know that.

[KChenowethfan]

re: Mary-Louise Parker Responds to Critics#19

Posted: 3/5/09 at 1:29pm

Nice interview. I think I am one of the few that loved this production of Hedda, especially her interpretation of the character.

"Why do you care what people might say? Why try to fit into their design?" (Side Show)

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

re: Mary-Louise Parker Responds to Critics#20

Posted: 3/5/09 at 1:35pm

I'll try to phrase this so that my comments don't get deleted. Why does everyone automatically assume she's telling the truth?

[jimmycurry01]

re: Mary-Louise Parker Responds to Critics#21

Posted: 3/5/09 at 3:56pm

Why would you assume any gossip columnist is telling the truth? They print gossip for a living, it is their job to print untruths or stretched and twisted version of the truth. Reidel is no different than Perez Hilton, or do you assume Hilton only blogs fact filled news as well?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

re: Mary-Louise Parker Responds to Critics#22

Posted: 3/9/09 at 12:18pm

I don't assume that he's telling the truth. I don't assume anyone is. Parker has a terrible reputation, so no one of the stories about her would surprise me, if true.

I don't read Perez Hilton, so I don't worry about whether or not its true.

[Mister Matt]

re: Mary-Louise Parker Responds to Critics#23

Posted: 3/9/09 at 12:25pm

Would somebody please tell me if I like her now or not? The rules keep changing.

"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

re: Mary-Louise Parker Responds to Critics#24

Posted: 3/9/09 at 12:26pm

I like her. I like her regardless of what she does or doesn't do offstage. I just don't necessarily believe that because she went to the press to deny what Reidel wrote means that she's telling the truth.

Ain't no one believed Piven when HE talked to the press.