Mercedes Ruehl in The Rose Tattoo

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 12/1/06 at 1:32pm

Judging from the NY Times review it seems like this would've been an enjoyable production to see. Any thoughts on it?

[WOSQ]

Posted: 12/1/06 at 3:13pm

I remember this production as being solid and pleasurable to watch without it being brilliant. Ruehl and La Paglia were fine and worked very well together. There was a nice interplay between the two and also some over-acting that was right for the play and the characters.

Ruehl was not nominated for this performance. While she was deserving, it was a crowded season for leading actresses. However earlier in the season she had played a flashy supporting role in The Shadow Box also at Circle, and she was nominated for Featured for that. It was thought that the Featured nomination was a consolation nod for Rose Tattoo.

Both of these shows were done along with a third play that I forget for limited runs when Circle in the Square was a non-profit. For a movie star coming off an Oscar and a Tony a few years prior, it was unheard of to make a season-long commitment, but Ruehl did and she stuck to it. Good girl.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 12/1/06 at 3:37pm

I enjoyed the play very much. Ruehl & Lapaglia made a good pairing. I think it was one of the best, if not the best, I've seen from Circle in the Square.