More on the Doheny/Grey Gardens "Scandal"

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 7:54am

http://www.nypost.com/seven/08082007/entertainment/theater/blades_of_grey_theater_michael_riedel.htm?page=1

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 8:21am

My Man Godfrey? Awesome!
I think we heard about that a while ago, didn't we?

[Katecab99]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 8:25am

yikes.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 9:09am

This piece sounds just a tad bit too dishy too be all true.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 9:15am

So we can expect My Man Godfrey to run for a few months, and then close abruptly? At least the cast will have lovely gifties along the way.

And we can also expect Ebersole and Wilson to be nowhere near this production.

[sally1112]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 9:52am

Much speculation in that article and not much fact. I am sure it was an emotional nite but I don't believe much of what I just read.

[logan0215]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 10:02am

The Gondas assistants were either eating or handing out little red shoe door stops (parting favor) throughout the night.

I did not see one walkie-talkie nor did I see Kelly and Lou swoop out. In fact, William Sledd (of the Ebersole camp) was chatting up Kelly at one point out in the main pavillion.

It did seem as though MLW did swoop in for a short time and then was gone just as fast as she arrived at the party.

I had one run-in with a Gonda friend. He asked me who I was and how I was connected with the show, and I said I was "with Maureen Moore, standby for Christine Ebersole." He responded, "Christine, great actress, horrible bitch of a person." I was so taken aback that I didn't know how to respond, but he did it for me, "I'm an associate of the Gondas, its terrible what she did to them on TONY night."

This man was clearly intoxicated (open bar, woop woop) but it seems the Gondas were still carrying the torch from TONY night...
Updated On: 8/8/07 at 10:02 AM

[Kringas]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 10:12am

Once again the Gondas are playing Santa, dispensing lavish gifts to cast members. The Gondas have been told, however, that Tony winner Mary Louise Wilson has been selling their gifts to her on eBay. So this time, they present Wilson with a donation, in her name, to a charity.

Their card comes with a p.s.: "Too bad you can't sell this on eBay."

That is awesome.

When Riedel later says that Mary Louise Wilson "slashes into St. Kelly," could that be considered a libelous statement? Did she really slash? Was there blood?

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 10:21am

I had one run-in with a Gonda friend. He asked me who I was and how I was connected with the show, and I said I was "with Maureen Moore, standby for Christine Ebersole." He responded, "Christine, great actress, horrible bitch of a person." I was so taken aback that I didn't know how to respond, but he did it for me, "I'm an associate of the Gondas, its terrible what she did to them on TONY night."

I just love dishy backstage poo!

[wickedfan]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 10:26am

Kringas- We can only hope.

Posted: 8/8/07 at 10:26am

Well? If Mary Louise WIlson has been seliing her gifts on E-Bay someone here has to have seen it- so what's the scoop?

[bjh2114]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 11:09am

I just think this si so funny. Usually I find Reidel's article's annoying and untrue, but I believe a lot of this one, and found it completely amusing. First, who the HELL is going to want to work with these people on "My Man Godfrey" after Grey Gardens completely flopped the way it did, after the whole run in with Christine Ebersole and Mary Louise Wilson (two of the nicest, most incredible performers on Broadway), and after it's made perfectly clear that all they care about is recognition (the lavish parties and bitter that they get no Tony thanks for driving the show into the ground). Second, to not clap for Christine is just stupid. If you're not going to support your own show, don't sit in the house on closing night. That's just retarded.

[artscallion]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 11:39am

EBay has been littered with an unusualy large variety of opening and closing night gifts. everything from leather drink coasters with the show's emblem to a numbered, signed limited edition lithograph print of a beautiful watercolor the cast. I've been watching this pretty closely and haven't seen any indication that any of this came from MLW.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 11:42am

GREY GARDENS swag of all kinds are very strong sellers.

Over the past few weeks, an inscribed opening night present of a small silver mirror sold for $113, a signed poster signed by the entire cast (and composer Scott Frankel) sold for $199.99 and the Red Shoe doorstop given away at the closing night party sold for $112.50. All were offered by different sellers who have been on Ebay for quite a few years.

(Other GREY GARDENS stuff not associated with the musical: An original advertising poster of Edie Beale from her 1978 gig at Reno Sweeney's brought $ 405.91 and a 1985 Christmas card inscribed in Little Edie's distinctive and unique script brought $310.67)

[artscallion]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 11:55am

One of the Reno Sweeney posters sold for over $1200.00 a few months back. My advice is to be wary of the Reno posters. I have it from a reliable source that many of them are reprints made from an original.

[logan0215]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 12:39pm

the Red Shoe doorstop given away at the closing night party sold for $112.50

Hot damn! Good thing I grabbed 2!

EDIT: Just checked out eBay, found the red shoe on sale for $19.99...

We'll see how that progresses and maybe I'll post one of mine.
Updated On: 8/8/07 at 12:39 PM

Posted: 8/8/07 at 12:51pm

I buy her defense- I don't know many septuagenarians who can deal with E-Bay. I'm 45 and it baffles me sometimes.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 12:52pm

a signed poster signed by the entire cast (and composer Scott Frankel) sold for $199.99

Seriously? If mine's signed by the entire cast (sans Mary Louise) plus Scott, Doug Wright, Michael Greif, and several understudies, how much could I get for it? $200 is a ton of money for a $20 poster.

Although I find much of this to be interesting, I hope all of it is not true. It's very unfortunate that such a beautiful show had to have all this drama surrounding it.

[jv92]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 1:25pm

If I remember right, Kelly Gonda said hello to Ms. Ebersole's husband she came in to the closing show. He was chatting with Michael Greif and William Sledd in the back of the house. I have my doubts about this article. I also find it odd that Mr. Riedel asked a child for comment. Of course, children have their own, very important opinions, but think about it. If you were 10 and a middle aged couple showered you with gifts and parties, what would you say- "I hate them"? If he had asked the eldest child actor in the bunch, it would have made a little more sense.

[nymommy]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 3:47pm

If he had asked the eldest child in the cast, she would have said the same thing. The Gonda's are generous, loving people. And not because they showered them with gifts, but because they are good people. And to correct the LIE about the Gonda's not standing at curtain call, they most certainly did stand and applaud. I saw them, my husband saw them, and the eldest child in the cast saw them. As to the closing night party, the Gonda's did not retreat to a glass pavillion (did they mean the restaurant?), they were indoors most of the night at the table they chose to sit at in the middle of the room even when Christine arrived. I'd love to know where Reidel was getting his info, because it made me laugh to see how very wrong he was. HA!!!

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 4:06pm

Oh, logan, what would we do without you?


I really don't know what to believe here...

I find it very hard to believe MLW is selling her gifts.... on EBAY nonetheless...

[bjh2114]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 4:06pm

nymommy, the article doesn't say they didn't stand at the curtain call. It says they didn't stand for Ebersole after one of her number and didn't even applaud. And Reidel was there on closing night, so my guess is he got his info from himself.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 4:28pm

Christine Ebersole got a standing ovation during her entrance in the opening of Act 2 as Little Edie. I do recall the entire theatre leaping to its feet with the exception of a handful of people. Also, Riedel, even though he is an intense creep, is accurate way more often than not. He is a very reliable source for theatre gossip. What I think of him as a person is one thing, but his columns usually make me laugh and gasp due to the clever (and bitchy) way they are written and the juicy gossip that he delivers.

[artscallion]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 5:58pm

There's a video of the closing performance curtain call/speeches. There seem to be some producerly people on stage near the end but I can't identify them. There is one woman in particular who comes out with the creative team in a dark skirt. She and Christine greet and hug each other warmly. Does anyone know who she is?
CLOSING CURTAIN

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 8/8/07 at 6:07pm

I actually like Riedel more and more these days. Probably because lately he isn't opining so much as reporting.