My Second and Last Trip to GREY GARDENS

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 8:24pm

Things are in a state of semi-disrepair at Grey Gardens.

Act I is a breathless race to the finish, reminiscent of the bizarre Jack Lemmon production of Long Day's Journey into Night. Act II is significantly slower, much like how I remembered it last time. I recall, in October, getting out at nearly precisely two hours and forty minutes after the show started. Today, the show was no more than 2.5. I attribute this to the speed of Act I, which today was just about a little over an hour. More on that in a few.

The cast is still uniformly strong. They've all grown so beautifully into their characters...so much nuance, pathos...except Christine Ebersole, who, while still (insert glowingly positive adjective here), seems to have hit her stride in October and never went forward. I'm not saying she's bored, I'm not saying she's phoning it in. It's just that she's giving the same exact performance that she was nearly 9 months ago when the show began on Broadway: the nuances never change, her tears at the end of "Another Winter" seem now to be by rote. Still a performance amazing beyond words, despite her voice sounding extremely strained.

Mary Louise Wilson is, also, brilliant beyond words. John McMartin makes the most of his tiny parts. Erin Davie, I must say, has had the most significant growth in terms of characterization. Too bad she wasn't nominated for a Tony. Bob Stillman and Matt Cavenaugh are also very good, as are Sarah Hyland and Kelsey Fowler.

As I said earlier, my problem with Act I, as it played this afternoon, was that it was so fast that you couldn't understand a damn word anyone said. I likened it to the Jack Lemmon "Long Day's Journey...", in which the actors were directed to talk as quickly as possible, cut each other off, talk over one another, etc. I don't remember this when I first saw Grey Gardens, but, of course, I could be wrong. I didn't remember that "Around the World" came before "Choose to be Happy."

This is a show that needs to be seen - such a shame they can't fill the house. I'd pump my own money into it if I had a significant amount. I moved from the balcony to the mezzanine, which wasn't full at all. Very upsetting, though the orchestra was completely full. And the audience seemed to enjoy it very much.

Aside: noticed Charles Busch in the audience and had the extreme pleasure of sitting behind Broadway's newest starlet, Laura Osnes, who, as I understood it, moved down from the balcony, as well. Much to my surprise, Osnes (who is significantly better looking in person) is one of the most personable and pleasant people I've ever had the opportunity to talk to. And by talk, I mean the whole life story.

Ah, Broadway. Making dreams come true day after day. My extreme thanks and good wishes to the cast of Grey Gardens (if they happen to be reading this). It is the one show I can think of (in all my years of going to the theater) that ended up with a raw deal. Go see it. It MUST be seen.
Updated On: 7/8/07 at 08:24 PM

[jaystarr]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 8:39pm

Yankeefan- Thanks for your review ! I always enjoyed reading your insightful and well-thought out reviews. I envied you-- I wish I can visit Grey Gardens again before it closes on 7/29.

BTW- I definitely wanna hear your reviews on Grease bec. I have not bought a ticket yet!

J*
Updated On: 7/8/07 at 08:39 PM

[logan0215]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 8:39pm

I was walking by the stage door after the show got out today on my way home, Christine looked exceptionally gorgeous IMO.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 8:44pm

Thanks, Jaystarr. And regarding Grease...of course.
Updated On: 7/8/07 at 08:44 PM

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 9:36pm

Glad you enjoyed the show Yankee!

Since I'm going in a couple of weeks, did they have posters and programs?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 9:38pm

Posters: no
Programs: yes.

Noticed that the merchandise stand is having a "going out of business" sale. 1 program and a t-shirt for $25, 2 shirts for $30 (something like that).

[jaimiecheno]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 9:41pm

I was at the show today also. I enjoyed it much more than the last time, actually. I had way better seats...I was in the second row of the orchestra. Christine just moves me to tears like I never have been before. It was a wonderful performance and she was a doll at the stage door as usual. :)

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 9:42pm

Thanks Yankee.

[logan0215]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 9:53pm

When Maureen Moore was on for Christine, Act 1 clocked in at 62 minutes.

[Dirty_Rotten_Guy]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 10:08pm

Great review, Yankee

I actually wish I couldve seen this a 4th and last time instead of DEUCE, haha. Oh well

But I'm glad you also saw how much Erin has grown over the months- a lot of people dont really care for her, but I think she really is one of the best parts of the show. Yeah, thanks for mentioning her, haha :) And again, nice review

[clintonct]

Posted: 7/8/07 at 11:50pm

The GG merch folks suggested I try Broadway NY @ the Marriot Marquis, which is where they said they shipped their remaining posters. The folks at Broadway @ the Marriot Marquis, graciously sold me their last copy from the display area, after I asked about Trition, and it was too late, and they were closed for the night.

I just checked online, and you can purchase at Triton
Triton Gallery

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 12:07am

Yankeefan007, you were there today? Very cool!

I think the same exact thing about Act I - I had no idea what was going on during the first few minutes in the house.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 7:12am

Yeah....they zipped along quicker than they should have. Perhaps Jerby can shed some light on it...

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 2:48pm

In thinking about it now, let me give even more credit to Erin Davie, who was just so remarkable as Little "Little" Edie. Heartbreaking, just heartbreaking.

Effected me much more now than it did last time.