Picnic Coming to Broadway this Winter- Page 2

[theatreguy]

Posted: 5/11/12 at 12:21pm

This won't be Cromer's production. Sam Gold is directing.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 5/11/12 at 2:08pm

Thanks for the Summer Brave details! It sounds like, much as Kazan was for Williams, Logan helped shape the play for the better.

I guess I need to see the movie again--my main memopry is ENDLESS country fair scenes.

[PattiLover]

Posted: 5/11/12 at 2:47pm

Interesting that Logan considered Madge leaving with Hal a happy ending - I always thought that her leaving with him was just the beginning of her miserable journey into a life as poor white trash. He'll drink, probably belt her a couple of times, disappear into the night while she's home with the litter of unwashed kids...we're talking about Kansas in the 50's here. She should have stayed at home with mother - but her freedom is what's important - so I guess it's a happy ending that she runs away? William is never truly clear with his protagonist's intentions, which is why I consider him one of the 20th Century's greatest playwrights.

BorstalBoy, I disagree that Kim Novak is too sexy. She's supposed to be sexy. "Madge is the pretty one." She's sexy in a town where sex appeal is useless - until the hunk comes along and she's promised that her youth and beauty will finally work in her favor (how wrong she is). But I do agree that Holden, as much as the great actor he is, is totally miscast.

Posted: 5/11/12 at 11:20pm

There is no happy ending for Picnic. Either choice is going to leave Madge heartbroken.

When I worked on this show, one of the most heartbreaking discussions was with the girl playing Madge as she worked out her characters emotions knowing that her mother would NOT want her to make the same choices she did. Realizing that her mother was unhappy almost all her life and that your very existence is part and parcel of that unhappiness.....

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/12/12 at 6:44am

I would never call the ending to Picnic "happy."

Logan pushed for the more romantic ending and one that the audiences wanted. But it wasn't "happy."

She's sexy in a town where sex appeal is useless.

Hardly. She can be a trophy wife to the richest guy in town and never worry about money again.

But by going with Hal, she is taking charge of her own life for once. She's not letting her mother or her boyfriend tell her what she's going to be. And she would rather struggle with someone she genuinely cares for than be pampered and told what to do by everyone else. So she asserts her independence (in Independence, Kansas) and decides to run off and give it a shot with Hal.

Still, it's not a "happy" ending. Just a romantic one.

[amoni2]

Posted: 5/12/12 at 7:53am

Ashley Judd was far from terrible. She was lovely. Perhaps some were too busy staring a shirtless Kyle Chandler to pay attention to what else was going on onstage.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/12/12 at 8:11am

My one experience with Ashley Judd on stage was as Maggie the Cat. She was terrible. The very thought of that performance causes me to wince.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 5/12/12 at 10:29am

Did anyone see this when it aired? Strikes me as perfect casting all around. RIP Dana Hill

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/12/12 at 11:06am

I saw that production live on stage at the Ahmanson. It was terrific, and even among that glittering cast, Dana Hill walked away with the entire show. I doubt I will ever see a better Millie. Every single line delivery was perfection.

When she came out for her curtain call, the applause was thunderous.

I've never seen the taped airing, so I have no idea if it was captured well. The set was fantastic.

A very realistic-looking backyard between the Owens house and their neighbor Mrs. Potts. Then the houses moved back and off-stage slightly for the picnic scenes, and you could see a Ferris Wheel turning in the distance, all lit up. The Chinese lanterns came in from above, too. It was really beautiful.

As far as the cast, I felt Jennifer Jason Leigh was the weakest link. Her Madge was lovely but really a cypher. I didn't feel she understood the character well at all.

Greggory Harrison was great as Hal. He had the swagger and (of course) the looks to play it. And you felt sorry for him being so delusional about the world.

Michael Lerner and Dick Van Patten were surprisingly good in the later dramatic scenes, and Rue McClanahan was excellent as Flo (quite a contrast to some of the other characters she's played).

And I love Conchata Ferrell in anything.

I never understood why that production didn't transfer to NY. Maybe the cast wasn't available. But it certainly was as good as the best play revivals have been on Broadway.

EDIT: I also remember thinking before I saw the show that Rue and Michael should have switched parts. Perhaps because I associated Michael with being such a "mom" on The Waltons, and Rue didn't strike me much as the maternal type, although I figured she would be great as Rosemary. But after seeing the show, they were both terrific in the roles they played. Rue was very maternal and understood Flo's perspective about her daughters, and Michael was great as the hard-edged, jaded schoolteacher.

Updated On: 5/12/12 at 11:06 AM

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/12/12 at 11:06am

(double post)

Updated On: 5/12/12 at 11:06 AM

[Auggie27]

Posted: 5/12/12 at 11:15am

I saw the 70s revival of SUMMER BRAVE at the Kennedy Center, directed by Michael Montel. Alexis Smith was a strong if disappointing Rosemary. Ernest Thompson -- yes, the playwright -- was a strapping Hal. And Jill Eikenberry of all people was a truly luminous Madge, cast somewhat against type. Everyone was excited about Smith taking on Rosemary, and she certainly didn't fail; yet she found little new in the role, and didn't erase Russell, who is still the gold standard (many people have pointed out that she literally used Eileen Heckart's line readings; in at least three places you can close your eyes and hear her. I think it was Roz being shrewd; if it wasn't broke, why fix it?) Nan Martin played the mother, who seemed less dimensional in SUMMER BRAVE. Peter Weller was Alan. It was a beautiful production, but ran on Broadway for 3 previews and only 18 performances, curiously. Alexis Smith didn't sell tickets after her FOLLIES success, despite the Tony and her re-invention. People forget that. See PLATINUM.

Updated On: 5/12/12 at 11:15 AM

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 5/12/12 at 6:16pm

Most of what I've read about Summer Brave has been largely positive, so I always wondered why it flopped so stupendously--and only a short time after Inge's tragic suicide.

I've been (casually) trying to track down that Showtime filming of Picnic for over a decade. So frustrating that it seems to be so extremely rare.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 5/12/12 at 6:18pm

This is the only Summer Brave photo I've been able to find.

[Playbilly]

Posted: 5/12/12 at 9:41pm

I didn't realize Dana Hill had passed away. I just assumed she couldn't get roles and retired. She was great in the Member of the Wedding remake.