REVIEW of Grey Gardens 5/25

[BroadwaySinger2]

Posted: 5/26/07 at 7:56am

Yesterday evening I went to see Grey Gardens. All I can say is wow. I have never experienced a night at the theatre quite like that. I am amazed. Christine Ebersole had me choked up almost crying by the end of the show, which hardly ever happens to me. It was phenomenal.

I would say that the main strong point of the show was that it was a true story. It made it so much more moving and let you take more out of it. I also believe that the cast was amazing. Little Edie in the first act had a wonderfully beautiful voice as did all of the other children. Christine Ebersole was utterly amazing. I have never seen someone with so much talent live before. Her acting and singing abilities were fabulous and I cannot even begin to say how great her performance in this show was. She was amazing. Finally, the music in the show was fantastic. "Around the World" was extremely moving as was "Another Winter in a Summer Town". I loved every single song.

I would say the only weak point about the show was the shortness of most of the songs. I would've loved to hear more of the songs rather than them be cut.

Overall, I walked out of the theatre I different person. I loved the drama of the show and the cast was perfect. If you haven't yet seen the show, I seriously suggest you do before the cast changes. It was amazing. I definitely believe it deserves the Best Musical award at the Tonys!

Thanks for reading my review! Any comments?
Updated On: 5/26/07 at 07:56 AM

[jv92]

Posted: 5/26/07 at 9:07am

Glad you liked it! It's a great show!

[BroadwaySinger2]

Posted: 5/26/07 at 11:38am

BUMP

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 5/26/07 at 11:46am

It is a wonderful piece. I wish they had kept "Better Fall out of Love" which tells more story than "Going Places" but "Marry Well" is a much better piece than "Being Bouvier"

And having listened to both albums, I have to say that Gettlefinger makes a more convincing little edie than this new person.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/26/07 at 11:54am

Fen, you're entirely wrong. Sarah Gettlefinger was one of the things that was wrong with GREY GARDENS off-Broadway. She wasn't convincing at all. What Erin Davie is doing on that stage is breathtaking. She has the toughest job on stage.

You're the first person i've heard that said they liked Gettlefinger better. I'm surprised.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 5/26/07 at 12:03pm

"Going Places" is the more appropriate choice because it better advances the agenda of Joe Kennedy. He didn't care about what Edie wanted. He wanted the perfect wife for his political ambitions. Edith saw right through this and that is one (possible) motivation behind her telling the story that made Joe want to break off the engagement. The fact that he would end things so easily proved he didn't love her and that her reputation was way more important to him.

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 5/26/07 at 12:04pm

Well, I haven't seen her in person, but her voice is much closer to Ebersole's.

If I had magical powers, I would put Gettelfingers middle range with Davies top notes and you'd have an incredible performer.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/26/07 at 12:08pm

Edith's "young" singing voice is nothing like she ended up having - hence the difference between Christine in Act 1 and Mary Louise in Act 2. People don't have the same voices their entire lives.

But Davie's performance hints at the type of person she becomes in Act 2. Gettlefinger seemed to totally disregard the fact that she was playing this person who became this interesting creature with an interesting accent in Act 2. Davie hints at the accent here and there, making the transition entirely believeable. She plants seeds that Gettlefinger never came close to doing.

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 5/26/07 at 12:12pm

Davies gives a great performance, but is simply not as strong of a singer as Gettelfinger. Having not seen the off-bway production, I can't speak to her acting ability, but her performance on the recording was much more believeable to me the performance I actually saw Davie's give. perhaps what you've mentioned would turn me off to a live performance given by Gettelfinger, but speaking strictly sonically, Gettelfinger is just a better singer.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 5/26/07 at 12:21pm

While Gettlefinger's voice may sound closer to Ebersole's in the second act, I don't think she was right for the part. She's a great actress, but I don't like her voice in the part.

[Smartful Dodger]

Posted: 5/26/07 at 12:36pm

Fen, please do not criticize Erin Davies' performance until you see it.

I assure you, without any shadow of a doubt, that you will understand why she does, indeed, have the "toughest job" on that stage, as Munk states.

As has been discussed on other threads related to other cast recordings, often times a recording does not capture the essence or nuance of some truly breathtaking live performances.
Updated On: 5/26/07 at 12:36 PM

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 5/26/07 at 12:38pm

Smartful, Fen has seen Grey Gardens with Davie. He posted a review a few days ago.

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 5/26/07 at 12:58pm

JRb: I agree that "Going Places" does further Joe's ambitions more than "Better Fall out of Love" but the latter piece I think is more dramatic setup for Edie's big letdown.

I think "Better" works more for the big picture of the piece, but "Going Places" solidified Joe's character, but I argue that Edie's development is more important to the story. We find out later that Joe is a schmuck, and just for argument's sake, maybe it's more of a bombshell if we don't know how career focused Joe is until he picks up and leaves.

Just a thought

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 5/26/07 at 12:58pm

I am an avid fan of Sarah Gettelfinger's. She was just too strong a presence in the Off-Broadway production, imo. Erin Davie's performance makes her line toward the end of Act 1 utterly believeable: "If I stay here, I'll vanish." She seems desperate to leave so she can have her own life and personality. As n69n pointed out once, "Sarah looked like she could just pick Edith up over her head and throw her down on the floor." (And that from someone who prefers Sarah in the role!)

[Smartful Dodger]

Posted: 5/26/07 at 2:11pm

Sorry, I guess I misread Fen's post when he said he hadn't seen her "in person."

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 5/26/07 at 2:13pm

I was referring to Sarah Gettelfinger

[Sondheim Geek]

Posted: 5/26/07 at 2:19pm

I also think what Gettelfinger did with the character made Grey Gardens bind together a bit more. When I saw it on Broadway, I couldn't see the connection between Erin Davie and Christine Ebersole Act II. Many moments were destroyed for me because I had to remind myself who and what she was. With Gettelfinger, I just got the connection. It's great to see how much Little Edie changed, but with Davie, it's crossing the line.
With the changes, I felt that Little Edie was much less of a strong character in the first act. You didn't get this rebellious little debutante who could easily been playing around before she met Joe. A lot of the tension was lost between Edith and Little Edie because you really saw her as someone who would listen to her mother.
But, overall, I think that Grey Gardens is a stronger show on Broadway than off.

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/26/07 at 2:28pm

I've only seen the show on Broadway, but judging from the Off-Broadway Recording - I enjoy Sarah's speaking voice better for Edie than Erins.


I think the new songs for act 1 are much better than the songs they replaced. I feel the creators made the right decisions. BODY BEAUTIFUL BEALE is cute, but isn't needed. TOMORROW'S WOMAN is also pleasant, but still doesn't do much for the plot. And THE GIRL WHO HAS EVERYTHING is such a better opener than TOYLAND.
Updated On: 5/26/07 at 02:28 PM

[bwaygal1]

Posted: 5/26/07 at 2:39pm

See, I only saw the show on Broadway (MANY TIMES!!!) and I actually think Erin Davie was excellent. I dare not compare the acting becuase I haven't seen Sarah Gettlefinger. However, Erin does an excellent job and has grown into an incredibly difficult role.
I think she does appear as someone who could be a rebellious debutante, wearing a veneer of purity. Very convincing. And I see the connection between her Little Edie in Act I and Christine's in Act II. She's got the emotional fragility the role requires.
From recording standpoint-doesn't anyone else notice that Sarah Gettlefinger is sometimes off-key?? (I also think Goin' Places and Being Bouvier are much better songs. Goin' Places shows what Edie had to look forward to-her possibilities, who she could have been.)

Glad you liked the show! I love it. (duh-seen it enough times.)

[wickedfan]

Posted: 5/26/07 at 2:43pm

Having seen both the final product on Broadway and the Off-Broadway production, I can safely say that while Gettlefinger was more glamorous in terms of looks, she played the role far too pathetic. She actually had a stunning outfit that I was sad to see go in the Broadway production. Originally, Little Edie enters from the beach in a one piece bathing suit and a scarf like skirt tied around her waist and high heels. This, combined with Gettlefinger's long, gorgeous gams equaled breathtaking beauty. Her entrance was the one moment Gettlefinger's performance took my breath away.

After that, she was flat. She did not connect with Ebersole, had 0% chemistry with Cavenaugh (who looked like he was constantly on his toes to make himself seem just as tall as Gettlefinger), and seemed to whine the entire time through. This is no fault of Gettlefinger's, who has proved that she can steal a show with just one number (i.e. "Oklahoma" in DRS). She was just entirely wrong for the part. Despite her height, she seemed physically weak the entire show, as if she were about to collapse.

Seeing GG on Broadway in late previews, I must say that I didn't see the phenomenal performance that Davie's giving now (though, she had one brilliant moment, but I'll get to that later). I fully intend to see the show again in the next few weeks, though. Granted, she was good. Very good, and a major improvement over Gettlefinger, but she still seemed incredibly nervous most of the time, usually during her scenes rather than the songs and was obviously still doing some character development.

Her "Daddy's Girl", though, completely threw me off guard. I didn't know what the number was capable of until I saw Davie perform it. Originally, Gettlefinger was just crying the whole time through with occassional yelling for emphasis. Davie, though, created a mini-"Rose's Turn" and drew complete focus from every person in the audience. I can only imagine that now her portrayal of Little Edie is nothing short of spectacular.

Updated On: 5/26/07 at 02:43 PM

[bwaygal1]

Posted: 5/26/07 at 2:53pm

wickedfan-
it is. the last part where she quotes her father saying, "don't waste your life on talent you have none of" takes my breath away. also-she really is incredible at painting the picture of an Edie having a breakdown.
Amazing!
(IMO-should have been nominated. grew so much into a really tough role.)

[jaystarr]

Posted: 5/26/07 at 3:07pm

BroadwaySinger2- I am glad that you liked the show ! I think its
the BEST MUSICAL right now on Broadway (just my opinion- Spring Awakening-- trailing behind it.) Christine Ebersole is just divine! I felt so fortunate that we saw her on GG last year. Can't wait to see it again-J*

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 5/26/07 at 3:11pm

What was the story that Edith told Joe to break off the engagement?

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/26/07 at 3:12pm

^ See the show, and you'll see.

[bwaygal1]

Posted: 5/26/07 at 3:19pm

jay-totally agree-it is the best show on Broadway right now with the strongest performances I've seen in ages. (Christine Ebersole (in particular) and Mary Louise Wilson)In my perfect world, it wins all the awards it was nominated for.
(I'd settle for best musical, actress, featured actress, book, score, orchestrations and costumes-think it will get actress, featured actress, book, maybe orchestrations and costumes)