Rachel York and Betty Buckley Grey Gardens in New York?

[Littleshopofcarrie]

Posted: 6/29/16 at 9:54pm

Anyone think that this could ever play in New York City? I missed it when it was playing in The Hamptons but do you guys think that it may come to the city in either an Off-Broadway or maybe Broadway revival that Roundabout could pick up?

Updated On: 6/29/16 at 09:54 PM

[Mike Costa]

Posted: 6/29/16 at 10:10pm

The production in Sag Harbor was a respectable production in every way for an out of town summer production and Miss Buckley took the role in a different direction which made it her own front and center... to put it nicely.

The original New York production was, every inch, perfection.  

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 6/29/16 at 11:06pm

I don't think this merits a shot on Broadway...very limited audience = not much $$$$ to be made.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 6/29/16 at 11:15pm

They could open this and war paint side by side.

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 6/29/16 at 11:54pm

I would love to see it transfer to off broadway.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 6/30/16 at 7:46am

The Buckley-York opens at L.A.'s Ahmanson on July 13th, to close the season there.

http://www.topangamessenger.com/story_detail.php?ArticleID=8371

[AC126748]

Posted: 6/30/16 at 8:03am

I don't think anyone in New York is clamoring for another production of this musical. I saw it in Sag Harbor. York and Buckley are excellent, but the problems with the book/score are still there. Whereas the recent revivals of Spring Awakening or The Color Purple presented radically new stagings of those works, this production is basically just as smaller carbon copy of the original. Definitely no chance of a commercial production, so unless someone like Roundabout decides to stick it in the Pels, I think it will have a nice run in LA and then be gone.

[madbrian]

Posted: 6/30/16 at 8:12am

^^I also saw the production in Sag Harbor, and I agree with this assessment^^

[Auggie27]

Posted: 6/30/16 at 8:16am

Ironically, Monday night I rewatched the truly wonderful HBO film with Lange and Barrymore.  What that take managed to do was fill in the intervening years, to show the incremental deterioration as the two women inch toward those beds (it's an underrated script, the cable film, in my opinion; both women are stunningly good, it's understandable that they became the event, mirroring the reaction to the two stars in the musical).  It's not necessarily a problem in the show, those middle years not dramatized.  But it is a very bifurcated evening, the two halves not easy to bridge for people unfamiliar with the documentary.  Many disagree with me, but I felt the show is constructed on an audience's working knowledge of the Maysles' film. People meeting the story for the first time have a certain amount of dot-connecting to do to fully embrace the arc of the evening.  To me, it's not so much a flaw as an obstacle to having a full experience of the emotional journey.  The HBO film in an hour and forty minutes is a very powerful look at the totality of these lives, and by the end, we are devastated.  To be fair, a percentage of the audience at the show get there with "Another Winter..." 

(I post this as someone who dearly loves the musical.)

Updated On: 6/30/16 at 08:16 AM

[AC126748]

Posted: 6/30/16 at 8:32am

I'm also a fan of the HBO film, and feel that it elegantly presents a credible version of the "whole" story. 

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 6/30/16 at 9:58am

After all the clamour, I was so disappointed when I made the trek our to Sag Harbor. The leading ladies were good. The direction and design was downright incompetent, even for a small space. 

[Kad]

Posted: 6/30/16 at 10:01am

I can't see this returning to NYC anytime in the near future without a revelatory star turn, like Ebersole's, anchoring it.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/30/16 at 1:44pm

I love this show and think it's an underrated jewel. But I have no desire to see Rachel York in the part and have not been impressed by what I've heard or seen of her in the role. And like someone else said, SPRING AWAKENING and THE COLOR PURPLE seem to have made improvements over their original productions that this particular take on GREY GARDENS doesn't seem to be doing.

It'd be great if Buckley eventually got to play the role on Broadway--her rendition of "Jerry Likes My Corn" is incredible--hopefully with one of the greats like Donna Murphy, Victoria Clark, Alice Ripley, or Marin Mazzie. The Ebersole track is tough as hell to cast, most actors can do Act I or Act II, but Ebersole's indelible performance is so memorable because she was equally stunning and believable in both acts, changing her voice and singing style to match the two characters in ways that most actors today cannot do.

[bear88]

Posted: 7/2/16 at 3:36am

So does anyone think it's worth seeing in LA with York and Buckley? I will be there next week, just got a notification that tickets are available. I have never seen the show, it sounds intriguing but odd, but I'm not sensing a lot of enthusiasm for the commenters thus far. 

[LALALand]

Posted: 7/2/16 at 11:01am

The chance to see Betty Buckley in a musical is all I need.  Getting tickets today. 

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 7/2/16 at 11:01pm

bear88 said: "So does anyone think it's worth seeing in LA with York and Buckley? I will be there next week, just got a notification that tickets are available. I have never seen the show, it sounds intriguing but odd, but I'm not sensing a lot of enthusiasm for the commenters thus far. 

 

"

I am seeing it on the 19th and have been counting down the days all season. Let's don't let the perfect get in the way of the possible (or whatever it is that the President used to say). There's no reason to think we'll ever get to see Ebersole in the show, so my advice to Los Angelenos is not to miss it (and then download the OCR).

[lovebwy]

Posted: 7/9/16 at 2:57am

Saw this tonight in LA. Buckley and York are stunningly great. I can't say enough about them. They both do some emotional heavy lifting and they support each other beautifully.

I think there were some questionable staging choices, though. In the original NY version, did they have the Maysles brothers up on stage with the camera and sound equipment with the picture being projected on either side of the stage? That was awkward for me.

As for the show itself, I think the first act is superfluous and too long. To me it would have worked better as a 90 to 100 minute one act, all taking place in 1975 with maybe some flashbacks.

Mad Men's Bryan Batt plays Gould, Big Edie's accompanist and he is wonderful.

The worst part is- The goddamned orchestra pit. Lots of the action takes place around the three pits- like half the play. I'm very worried someone will fall in (esp 69 year old Buckley). Why does it have to be like that?? I don't remember this being the case when Follies played there. Very dangerous and distracting.

All that said if you're in LA GET THEE TO THE AHMANSON to see extraordinary, special work done by Rachel York and Betty Buckley. They make it a special night at the theater not to be missed. LA is lucky to have them.

 

 

 

 

 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/9/16 at 3:49am

I think I'm going to fly out and see this. How was Josh Young? From the cast list, it seems like they split the parts instead of one actor playing both roles?

[lovebwy]

Posted: 7/9/16 at 3:53am

Josh Young is fine but underused, I'd say. He plays Joe Kennedy and Jerry. This is not the role to show off his great talents. The ladies are the show, with Batt and Young giving some nice support. The less said about the guy who played Big Edie's father the better.

Updated On: 7/9/16 at 03:53 AM

[Steve C.]

Posted: 7/9/16 at 7:53am

It's hard to believe it's been just about 10 years since Grey Gardens opened on Broadway. I think if anyone has the opportunity to see this production they really should do it now. As beautiful and moving as it is, the original run played only just over 300 performances. I'd love to see it, however a Broadway run seems unlikely.

That being said, I love BB and I'm sure she is giving another truly outstanding performance. Hopefully this will be filmed somehow.

I saw GG from front row and seeing Christine Ebersole and Mary Louise Wilson was/is something that is permanently in the top 5 of my theater memories. BB's probably just as tremendous. I've only seen RY in Anything Goes or VV, so it's totally against type for her in my mind, but hopefully she does it well.

[StageDoor3]

Posted: 7/9/16 at 10:46am

I saw "Grey Gardens" at the Ahmanson last night, July 8, and I agree with lovebwy.   We are lucky that they brought this production to LA.  It is an original musical with an excellent score, fascinating story and bravura roles.  Rachel York and Betty Buckley give wonderful and moving performances.   In answer to Steve C.'s question, yes Rachel York is terrific playing against the roles she normally gets.  

I also saw the show at the Kerr on Broadway.   The main reservation I had in comparing the two is that the Ahmanson stage is too big, and they have large sections of the house interior that spread across the stage rather than a full interior set.   I think the size of the stage puts too much "air" in what is really an intimate show.  Some of the scenes didn't have the impact for me as when I first saw it the first time.  But that may be because I was seeing the show for the first time.   The Ahmanson setting works fine.  At first I thought the choice to include the Maysles filming the Beales and then projecting huge video images of them was not needed.   The show worked great in New York without them.  But in hindsight it is a fitting way to compensate for the size of the stage.  It adds another visual layer in the piece as well as allowing people further back in the huge Ahmanson to see the performers.  

And yes, the front of the stage is over the orchestra pit with the big holes in it.  I kept worrying about the actors falling into the pit too.  One more thing I couldn't help thinking - when the actor who plays Big Edie's father is on I couldn't help thinking about John McMartin whom we just lost.

If you're in Southern California or can get to LA while this is running and love musical theater you shouldn't miss this show.

Updated On: 7/9/16 at 10:46 AM

[StageDoor3]

Posted: 7/9/16 at 10:47am

I hit "reply" instead of "edit" by mistake and don't know how to delete this second post

Updated On: 7/9/16 at 10:47 AM

[JoseLee_]

Posted: 7/9/16 at 2:09pm

I also saw this production on friday night, the 8th. I sat 2nd row in the balcony in act 1 then moved to the second row of the orchestra for act 2. (Good things about going alone). I wanted to like it so bad. I was extremely excited to see Betty Buckley and Josh Young on stage. Act 1 was pretty boring. I noticed throughout the night many people fell asleep. I was so close to the stage in act 2 and Rachel & Betty gave real tear realness. They made ME cry. Act 2 is way better. The score isnt so good in my opinion. I only like The Revolutionary Costume (tony song) and Around the World. After seeing it live, I did love that Corn song sung by Buckley. The acting was the highlight of the whole production. Also, the set design was gorgeous. Act 1 was pretty boring and looked like too little props on the stage but act 2 was better. I gave it a 3.5/5 

[trevytoe]

Posted: 7/9/16 at 4:06pm

I saw this production on the 6th and wanted to echo many of the thoughts above.

I found Act 1 to be average at best. York does her best with the material; I much preferred her Big Edie to her Little Edie. But, in the end, the score and book for Act 1 just drag. And you could feel this in the audience around me with people constantly checking their watches, looking through the program, being restless, falling asleep, etc. There was a lot of negative energy around me. During intermission I overheard several people talking about how it wasn't what they expected. It was clear that most people expected the entire show to be from the documentaries. 

Act 2 soared in many places and having Betty Buckley on stage picked up the energy considerably. The audience also seemed much more invested in Act 2 and was much more responsive. 

I want to reiterate the orchestra pit issue that several people brought up. I found this so distracting and couldn't stop worrying that someone would fall in, especially with all of the dancing and quick movement that happened dangerously close to the edge. 

Rachel York - I genuinely think she had an off night (maybe she was sick?). I generally enjoy her, but something was off here. Her acting and comedic timing were top notch, but she didn't do the score justice, especially in the more belty places of "Another Winter...," "Revolutionary Costume...," etc. She wasn't bad by any means, but I wanted much more from her voice and left a bit disappointed. 

I found the video projections completely unnecessary, but ultimately enjoyed them because it gave me close-ups in a massive theatre. But aesthetically, it didn't fit. 

All in all, if you are in Southern California, then absolutely see this. It was worth it. While I wasn't wowed, it was worth the price of admission. 

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/9/16 at 4:17pm

Wow, I don't remember being bored by act one on Broadway like some of you are with this new production. 

Updated On: 7/9/16 at 04:17 PM