Rachel York and Betty Buckley Grey Gardens in New York?

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

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

I would love to see it transfer to off broadway.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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