Shining City Ending Question - Who Played...

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/29/06 at 11:29pm

...the ghost at the end in the recent Broadway staging?

[myManCape]

Posted: 12/29/06 at 11:43pm

I don’t know if it was ever confirmed but the popular belief was Fiana Toibin, the female understudy for the production. And while I don’t believe Martha Plimpton was ever absent, had Fiana preformed, Chris Genebach the male understudy would have played the ghost.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 1:00am

No. Martha Plimpton played the ghost at the end. It was not her understudy.

[sundaymorning6am]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 1:09am

I jumped in my seat at the end. I felt the entire play was a little dull up until that point, but WHOA did I gasp. That moment made it worth it.

Sorry, off-topic.

[AC126748]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 7:43am

The ghost at the end was the only genuine moment in the entire play.

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 8:08am

I adored SHINING CITY and am 10000% positive it was the Female Understudy Fiana Toibin, who was not credited anywhere and wanted to leave the audience in shock. Believe me or not, but that's who it was.

[ElFantasma14]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 10:11pm

Are there any pictures of this part? The woman sounds terrifying.

[myManCape]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 11:32pm

Foster can you confirm that? I've seen fast costume changes but that was a split second for both a costume and makeup change between the final scene and the curtain call.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 11:53pm

Are there any pictures of this part? The woman sounds terrifying.

I doubt there are photos of this part, as it literally lasts a half a second, plus a photo of it would ruin the show for anyone who hadn't seen it.

Foster can you confirm that? I've seen fast costume changes but that was a split second for both a costume and makeup change between the final scene and the curtain call.

I can't confirm it. But Martha Plimpton is a very unique looking woman, and for the split second that I saw the ghost, I immediately thought that was Martha Plimpton's face, no question about it. Of course I can be wrong. As for a costume/make-up change, correct me if I'm wrong, there were 4 scenes in the entire show. Martha Plimpton's scene was the second scene, followed by Peter Scanavino's scene, then the final scene with Brian F. O'Byrne and Oliver Platt. Ms. Plimpton would have had plenty of time (about 50 minutes or so) to change makeup and costume.

Now that I think of it, I saw VOYAGE and SHIPWRECK this past week -- I would have liked to have asked Brian or Martha at the stage door. Maybe one of you guys can do so. I don't see SALVAGE until February.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/30/06 at 11:56pm

Scariest thing I've ever seen on stage. I couldn't sleep that night!

[myManCape]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 12:22am

Foster the costume/makeup change I was referring to was between the ghost and the curtain call, which was literally seconds. The ghost as I remember it was very pale and had very distinctive facial features. Of coarse I could be wrong since the scene lasts for a split second. But following the ghost the lights went dark and when they came back on literally a second later, the entire cast was on stage in their regular costumes/makeup for the curtain call. Yes she would of had 2 scenes to change into the ghost costume/makeup but only 1-2 seconds to change out of it.

On another note, has anyone ever seen any other production of this show? I'd be interested to know if the ghost was a Bob Falls thing or if it was part of Conor McPherson’s writing.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 12:25am

As far as I know, the only production of SHINING CITY before Broadway was its premiere in Dublin, directed by McPherson (correct me if I'm wrong).

I'm assuming that regional theaters will be doing it soon enough (if not already).

[myManCape]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 12:29am

Foster- That is correct, and I knew that. I guess my question was poorly phrased. Was the ghost written into the play or was it a decision made by Bob Falls. Who directed the Dublin production? And did anyone on this board happen to see it?

[AC126748]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 8:42am

Actually, guys, SHINING CITY also had a production in London at the Royal Court Downstairs. That production was also directed by McPherson himself.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 8:51am

I've seen the published text of the play, just to see if it was McPherson's choice. It says something to the effect of "The door closes and there's the ghost, just as they described her. Blackout."

[Smaxie]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 12:26pm

The ghost was played by Fiana Toibin, the female understudy, and NOT by Martha Plimpton.

[myManCape]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 12:38pm

Thanks Smaxie, I never question your information. And as my post earlier stated, had Martha Plimpton been absent and Fiana Toibin gone on, Chris Genebach the male understudy would have played the ghost. But that never happened.

[Mistress_Spouzic]

Posted: 12/31/06 at 4:11pm

yeah it was played by the female understudy. I got to see the shoes and costume of the ghost up close when I was interning at MTC... pretty cool stuff.
Updated On: 12/31/06 at 04:11 PM