Stockard Channing in Six Degrees of Separation- Page 2

[markypoo]

Posted: 4/2/19 at 9:24am

And Marlo Thomas was excellent - and looked like a million bucks - in the Chicago production at the long-gone Ivanhoe Theatre.

[goodlead]

Posted: 4/2/19 at 8:36pm

Does anyone know why Blythe Danner didn't open in this?

[flotus77]

Posted: 4/3/19 at 2:26am

goodlead said: "I saw that production -- superb in every respect. Fortunately Channing was cast in the movie version, and if you want to know whether it's legendary, you can watch it and judge for yourself."

Stockard wasn't just cast in the movie version of Six Degrees. John Guare had it stipulated that the movie would only be made if Stockard reprised the role of Ouisa. Good thing she did.

 

Also; I'm jealous you got to see it live! Ah, I was too young and poor to travel in those days (mostly poor).

 

[flotus77]

Posted: 4/3/19 at 2:28am

goodlead said: "I saw that production -- superb in every respect. Fortunately Channing was cast in the movie version, and if you want to know whether it's legendary, you can watch it and judge for yourself."

Stockard wasn't just cast in the movie version of Six Degrees. John Guare had it stipulated that the movie would only be made if Stockard reprised the role of Ouisa. Good thing she did.

 

Also; I'm jealous you got to see it live! Ah, I was too young and poor to travel in those days (mostly poor).

[Leadingplayer]

Posted: 4/3/19 at 5:18am

The word was that Danner just didn't connect in the role and they were unhappy with how she was playing it. It seems like she'd have been a natural for it but for some reason it didn't work. 

[LarryD2]

Posted: 4/3/19 at 7:36am

Danner quit during the first week of rehearsals to take a part in The Prince of Tides.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 4/3/19 at 11:18am

I can only echo the praise of Ms. Channing's performance in SIX DEGREES.  She really was that good.  I remember being disappointed in the film, which couldn't summon the cinematic equivalent of the energy happening on that stage.  The film seemed rather earth-bound somehow.

[bwaydude 2]

Posted: 4/3/19 at 11:28am

Legendary, for sure. 

[Roscoe]

Posted: 4/3/19 at 11:35am

So here's a question, for those who saw Ms. Channing live as Ouisa.  One of my favorite things she did happened at the very end of the play ---

 

 

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when it's all kind of fallen down around her, and she's going to start a new life, and Paul appears to remind her that the Kandinsky has two sides.  Now at the performance I saw, all those years ago, she smiled at the reminder, and started, tentatively, to turn around where she was standing, as the Kandinsky in the frame above her was turning.  She didn't make a big deal out of it, but it always stayed with me.

Does anyone else remember her doing that?

 

[LarryD2]

Posted: 4/3/19 at 11:44am

Roscoe -- I remember the moment you describe vividly. And to me it captures one of the essential elements of Channing's performance: the effortless subtlety she brought to the role, something I've yet to see anyone who's played it since achieve. There were no big, grand gestures or tricks in her characterization. It felt entirely real, and she really seemed of the world Guare was creating.

In contrast, Allison Janney -- who I thought looked like a million bucks, with great costumes and wigs -- totally seemed crass and overstated from the very beginning of her performance.

[Peter2]

Posted: 4/3/19 at 1:39pm

Roscoe said: "I can only echo the praise of Ms. Channing's performance in SIX DEGREES. She really was that good. I remember being disappointed in the film, which couldn't summon the cinematic equivalent of the energy happening on that stage. The film seemed rather earth-bound somehow."

I know what you mean. The play is simply a better and livelier as a theater work than as a movie. But I have to say I think Schepisi did a great job overall, and I count it as one of the underrated films out there. There a moments that a just great, like the brief closeups of Flan and Ouisa after Paul gives his "Catcher in the Rye" speech, where the difference between Flan's reaction and Ouisa's is so telling. And I like how he captures the quality of of the ending you described so well, but in a way that maybe suits a movie better than then original theatrical ending would. Anyway, I always just want to put in a good word for the movie. If nothing else, it gives us more Stockard Channing to watch.

[fanatic3]

Posted: 4/3/19 at 2:39pm

This thread makes me so happy! It almost brought tears to my eyes and I try to envision how exquisite SC must have been on stage. I LOVE the movie -- it's one of my favorite movies of all time -- and I love HER so much. It's fascinating to learn all the others who played/turned down the roles and how the performances were perceived. I wish I had seen it on stage but I did not.

I can picture in my head SC turning in sync with the painting even though I haven't actually seen the show. I used to direct in community theater and I always tried to put in some very subtle in sync movements with the actors so these types of things are up my alley.

Thanks for the thread!

 

[gregnyc2]

Posted: 4/3/19 at 3:49pm

Ditto ditto ditto

Channing, simply luminous. I wasn’t living in NYC at the time, but I purposefully flew back in a second time to see that performance. The towards the end face-off with Flan, and those ending moments, as goodas it gets.

I am fond of the film; thanks to John Guare for demanding Channing be cast.

Very very fond memories.

Updated On: 4/3/19 at 03:49 PM

[gregnyc2]

Posted: 4/3/19 at 4:04pm

Oh, plus a young Laura Linney as a replacement Tess, to boot. I remember thinking “ohhh that’s someone to watch....”

[Larry6417]

Posted: 4/3/19 at 8:03pm

There is no way to overstate the absolute perfect performance that Stockard Channing brought to Six Degrees of Separation. I saw it 3 times, and in my 40+ years of theatre going it still stands as the greatest performance by an actress on stage that I have ever had the pleasure to watch.

 

 

[flotus77]

Posted: 4/4/19 at 3:28am

@fanatic3 I feel like we should be best friends! Stockard is my everything!! 

I did not catch any of her earlier plays, but the first time I did make it to one, I haven't stopped! I'm not kidding that I traveled to Dublin (from OH) to see her in The Importance of Being Earnest, dear Lord that was a heavenly treat. Also went to London for Apologia! Stock is amazing in almost anything. I have caught at least five of her last live performances (some more than once) and I am just awed. I miss other parts of the show because she entrances me.

My point is; if she is performing, go. Period. You would/will not regret it. 

I just wish that Broadway HD had more of the archived plays. I feel like we should start a petition. I need to see these other performances. I will die if I do not.  

The first performance I saw, I met her afterward (gotta love that stage door, huh?) and I vowed I would never miss another. 

I collect her playbills and I'm missing several which is killing me. She always signs them for me. 

(sigh) I just love her...

 

[devonian.t]

Posted: 4/4/19 at 8:11am

Maybe the film does not engage quite as much because the play has the direct address effect that totally draws in the audience.

I still think the movie is a classy product though.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 4/4/19 at 12:29pm

LarryD2 said: "Roscoe -- I remember the moment you describe vividly. And to me it captures one of the essential elements of Channing's performance: the effortless subtlety she brought to the role, something I've yet to see anyone who's played it since achieve. There were no big, grand gestures or tricks in her characterization. It felt entirely real, and she really seemed of the world Guare was creating.

In contrast, Allison Janney -- who I thought looked like a million bucks, with great costumes and wigs -- totally seemed crass and overstated from the very beginning of her performance."

To me, Allison Janney is a highly acclaimed actress who all too often just plays herself, tall, loud, articulate, slightly larger than life (rare exception: American Beauty, in which she was outstanding).  I don't think she is capable of subtlety, which the role required IMO.

[The Other One]

Posted: 4/4/19 at 6:17pm

Jarethan said: "LarryD2 said: "Roscoe -- I remember the moment you describe vividly. And to me it captures one of the essential elements of Channing's performance: the effortless subtlety she brought to the role, something I've yet to see anyone who's played it since achieve. There were no big, grand gestures or tricks in her characterization. It felt entirely real, and she really seemed of the world Guare was creating.

In contrast, Allison Janney -- who I thought looked like a million bucks, with great costumes and wigs -- totally seemed crass and overstated from the very beginning of her performance."

To me, Allison Janney is a highly acclaimed actress who all too often just playsherself, tall, loud, articulate, slightly larger than life(rare exception: American Beauty, in which she was outstanding). I don't think she is capable of subtlety, which the role required IMO."

I thought it was only me.  I do like her, she can be outrageously funny (see Drop Dead Gorgeous for an example), but I couldn't imagine her as Ouisa and it closed before I could get past that.