Tammy Grimes at the Metropolitan Room

Posted: 10/24/07 at 12:47pm

Has anyone gone? Reviews? I am out of town but would love to see her...

[mrkeatingsir]

Posted: 10/24/07 at 1:34pm

She appeared a little "high" and really rambled off on tangents. Don't know why she sang "Old Man River."

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 10/24/07 at 1:48pm

I thought she retired from the business years ago -- last time I remember seeing her was in the 1989 revival of Orpheus Descending in a supporting role.

[GladysBumps]

Posted: 10/24/07 at 8:48pm

There's a story there I don't know if I want to know.

This was a magical, inspired soubrette, who should have been able to make the transition into dotty character woman roles in the wink of an eye, and be able to work till she dropped. Instead she seemed to drop off the face of the earth.

God, I'll never forget her performances in "Look After Lulu" and "Rattle of a Simple Man" -- as well as "Molly Brown" and "Spirits" of course.

And the albums, just marvelous, especially the recording of her cabaret act at Upstairs At The Downstairs. As a kid, she introduced me to songs like "Let's Take A Walk Around The Block" and "He Loved Me, But I Didn't Love Him." She always dug up really interesting obscure material, or would do wildly outlandish takes on old standards. Her "I'm Just Wild About Harry" is a treasure.

I guess that's what her choice of "Old Man River" is all about.

I'd love to see her, but I'm afraid, if she's in bad shape, it would break my heart. Still, if she's trying to get out there again, that's a good sign, and I'm rooting for her all the way. There is only one Tammy Grimes. They broke the mold.

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 10/24/07 at 9:09pm

GladysBumps: What a beautiful tribute you just wrote about the one and only Tammy Grimes. I fell in love with her after seeing THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN and also saw her in HIGH SPIRITS and PRIVATE LIVES, as well as the original production of 42ND STREET. What a unique talent.

[GladysBumps]

Posted: 10/25/07 at 8:09am

I had the good fortune to work with the magnificent Barbara Baxely up at Stratford one season. She was playing Portia. I got her talking about Kim Stanley, whom she adored and confided could actually be quite funny when you got her at the right moment. When I bemoaned the fact that we'd probably never see the lady work again, Barbara advised: "Never count anybody out. We're actors, we may surprise you." Two years later Barbara got a sizable role, and was stunning, in "Nashville" and some time after that, Kim somehow pulled it together enough to do Big Mama, Francis Farmer's mom, and a film about the astronauts. Let's hope the same good fortune will shine on the unmistakable Tammy Grimes.

[mrkeatingsir]

Posted: 10/25/07 at 8:14am

Unfortunately, the thing that shined the most on Tammy was Christopher Plummer and his deep emotional cruelty. Imagine having nothing to do with the mother of your child because you did not want a family. Its no wonder Amanda is a little off-center as well. Shame -- such a beautiful talent thwarted. The perils of alcohol, I guess.

[GladysBumps]

Posted: 10/25/07 at 10:11am

A playwright friend of mine was sitting with Amanda at Joe Allen,s when Mr. Plummer walked in. He was stunned when "Manda" asked: "Do you think I should go over and introduce myself." Apparently she did, and the sour SOB blew her off.

Can you imagine!!!

PS
Point taken, Mr. Crudup?

Posted: 10/25/07 at 2:36pm

Ouch!!!

[Gothampc]

Posted: 10/25/07 at 3:45pm

I heard a story that after Lucille Ball had finished "I Love Lucy" her desire was to go to Broadway and do a musical. She was offered two shows: "Wildcat" or "The Unsinkable Molly Brown". The rest is theater history.

I love Grimes' voiceover in "Twas the Night Before Christmas". It's just not Christmas without hearing her play Albert.

[tjbnyc76]

Posted: 10/26/07 at 12:09am

I saw Miss Grimes last night (Wed), and I thought she was sensational. I really only knew her from the two studio albums she did for Columbia in the 1960's, and bits of information from the web, so I wasn't sure what to expect.

I thought the evening would be strange, campy and entertaining; but, to my surprise, Grimes gave a very poignant, beautifully shaped performance that never descended into kitsch. Anyone who thought she would rest on her quirks, tics and mannerisms was very wrong. There were lots of misty eyes in the audience, and some of the patrons were openly crying--yes, Tammy Grimes was THAT moving, folks.

There were a few dropped lyrics, and she's clearly not in the best of health, but Tammy Grimes still turned in one hell of a performance, and it was one of the most enjoyable evenings I've spent in a theater in a long while. Side note: I saw Liza a week or so ago at the Tilles Center, and even though I adore her, she gave half as solid a performance as Tammy did, at nearly triple the price. AND Tammy sang "Ring Them Bells," and made it her own!

[irememberitwell]

Posted: 10/26/07 at 8:17am

can't wait to see her.

[GladysBumps]

Posted: 10/26/07 at 10:05am

Thanks so much for the review! That is so encouraging. You've made my morning!