"Tru" starring Robert Morse

[Buddy4]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 3:27pm

Does anyone know where a DVD (or VHS) of this televised show(American Playhouse--PBS) can be gotten?

[Storefrontnyc]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 3:36pm

TRU was the very first Broadway show I ever saw. It was a brilliant performance from Moarse, winning him the Tony.

Lee Pressen Allen never published it because, or so I heard, she didn't want amateur companies doing productions. It's really a shame because it's such a witty and wonderful play, largely lifted from Capote's own words.

The PBS version is altered - they cut a lot of material for content and time constraints, but is wonderful nonetheless. I watch it every Christmas. Yes, I have a VHS, but I wouldn't let it out of my sight! Sorry for that.

Some of the PBS broadcasts don't even exist in PBS vaults, which is really a shame.

Good luck!

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 3:39pm

It doesn't exist on home video -- it was never released commercially... not on VHS, BETA, laserdisc or DVD; it just aired on PBS. That's it.

You CAN locate a copy of it via bootleg collectors.

Good luck.

[philcrosby]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 4:26pm

During her lifetime, Jay Allen would not let the rights to TRU out to any theater companies unless she personally approved of the actor playing the role. We had to do that for our company here in Richmond and luckily she went for it.

[morosco]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 5:29pm

"Poinsettias.....the Bob Goulet of Botany."

[wexy]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 10:18pm

I have a good story about "Tru". I was sitting right up in front right stage of the stage in what I'd call row A 1/2. A woman in front of me was fast asleep.
Morse was doing his monologue and was walking over to a Christmas tree in the corner of the to stage to hang an ornament on the tree.

He looked down and saw the sleeping woman in front of me and locked eyes with me. He put his finger to his mouth and said "SShh".
For that one second it was me and Robert Morse, no one else in hte theater had a clue. She continued to sleep til the end and missed a good performance.