thoughts on SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER- Page 3

[muchado]

Posted: 11/15/06 at 7:49am

A fan of Gale Harold's who was at a recent performance was put-out because he escaped the theatre with the emerging crowd instead of meeting with the fans. She then went on to question why he was in the business at all if he did things like that.
I don't get it. Its not like she didn't get to see him in the play - which afterall - is why he's there and what she paid for. Then again, maybe she didn't go for the play at all.

Dr. Sugar could possibly put his labotomy skills to good use off stage by the sound of things.

[chrrymn]

Posted: 11/15/06 at 8:14am

I know the night I went everybody was waiting for Gale. Nobody was even phased when Blythe or Carla came out. Only a couple even bothered to go over and have them sign, they didn't even chat or anything. But, I fully admit, that I hoped to meet Brian Kinney...errr, Gale Harold as well. I've never understood why actors bolt, I'd be so appreciative for their loyalty, whether or not it came from Queer As Folk.

[muchado]

Posted: 11/15/06 at 5:03pm

So you didn't get to meet him either?

A number of people who went to see the play have related what it was like to meet him. One reviewer said that Gale asked them not to take pictures, so what did they do? Her girlfriend turned the flash off and took some anyway. Occurances like that are possibly what spoils it for others. I don't know. From what I've read in the past couple of weeks, Gale doesn't sound comfortable being 'famous'. But he loves to act.

Since starting this, I've done some homework and I've found him appealing in his chosen roles. He draws you into his characters and has you empathising with them. Another actor that has consistantly done that for me in the past is Robert Downey Jnr.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/15/06 at 11:38pm

Danner's accent is not British - it's how upperclass women of that time and region spoke. (And I have to say, I've questioned Hecht's skills since I saw FROZEN - Kurtz couldn't decide what London neighborhood she was from for the life of her.) She and Gugino are the saving graces of this production - they're both fierce. Gale Harold is just - as my companion put it - out of his league. Every time he spoke, I felt as if I was watching a high school production. Shipley has a list of Broadway credits as long as my arm, yet I found her unwatchable. The others are fine with not a lot to do - I can see why Baker plays roles that Deb Monk has played - she's practically her twin.

I enjoyed the play, having never seen it. I'd like to see it with a consistently fine cast next time.

Updated On: 11/15/06 at 11:38 PM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 1:21am

Agreed, Rath. Still, I would go back simply to see Gugino again. So. Brilliant.

[muchado]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 4:25am

Oh well. Then I have a quote for Gale Harold from the immeasurable talents of Nick Cave -

"The greatest artists have failed. My heroes have had their abysmal periods in their careers. It just doesn't matter that much."

Any word on what Carla is planning to do next?

Updated On: 11/16/06 at 04:25 AM

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 7:37am

To the people who've seen it since it opened, was the theater pretty full when you saw it?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 9:19am

It just opened last night.

Brantley's review of Danner's performance is simply baffling. And so off.

[Calvin]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 12:05pm

I agree, Rath. It seemed to be very polarizing amongst the reviews.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 12:05pm

"(When Catharine is delivering the long account of the events leading to Sebastian’s death, Violet appears simply to have nodded off in her wheelchair.)"

Is he kidding???

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 12:09pm

I agree, Rath. Danner was a hell of a lot better than Brantley is suggesting.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 12:14pm

When I saw the show (matinee on November 4th), Danner was lifeless. Gugino, IMO, is the only reason to see this play (and she is a fabulous reason to see it).

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 12:18pm

The play itself is reason enough to go, along with Gugino. It's something that's rarely done, and we won't see another professional production in New York for a long, long, long time.

If you haven't seen this yet, please do go. Gugino is superb. Tickets are extremely hard to come by, but try cancellation or something.

There is also a pending extension (past the current 1/14 closing date). They are waiting on Danner and Gugino's agents' approval. Hopefully after the raves for Gugino, they will go ahead with it.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 12:22pm

"The play itself is reason enough to go, along with Gugino."

I agree. The play itself is also very good.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 12:24pm

The fact that the play is being done again makes me happy, too.

I can't wait to see it.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 12:26pm

Lifeless? Seriously?

Wow.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 11:25pm

Anyone watched the slide show with Carla talking about the play?
It's here

[folkyboy]

Posted: 11/17/06 at 9:57am

i'm glad i'm not the only one who didn't get to see Gale Harold. though i wasn't really impressed by this performance. Carla just came across as super whiny and like a kid who was trying to push tears through that weren't coming.

the whole Amazonian staging threw me off.

[glass]

Posted: 11/17/06 at 10:23am

I agree completely. Carla was embarrassingly bad and I simply can't imagine thinking otherwise. But whatever.

[muchado]

Posted: 11/21/06 at 9:27am

The majority of people have loved Carla's performance. Maybe it was an off night for her? Then again, you can't please all of the people all of the time, eh?



Updated On: 11/22/06 at 09:27 AM

[muchado]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 8:26am

Just letting people know I edited my last post, removing the comments about the IMDb messageboards. I realized my comments pretty much put in the position of contributing to the fuss, and that wasn't my intention. Far from it.
Updated On: 11/22/06 at 08:26 AM

[muchado]

Posted: 11/26/06 at 5:00am

Does anyone know if they have extended the season yet?

[ducdebrabant]

Posted: 11/29/06 at 9:32pm

Yes, they've extended by a week.