The Breath of Life: Spiced to Perfection, and With Just the Right Blend of Ingredients

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo credit (above, left): T. Charles Erickson
T. Charles Erikson Photography...      http://pa.photoshelter.com/c/tcharleserickson                           

The Breath of Life: Spiced to Perfection, and With Just the Right Blend of
Ingredients

By Len Bourret, for www.BroadwayWorld.com (Copyright 2009)

Stockard Channing is, undoubtedly, one of Broadway's and Hollywood's most clever
talents, who shines an intelligent light on the characters she plays, with intellect and
introspection. Probably best known for playing First Lady Abbey Bartlet in The West
Wing (on television), Betty Rizzo in the musical fantastic "Grease" and "Six Degrees
of Separation" (both on the stage and screen), The Breath of Life exudes with riveting
images and engaging conversation.

Ms. Channing began her career working in Boston's experimental theatre, before very
adventurously journeying to the off-broadway stage.

She made her broadway debut in Two Gentlemen of Verona - The Musical--and worked
with playwright, John Guare. From the beginning--like Jane Alexander--she began to
display great range and dynamic versatility.

Stockard Channing made her television debut, on Sesame Street, playing the Number
Painter's Victim. She brilliantly captured the comedic and dramatic forte, playing her
first lead in the medium of television, appearing in The Girl Most Likely To (aptly
described as a "black comedy" by Joan Rivers). Lucille Ball and Red Skelton once told
me that an actor must know about life's drama, in order to brilliantly do superlative
comedy, and it is here that Stockard Channing steals the show, displaying the ironies
of comedy versus drama (Ms. Channing is as expert handling drama, as she is the area 
of comedy).

This work led her to working in Mike Nichols' The Fortune (also starring Warren Beatty 
& Jack Nicholson), as well as in Neil Simon's film "The Cheap Detective", playing Peter
Falk's secretary.

Ms. Channing returned to Broadway in They're Playing Our Song. She then appeared,
in New Haven and on Broadway, in the Tony Award winning "The Day in the Death of
Joe Egg". Stockard Channing won--and starstruck fans, like myself--began to cheer
her on! Very shrewdly, she teamed up--once again--with John Guare.

Stockard Channing received Tony nominations for The House of Blue Leaves and "Six
Degrees of Separation" (for which she also received an Obie), and a (Best Actress) 
Drama Desk Award for Woman in Mind.

A serious actress, she particularly appreciates audiences who thoughtfully consider
women's perspectives.

Other accolades include an Emmy nomination for the Television mini-series, Echoes
in the Darkness, as well as a Cable Ace Award for Tidy Endings (admirably working
from Harvey Fierstein's script), in addition to her very moving performance in "The
Matthew Shepard Story" (supportively playing Judy Shepard). Stockard Channing's
photo images give view to the fact that Ms. Channing does characterizations quite
convincingly (she seems to have shades of Elizabeth Taylor and Natalie Wood).

Her magical smile even has the power to transport audiences to Oz and the Yellow
Brick Road. 

Many thanks, to Jane Alexander and Stockard Channing, for allowing me the honor
and privilege of participating in such enjoyable and spontaneous interviews!

Both Jane Alexander and Stockard Channing are consummate professionals. For their
performances to be best viewed, The Breath of Life will give audiences the opportunity
to experience two women in engaging conversations (like Love Letters, but probing
deeply into David Hare's insightful and introspective interpretations of relationships).
Indeed, The Breath of Life is a play not to be missed!

For more information or ticket purchases, call the box office at (203) 227-4177, or toll-
free at 1-888-927-7529. You can also visit 25 Powers Court, off Route 1 in Westport.
Tickets may be purchased, online, at www.westportplayhouse.org. Hurry, tickets
are selling fast!