Carol Burnett In Love Letters

[Anshel2]

Any one see her this weekend? I've seen Mia Farrow who was just so vulnerable. I just can't see Carol B. in this, but am hoping she is wonderful.

[mattmarkowski99]

Carol Burnett was just wonderful in this. She and Brian Dennehy have such chemistry. One of the best plays I have ever seen, but she sadly doesn't sign unless you catch her sneaking out of the front door into her car.

[haterobics]

"unless you catch her sneaking out of the front door into her car."

Sneaking? You mean leaving?

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

I certainly hope that whether an actor signs at the stagedoor or not continues to be reviewed as part of their performance since, you know, it's just as important as their onstage work *eye roll*

[stevenycguy]

I saw it last month and it was a total bore - people reading the phone book, no chemistry with each other, no emotion, etc. It was a snoozer.

Then I saw it with Carol Burnett over the weekend and WOW what a major difference. She breathes life into the play, makes it hilarious & fun, and makes the 95 minutes just fly by. She has great chemistry with Brian Dennehy, and they are both reacting to each other as they are alternately reading the letters. Highly recommended. This is how theater should be.

The future casts should be made to watch last month's version (to learn how NOT to perform Love Letters) and watch it with Carol Burnett (a thrilling performance!)

[mattmarkowski99]

"Sneaking? You mean leaving?"

She was leaving, but in a sneaking kind of way. She had sunglasses on and a sweatshirt with a hood up meaning she was trying to sneak out so that the people at the stage door didn't see her. If she was just "leaving" then she would have walked out of the stage door or out the front now without the hood up with the sweatshirt. Yes, she was leaving, but in a way that she wouldn't be seen - hence my use of the word sneaking.

And also to the other reply. My reaction of the play had nothing to do with Carol Burnett not signing autographs. I was disappointed, but it wasn't such a big deal that it changed by whole entire opinion of the show. I loved it before she left and I loved it the same after she left.

[FishermanBob]

"She was leaving, but in a sneaking kind of way."

Was she tiptoeing? And did she stop every 3-4 steps to quickly look left and then right? And did you hear the theme from the Pink Panther playing in the background? Cause if all that was happening, then I would have to agree, she was definitely sneaking.

She's 81 years old. She doesn't have to apologize for wearing her sweatshirt hood up.

[ClydeBarrow]

Maybe it wasn't even Carol Burnett at all!

[mattmarkowski99]

I really don't care that she didn't come out of the stage door. And I don't really think it is such a big deal that I used the word sneaking. I'm so sorry, next time I won't make this mistake again.

[CurtainsUpat8]

It sure sounds like she was sneaking out to me. There are lots of people on this board who just want to be contrary. Don't pay attention to them.

[haterobics]

I have yet to figure out what the appropriate way is for an actor to leave a show and not sign. There doesn't seem to be one.

[AC126748]

It's not like she stuck her middle finger in your face and told you to go f*ck yourself.

An actor's duty to you as an audience member ends when she leaves the stage. Whether or not she wants to sign autographs is her business. However--as this board so frequently reminds us--we live in an entitled age, and an actor who chooses not to do the stage door thing is often derided as being unappreciative or a bitch.

[PianoMann]

I'm so glad to hear these positive first reviews of Burnett!

Do people think the student rush is going to be insane now because of her involvement? Has anyone tried the rush / passed by and can comment?

[dreaming]

The rush is general and it's one hour before curtain, FYI.

I'm hoping to catch this pairing very soon.

BTW-I thought Mia Farrow was AMAZING.

[lovebwy]

Many many years ago I saw Julie Harris and Richard Kiley do Love Letters in Boston. I was just not very impressed. It was the way you described it seeing it a month ago. Two people reading.

Would LOVE to see Carol Burnett in it.

[amoni2]

Oh simmer down AC126748, no one said she had to sign. He was merely describing how Burnett left the building. And sorry it offends your delicate sensibility, but it doesn't take a detective to conclude if a performer who has been on the stage for fifty years, and clearly knows how the stage door works, leaves out the front door with a hood and sunglasses, it's obvious they are sneaking out to avoid the waiting crowd. No one is calling for her arrest.

[stevenycguy]

She didn't sneak out - she simply walked out the theater's front doors into a waiting SUV. Then gave a very warm huge wave/smile to the crowd as the SUV was pulling away. (Brian Dennehy did sign.) And again, her performance was simply WOW - you must see this show with her in it. Highly recommended!!

[Jordan Catalano]

No, she dug a Shawshank style hole under the sidewalk and crawled through it while wearing a swastika and shouting her support for Prop 8.

[haterobics]

The entire point of the remark seemed to be telling people who wanted her signature that they should "catch her sneaking out of the front door into her car" rather than wait at the stage door, no?

As opposed to just saying that she doesn't sign, so no use trying to get her signature...

[mattmarkowski99]

God! I am so sorry that I said she snuck out. She didn't, she left like every other person in the world. She didn't sneak out at all. Why can't people on this just talk about her performance? Instead, everyone obsesses over how I wrote the word "sneaking." Please just talk about her performance. I'm so sorry that I used the wrong word. I'm sorry I offended all of you.

[Auggie27]

I thought you meant, does she, like, sign. So that deaf people can enjoy "Love Letters," too. (I mean come on, really, shouldn't they catch a break?) After all, she pulls her ear.

[anmiller07]

Why can't people on this just talk about her performance?

...she sadly doesn't sign unless you catch her sneaking out of the front door into her car

At which part of the performance did that happen?

[Patash]

I agree that actors should be required to sign and stop and chat with the audience. Could you imagine if you stood outside a restaurant to talk with the chef after a good meal, and he didn't stop to chat with you about how much he enjoyed preparing your meal? Or what if you went to the factory where they made your car so you could talk to the guy who helped build it and get his autograph, but he just brushed by you on his way home from work? Doesn't he know that part of an important part of anyone's job is chatting with those they provided the "product" for?

[PianoMann]

Thanks for the clarification, dreaming! I'm definitely hoping to catch Burnett in the short period of time that she's performing!

[WhizzerMarvin]

I saw the show tonight and Burnett was excellent. I loved the show even more this time around and got rather emotional at the end.

I can't vouch for Burnett's stagedoor behavior, but she's rather sneaky on stage. Farrow was vulnerable from the start and really played it for the tragedy and longing, even when she was cracking a joke. There was always a wistful undercurrent to her line readings. Burnett is very funny in the first third and lets the drama of the later letters creep up on the audience.

Love Letters is going to be my personal surprise favorite treat so far this season. Can't wait to go back for the next pairing.