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Message to Eslgr8 and So Cal Theatre Fans |
joined:9/20/04
joined:
9/20/04
Wow, I now have my own love thread! And as it was completely unexpected and started by someone I didn't even know was on this board, I am even happier than you can imagine. To answer Dgrant's question, Phil was in a production of Last Night at Ballyhoo at the Center Theater in Whittier (better than the one the Colony in Burbank did a few years back) in my humble opinion, and not the one at South Coast Rep. Speaking of which, I felt really fortunate tonight to see my first production of A View From the Bridge, by my very favorite playwright Arthur Miller. I don't know of any other writer who can be so dramatic, and thought-provoking, and spellbinding, and "classic" as Mr. Miller. A View From the Bridge has another of his great flawed heroes. Like Willie in Death of a Salesman and Joe in All My Sons, AVFTB's Eddie is both towering and humanly small, worthy of both pity and compassion, and his obsessive journey to the play's inevitable tragic ending (it's Arthur Miller, after all, so don't expect to leave the theater smiling) is superbly rendered by Richard Doyle. Elizabeth Ruscio as Beatrice (she could be Linda Loman's spiritual sister) is heart-wrenching. The revelation for me was Secret Garden's Daisy Eagan, all grown up and completely inhabiting her Brooklyn-born character. She always seemed "actorish" and much too "cute" when I listened to SG's OBC recording. Not in this production. She's a damn good actress. The only (possibly) weak link in this excellent production is David Barry Gray. He's not bad, per se, but for me the part would have worked better if the character had come across, at least a little bit "not right," which was 1940's Eddie's way of saying g-a-y. Just to make the audience wonder a bit if Eddie might not be correct in his assumption (which he takes to the point of obsession). Thanks to Gold Star Events 1/2 price tickets, I've discovered South Coast Rep this year and will continue to go south to see their work! (A great set design, by the way.) So thumbs up from me for this one. PS: I never did post my comments on Flower Drum Song in Fullerton. I thought, why speak ill of nice people. But the production is, as the L.A. Times said, a pale imitation of the brilliance we saw at the Taper a few years ago. None of the performers could erase the razor sharp characterizations of the OBC performers.
So one thumbs up and one thumbs down.
That's it for now.
:)
He's playing Freddy. I've seen him in a few things throughout the years - "Most Happy Fella," and most recently "My Way" - and he's such a nice person. Do you know who's playing Henry Higgins? Sheesh arent you just the rockstar of rockstars on this board! Its great!
I had to step out of lurking once again, and tell you how great it was to see those pictures. If you email them or pm to me it would be great. As you may or may not now from those Stalag 17 days myself and Derek Scally (Sefton) had the chance to tour with "The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare, Abridged" throughout Los Angeles and San Diego. And me and him are getting ready to begin rehearsals on a production of "Art". If "someone" would come see that and write a review, that'd be great!!!
Love Arthur Miller, saw Glory Crampton in Camelot at Papermill three years ago (BORING), and saw a few friends in Flower Drum Song....I will follow your lead and not speak ill of people.....wow, thats a first for me
You rock Steve, those pics are great!!!
Phil
joined:2/28/05
joined:
2/28/05
Posted: 5/23/05 at 8:11pm