Okay so I got back home a few minutes ago. I got to the theater around 4:30 and snagged a 5th row center student rush ticket. To add my two cents about the performances I am so glad I got to see Maureen one last time go on as Big/Little Edie even if she wasn't in the best of health (hope she feels better soon!). I went in expecting to love Dale and I honestly think that of all the understudies/standbys I've seen I dislike her performance the most. It just didn't engage me the way MLW always seems to. Anyways, what a great show and a fantastic audience. During curtain call I was pleasently surprised when I turned around and saw almost the whole theater stand up for Maureen! Well deserved! For those interested, the stage door was much more crowded than I expected as well. She was very sweet and offered to take anyone who wanted to see the stage backstage.
I love America. Just because I think gay dudes should be allowed to adopt kids and we should all have hybrid cars doesn't mean I don't love America.
[turns and winks directly into the camera]
- Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) on 30 Rock
I didn't know Maureen takes people backstage. That's nice of her.
That's great she got a Standing O as well.
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.
some of that behavior onstage sounds a litte crazy, but i guess it worked since the audience liked it. i'm glad she had a warm reception...and she really takes everyone backstage? thats...different, :)
Does Maureen come out of the stagedoor when she isn't on?
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.
Wow, that was just HARSH. Do people have any respect for the performers?
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.
" Maureen hacking like she had TB through the entire performance Dale Souules doing a carbon copy of Mary Louise and few extra hacks throw in by Maureen to signal "oh I am sick" THEN WHY THE F*CK ARE YOU ON BITCH!!!!! I feel asleep in the second act! Sorry went wanting to see you shine but if you were not up to it or, sadly if that was your regular performance shame on you!And to the producer of this sicky show if you presented this as a full price ticket SHAME ON YOU, If your leading lady is sick and the cover is as well DON'T present the performance DUMBASS what a terrible night at the theater ! I say this having seen the production 3 time. Hothead"
Honestly, it was my third time seeing the show - the first was in December when it immediately became one of my favorites, the second was a week ago matinee which I was thoroughly disappointed by. I didn't really want to go back tonight but a friend convinced me to because of the understudies, and holy cow - I love this show again. It's the first time the first act ever really worked for me, and Maureen Moore is just so dynamic.
I honestly thought the huge crack was a character choice, and I really liked it. Until, of course, she came out and belted it at the end. And I'm another one of the people who went backstage. Hi!
The ATC person was crazy, it was the best performance I've seen of Grey Gardens. I don't give standing O's lightly, but I stood for Dale & Maureen.
"I was there tonight, too. Was it just me, or was it a little surreal (and very cool) to walk out on that stage? "
It was and is surreal to be on a stage that has hosted such great talent past and present. I don't think that feeling of awe and amazement will decrease no matter how many times I go on stage.
I want to cry. WHY didn't I stay for the stage door for Maureen? I cannot believe I missed that. I'm so jealous of every one of you who got to go onstage. I would love to go backstage at that show.
"This table, he is over one hundred years old. If I could, I would take an old gramophone needle and run it along the surface of the wood. To hear the music of the voices. All that was said." - Doug Wright, I Am My Own Wife
OK, now that I'm slightly more coherent, here's a review, for those of you interested.
I would go as far as to say that last night's perf of Grey Gardens was the some finest acting I've seen, and certainly the most I've ever been affected by this show.
Maureen Moore was sensational. I've seen her go on twice now, and her Big Edie in the first act is just stunning - she brings a joy to the role that is very clever - it allows the audience to fully see where this character is going to end up in the second act, delusions and all. Despite the fact that she had quite a few technical problems to deal with (that wig wasn't going to stay on to save its life!), Moore gave an energetic, delightful performance. In particular, her "Will You", craftily acted out more than sang, was enchanting to watch - she gets so caught up in the context of the song that the final "I'll be forever true" is held a good five or six seconds beyond the music... the look she gives when she realizes she's still singing was priceless. Also, Moore's attention to the little details of the emotion of a scene (specifically, I'm talking about Edie's reaction to being called "an actress without a stage") are hauntingly real and specific to the character she's created.
I really thought after Will You? that she wouldn't be able to top herself, but WOW, has she come a long way with discovering Little Edie. Her Edie is not totally unlike Christine's, but is more similar to the documentary version in it's flirtatiousness. She completely panders to the audience, creating layered and textured moments where if you look beyond the smile on her face, there's a whole world of desparation behind it. BUT, she never lets you catch her in it, until after Around the World. Captivating. I'm a big, big fan.
Dale Soules is also wonderful... I don't have as much to say about her because it's not that far a departure from what Mary Louise does, but I will say that she was VERY funny and very closely follows what MM accomplished with the character in the first act. Her "Jerry Likes My Corn" got a HUGE response from the audience, and rightly so.
I was not at the theater last night and am very sorry that I missed the performance. I have seen Maureen 9 times as Edie and she is wonderful. The little details she gives her performance are so interesting to watch.
"Her Edie is not totally unlike Christine's, but is more similar to the documentary version in it's flirtatiousness."
Walt, that's a perfect description of Maureen's Edie! When people ask me the difference between her and Christine, that sticks out the most. Each have a different take on the characters and both work incredibly well.
She plays on her child-like behavior more than Christine does, as she says in the docu "In New York I'm a woman, but here I'm just Mother's little girl."
I love America. Just because I think gay dudes should be allowed to adopt kids and we should all have hybrid cars doesn't mean I don't love America.
[turns and winks directly into the camera]
- Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) on 30 Rock
I posted this in a thread afew days ago because I went on Sunday: When I got to the box office, I asked if there were any student rush tickets. The guy said "We are no longer doing Student Rush for the show".
So it wasn't a "made up" thing, because it actually happened...
What time were you there and about how many would you guestimate were given out?
I love America. Just because I think gay dudes should be allowed to adopt kids and we should all have hybrid cars doesn't mean I don't love America.
[turns and winks directly into the camera]
- Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) on 30 Rock
I can't believe I didn't go last night. Maureen is fabulous.
"I was there tonight, too. Was it just me, or was it a little surreal (and very cool) to walk out on that stage? "
I wasn't there last night, but I did stand on that stage and it is indeed the most surreal experience I've had.
http://www.beintheheights.com/katnicole1 (Please click and help me win!)
I chose, and my world was shaken- So what? The choice may have been mistaken,
The choosing was not...
"Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life." - Lin-Manuel Miranda
"And when Idina Menzel is singing, I'm always slightly worried that her teeth are going to jump out of her mouth and chase me." - Schmerg_the_Impaler
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.