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re: A Delicate Balance tonight

Posted by: Delvino 07:00 am EST 11/20/14
In reply to: A Delicate Balance tonight - AlanScott 01:07 am EST 11/20/14
When I accept your premise that the production is set in 1970 (I've beat a dead horse, and re-beat it about the contemporary era in which the production claims it's set, built on Albee's stating this in the new published edition), I agree with just about everything you said, particularly about Lithgow and Plimpton.

And above all else, the rather extraordinary, bold new Edna of Higgins, unfortunate bourgeois caricaturing costume aside (mink over polyester, 1970 or 2014), for me, a powerful new take with depth added to this woman. It is clear here for the first time the degree to which she orchestrates -- directly or via passive aggressive manipulation -- much of the unexpected home invasion that defines the plot. Harry is almost, but not quite, her puppy here. And McKinnon consistently gives Edna the strongest position on stage, usurping the very spot the Close Agnes dominates. Blocking often becomes crucial to an interpretation of course, and it's fascinating here to watch the Higgins Edna literally command center stage in both of her big moments. I found her work riveting.

Were we to get further into the weeds of the Glenn Close Agnes, we might have to agree to disagree. The bottom line, she's a wonderful actor, ideally cast, and does much to make a persuasive case. I wanted (much) more at times, but she's strong and in the two weeks since I've seen the production, probably grown far stronger.


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