| Mike Nichols R.I.P. | |
| Posted by: | TimDunleavy 07:02 am EST 11/20/14 |
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| Just breaking now | |
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| re: Mike Nichols R.I.P. | |
| Posted by: | Holland 02:13 pm EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | Mike Nichols R.I.P. - TimDunleavy 07:02 am EST 11/20/14 |
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| Decades ago, a friend was walking out of an avant-garde theatre production off-off Broadway. Black turtle necks, minimalist set, thoroughly incomprehensible and pretentious. Behind him was the great Mike Nichols who commented, “Everything in the theater changes. Acting styles...scenic technology...everything. Except the avant-garde. It always stays the same.” RIP to a man who contributed so much to our cultural heritage it boggles the brain. | |
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| Broadway lights will dim tomorrow, Friday, at 7:45pm nmi | |
| Posted by: | Ncassidine 12:16 pm EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | Mike Nichols R.I.P. - TimDunleavy 07:02 am EST 11/20/14 |
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| As actor | |
| Posted by: | NeoAdamite 11:08 am EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | Mike Nichols R.I.P. - TimDunleavy 07:02 am EST 11/20/14 |
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| I found his performance in the film of THE DESIGNATED MOURNER astonishing. He's just sitting in chair and talking straight at you, and for a great while it seems it's simply Nichols being himself. Then you start to notice the swallowed words, and it slowly dawns how far he's disappeared into his character. (David Hare directed.) | |
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| Nichols and May as "What's My Line?" mystery guests in 1960 | |
| Posted by: | nsguy45 01:13 pm EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | As actor - NeoAdamite 11:08 am EST 11/20/14 |
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| n/m | |
| Link | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYHMp3iuwdw |
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| re: Mike Nichols R.I.P. | |
| Posted by: | wmdmcree 10:08 am EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | Mike Nichols R.I.P. - TimDunleavy 07:02 am EST 11/20/14 |
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| An incredible career, no doubt. I was not on this board when Nichols's production of "The Country Girl" came to B'way. It was one of his few disasters and I never heard anything about what went wrong there. Does anyone on this site remember what they learned about that production and its troubles? | |
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| re: Mike Nichols R.I.P. | |
| Posted by: | AlanScott 10:03 pm EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Mike Nichols R.I.P. - wmdmcree 10:08 am EST 11/20/14 |
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| First, I would agree with Michael that disaster seems too strong a word, although my memory is that during early previews, posts here suggested that it was in very serious trouble. By the time it opened, it was more of a disappointment than a disaster. Some questioned whether the play was really all that good, while some thought the production was insufficient. It seems to me that the play is so delicate that it's especially hard to realize effectively in performance. I recently read Stella Adler on the play, from the collection of her lectures on American playwrights. I was surprised by what she wrote. Her point of view on the play was almost totally in opposition to the general impression I have the play and its characters. I'm inclined to trust Adler, who knew the play much better than I do. Not to mention that she also knew Odets well, and that she was a pretty brilliant lady. I attended one of her lecture series (the one on Chekhov, Ibsen and Strindberg), and to say that her insights on those writers and on acting generally were brilliant would be an understatement. Presuming that Adler's point of view on the play, which is very pro-Georgie, expresses what Odets intended, the play seems to me almost undramatic. In addition, we have to take so much about the characters on faith, which must make the decision-making process especially difficult for the actors and the director (and for the audience). So the play seems to demand a perfect production or it risks falling very flat and seeming undramatic, which is a bit ironic given that it's all about theatre and the stresses of putting on a show. The production was probably not helped by the casting of Morgan Freeman, who had been away from the stage for a very long time and seemed rusty. It's easy to understand why Nichols cast him, but it was a gamble that probably did not pay off. | |
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| re: Mike Nichols R.I.P. | |
| Posted by: | wmdmcree 11:32 pm EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Mike Nichols R.I.P. - AlanScott 10:03 pm EST 11/20/14 |
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| I did see the production in previews, so it could have gotten somewhat stronger as it continued. But certainly, the performance I saw did not look like there was any chance of this truly becoming a successful production of the play. I remember how weak Mr. Freeman's performance was, but I could not get a sense of the origin of the problem at the time. Rusty is a good idea and a good description. And yes, Ms. Adler knew her stuff!! | |
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| ??? | |
| Posted by: | seeseveryshow 10:47 am EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Mike Nichols R.I.P. - wmdmcree 10:08 am EST 11/20/14 |
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| This board never ceases to amaze me. On the day we learn the shocking news of the sudden passing of one of the theater's greats, someone wants us to focus on what he characterizes as "one of his few disasters....and its troubles." Is this the time to worry about one production that may have gone wrong? The man brought joy and enlightenment to millions through magnificent stage the cinematic achievements. Let's discuss those things. | |
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| re: ??? | |
| Posted by: | AlanScott 09:37 pm EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | ??? - seeseveryshow 10:47 am EST 11/20/14 |
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| I thought that the post was respectfully written and not out of line. I understand your reaction as well, but I was not bothered by the post and I did consider responding to it and trying to answer the question (and perhaps I still will). | |
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| re: ??? | |
| Posted by: | Guillaume 12:52 pm EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | ??? - seeseveryshow 10:47 am EST 11/20/14 |
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| Let's not tell others what they should or should not post. Every wake I've ever been to includes retelling of stories about all aspects of the person's life. | |
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| re: ??? | |
| Posted by: | Michael_Portantiere 12:07 pm EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | ??? - seeseveryshow 10:47 am EST 11/20/14 |
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| And although THE COUNTRY GIRL was not well received, I'd hardly classify it as a disaster. I was thinking about Nichols recently. I've always thought it can't be a coincidence that the ONLY production of ANNIE I ever saw that was hilariously funny, heart warming, and with just the right tone was the original production -- the only one that Nichols was directly involved with, even if not as director (at least not officially). | |
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| re: Jon Robin Baitz on Mike Nichols | |
| Posted by: | SidL 12:25 pm EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | re: ??? - Michael_Portantiere 12:07 pm EST 11/20/14 |
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| linked | |
| Link | VF |
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| re: Jon Robin Baitz on Mike Nichols | |
| Posted by: | garyd 09:20 pm EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Jon Robin Baitz on Mike Nichols - SidL 12:25 pm EST 11/20/14 |
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| "It’s mercantile, and literal, no longer a land of dreams, just another playground for the 21st century’s global rich. And with Mike gone, there’s one fewer person to find the glory in subtext, the code that is buried deep in American life, at that intersection where lust, nervousness, ambition, and comedy all meet. He ran that intersection for decades." All true but so very pessimistic. I think Mike would have laughed but he had the talent to turn the truth on end. I guess I have to believe someone else will do the same. | |
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| re: ??? | |
| Posted by: | twocents 11:03 am EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | ??? - seeseveryshow 10:47 am EST 11/20/14 |
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| Well said. | |
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| re: ??? | |
| Posted by: | finally 10:53 am EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | ??? - seeseveryshow 10:47 am EST 11/20/14 |
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| I'm sure Mike Nichols doesn't care one way or the other at this point, but could you please give us a date for when it's ok by you to talk about every part of his career? | |
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| re: ??? | |
| Posted by: | SidL 11:11 am EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | re: ??? - finally 10:53 am EST 11/20/14 |
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| well said as well | |
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| re: ??? | |
| Posted by: | twocents 11:02 am EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | re: ??? - finally 10:53 am EST 11/20/14 |
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| It's just a tawdry juxtaposition of posts. SMH. You really are as impatient as your user name! | |
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| Link | |
| Posted by: | Ann 08:07 am EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | Mike Nichols R.I.P. - TimDunleavy 07:02 am EST 11/20/14 |
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| Link | Early story at ABC |
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| re: Mike Nichols R.I.P. | |
| Posted by: | nsguy45 07:47 am EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | Mike Nichols R.I.P. - TimDunleavy 07:02 am EST 11/20/14 |
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| ABC-TV is reporting that he died during the night of heart failure. | |
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| re: Mike Nichols R.I.P. | |
| Posted by: | MarjorieMae 09:49 am EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Mike Nichols R.I.P. - nsguy45 07:47 am EST 11/20/14 |
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| What a shame. I used to see him at Topaz, a Thai restaurant on W. 56th Street before City Center Encore performances. | |
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| An incredible career. | |
| Posted by: | seeseveryshow 08:40 am EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Mike Nichols R.I.P. - nsguy45 07:47 am EST 11/20/14 |
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| A quick survey of ibdb shows that over a span of 50 years Nichols directed at least 22 Broadway shows, many of which were the smash hits of their season, and won 9 Tony Awards for direction: BAREFOOT IN THE PARK (1964), THE ODD COUPLE, LUV, PLAZA SUITE, PRISONER OF SECOND AVENUE, ANNIE, THE REAL THING, SPAMALOT, and DEATH OF A SALESMAN (2012). And, of course, he had a similarly brilliant career directing motion pictures. In December 1960, 54 years ago (ouch!) - not yet a teenager - I saw him and Elaine May in a comedy treat (a series of sketches) simply called "AN EVENING WITH MIKE NICHOLS AND ELAINE MAY" at the Golden Theatre. Most people may not remember or appreciate what a terrific performer Nichols was before he parted with May and became a director. | |
| Link | 1960 Playbill Cover |
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| re: An incredible career. | |
| Posted by: | enoch10 11:38 am EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | An incredible career. - seeseveryshow 08:40 am EST 11/20/14 |
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| >> I saw him and Elaine May in a comedy treat (a series of sketches) simply called "AN EVENING WITH MIKE NICHOLS AND ELAINE MAY" at the Golden Theatre. i do not envy many people many things but i am truly, deeply, envious of that. god, i loved nichols and may. | |
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| re: An incredible career. | |
| Posted by: | WaymanWong 11:23 am EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | An incredible career. - seeseveryshow 08:40 am EST 11/20/14 |
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| Of course, his screen highlights include his Oscar-winning film of ''Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?,'' starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, and his Emmy-winning HBO version of ''Angels in America'' with Al Pacino and Meryl Streep. Back in July, Jack O'Brien interviewed Mike Nichols onstage at the Golden Theatre as part of an HBO special. What an honor and thrill it was to hear Nichols discuss working with the greats; I could've listened to him for hours on end. | |
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| More Golden moments | |
| Posted by: | WaymanWong 11:57 am EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | re: An incredible career. - WaymanWong 11:23 am EST 11/20/14 |
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| Jeremy Gerard of Deadline.com covered that wonderful Nichols-O'Brien evening at the Golden, and here's a link. Gerard adds that Nichols was supposed to film Meryl Streep as Maria Callas in a screen version of ''Master Class.'' | |
| Link | Mike Nichols: It took me 50 years to figure out that 'The Graduate' is 'Phedre' |
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| Martin Charnin directed ANNIE... | |
| Posted by: | TimDunleavy 08:57 am EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | An incredible career. - seeseveryshow 08:40 am EST 11/20/14 |
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| Nichols' Tony for that one was as producer - he shared in the Best Musical award. (Although there have long been rumors that he helped with the direction when the show was foundering out of town.) That line on the cast album - "MIKE NICHOLS presents ANNIE" - was the first time I ever saw his name as a kid. | |
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| i was curious what the grammy was | |
| Posted by: | dramedy 08:47 am EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | An incredible career. - seeseveryshow 08:40 am EST 11/20/14 |
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| his first EGOT award for a comedy recording. | |
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| re: Mike Nichols R.I.P. | |
| Posted by: | AC126748 08:18 am EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Mike Nichols R.I.P. - nsguy45 07:47 am EST 11/20/14 |
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| Diane Sawyer's mother just died within the last month, as well. I'll be keeping her in my thoughts in what must be an incredibly difficult time. | |
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| ii had to look up that connection | |
| Posted by: | dramedy 08:49 am EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Mike Nichols R.I.P. - AC126748 08:18 am EST 11/20/14 |
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| her husband of 26 years. | |
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| re: ii had to look up that connection | |
| Posted by: | AC126748 09:01 am EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | ii had to look up that connection - dramedy 08:49 am EST 11/20/14 |
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| Perhaps I'm wrong, but I assume it's common knowledge to many that Nichols and Sawyer were married. | |
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| "Common Knowledge" | |
| Posted by: | TimDunleavy 11:46 am EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | re: ii had to look up that connection - AC126748 09:01 am EST 11/20/14 |
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| A few weeks ago I saw THE COUNTRY HOUSE, and there were two men in their thirties sitting to my right. During intermission, one of them was reading Blythe Danner's Playbill bio and said incredulously, "Wait - Blythe Danner is Gwyneth Paltrow's mother?!" His companion said "No, that can't be. She must have played her mother in a movie." Then they dropped the subject. You'd think the Danner-Paltrow relationship would be common knowledge, especially among people who go to Broadway plays starring Blythe Danner. But common knowledge isn't so common. | |
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| Not to be confused with his film "Carnal Knowledge" (nm) ;) | |
| Posted by: | WaymanWong 01:21 pm EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | "Common Knowledge" - TimDunleavy 11:46 am EST 11/20/14 |
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| why would it be? :-) nm | |
| Posted by: | ryhog 07:01 pm EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | Not to be confused with his film "Carnal Knowledge" (nm) ;) - WaymanWong 01:21 pm EST 11/20/14 |
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| that's one reason i posted | |
| Posted by: | dramedy 09:15 am EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | re: ii had to look up that connection - AC126748 09:01 am EST 11/20/14 |
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| in case it isn't common knowledge. if its not my generation, then there is a good chance i don't know. | |
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| Nichols was complaining about shortness of breath at | |
| Posted by: | Neilfrombrooklyn 10:14 am EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | that's one reason i posted - dramedy 09:15 am EST 11/20/14 |
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| the Tonys and something I saw recently. | |
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| Mike Nichols: Watch Clips From 6 of His Best Films | |
| Posted by: | Neilfrombrooklyn 10:19 am EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | Nichols was complaining about shortness of breath at - Neilfrombrooklyn 10:14 am EST 11/20/14 |
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| From the WSJ. | |
| Link | Click on link |
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| An Appraisal: Ben Brantley on Mike NicholsFrom The Times | |
| Posted by: | Neilfrombrooklyn 03:32 pm EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | Mike Nichols: Watch Clips From 6 of His Best Films - Neilfrombrooklyn 10:19 am EST 11/20/14 |
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| Ben Brantly weighs in | |
| Link | Link to Times article |
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| re: An Appraisal: Ben Brantley on Mike NicholsFrom The Times | |
| Posted by: | garyd 09:26 pm EST 11/20/14 |
| In reply to: | An Appraisal: Ben Brantley on Mike NicholsFrom The Times - Neilfrombrooklyn 03:32 pm EST 11/20/14 |
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| Mike was the antithesis of glib. I am sorry Brantley chose that word. | |
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