| Hal Prince and I at The Visit | |
| Posted by: | Ann 10:12 am EDT 05/09/15 |
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| Mr. Prince and I saw The Visit last night - unfortunately, our seats were a row apart. Good to see he still wears his glasses atop his head. I'm sure he loved Chita and I wonder what he thinks of John Doyle. As for me, I found The Visit to be haunting and something I've been thinking about a lot since leaving the theater. It really is an honor to see Chita in a Kander and Ebb musical - a first for me. The love she received from the audience was enthusiastic and authentic. It took me awhile to adjust to the tone of the show - some at the beginning almost made me laugh. But once I bought into the style, I was fascinated. No, it's not perfect; I don't know if it's a great musical. But I think the story is terrific (sorry I missed an opportunity to see the play - I hope I can see it one day), and it was fascinating to see it play out. Random thoughts: No slight to Roger Rees in general as an actor, but I wish I had seen and heard George Hearn as Anton. Happy to hear the beautiful voice of Jason Danieley (not sure I was crazy about his "straw" colored Docksiders™). Mary Beth Peil is great. The Eunichs (former Mary Sunshines perhaps?) are creepy. The Lyceum is a perfect theater for this show. I don't like the snack hawkers roaming the aisles, but I was glad they weren't throwing hot dogs and beers, and it was better than fellow audience members eating nachos, like they do at Radio City. Looking forward to revisiting the score on the upcoming cast recording (maybe not "you, you, you," but other songs hit the Kander & Ebb button). And Chita. Really glad I got to see this one. | |
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| re: Hal Prince and I at The Visit | |
| Posted by: | lowwriter 12:12 am EDT 05/10/15 |
| In reply to: | Hal Prince and I at The Visit - Ann 10:12 am EDT 05/09/15 |
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| Wondered how Howard McGillin was as Anton. | |
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| re: Hal Prince and I at The Visit | |
| Posted by: | lowwriter 12:53 am EDT 05/10/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Hal Prince and I at The Visit - lowwriter 12:12 am EDT 05/10/15 |
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| I think I am mistaken now. Didn't he play a part in The Visit at Williamstown? If so, which part? | |
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| re: Hal Prince and I at The Visit | |
| Posted by: | AlanScott 02:26 am EDT 05/10/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Hal Prince and I at The Visit - lowwriter 12:53 am EDT 05/10/15 |
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| He was announced to play Frederich Kuhn, the schoolmaster, but he dropped out. I think he dropped out to do a staged reading of GIgi. | |
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| re: Hal Prince and I at The Visit | |
| Posted by: | larry13 12:22 am EDT 05/10/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Hal Prince and I at The Visit - lowwriter 12:12 am EDT 05/10/15 |
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| When did McGillin play Anton? | |
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| re: Hal Prince and I at The Visit | |
| Posted by: | AlanScott 06:06 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
| In reply to: | Hal Prince and I at The Visit - Ann 10:12 am EDT 05/09/15 |
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| I wonder if Prince sat there thinking, "Hmm. Some of these directorial choices are very similar to what I did." ;) He probably already knew. | |
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| re: Hal Prince and I at The Visit | |
| Posted by: | garyd 08:53 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Hal Prince and I at The Visit - AlanScott 06:06 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
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| I truly admire your memory. What was similar? | |
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| re: Hal Prince and I at The Visit | |
| Posted by: | AlanScott 02:28 am EDT 05/10/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Hal Prince and I at The Visit - garyd 08:53 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
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| The use of Claire's luggage. Prince used it more, he used it for a lot of the furniture, whereas Doyle lets the coffin serve a lot of the time. But he also uses the luggage, and I kept thinking of the Prince production every time I saw that. | |
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| re: Hal Prince and I at The Visit | |
| Posted by: | garyd 11:56 am EDT 05/10/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Hal Prince and I at The Visit - AlanScott 02:28 am EDT 05/10/15 |
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| lol, true. However, for some reason the luggage reminded me of "The Showgirl Must Go On'. Isn't that silly? | |
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| re: Hal Prince and I at The Visit | |
| Posted by: | jimvar1 09:06 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Hal Prince and I at The Visit - garyd 08:53 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
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| What was similar? ******************** Bodies on stage; emitting sounds, moving. | |
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| re: Hal Prince and I at The Visit | |
| Posted by: | Singapore/Fling 11:12 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Hal Prince and I at The Visit - jimvar1 09:06 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
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| Based upon AlanScott's record on this site, I'd be willing to take his word that certain specific elements of this production are reminiscent of earlier work. Some of those things may even have been enshrined in the script and music. | |
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| re: Hal Prince and I at The Visit | |
| Posted by: | Singapore/Fling 08:26 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Hal Prince and I at The Visit - AlanScott 06:06 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
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| You know, if an idea works, and it's the best idea, it's better to use the idea than try and make something that's not as good simply because it's original. What matters is making the best show you can make. | |
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| re: Hal Prince and I at The Visit | |
| Posted by: | AlanScott 02:29 am EDT 05/10/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Hal Prince and I at The Visit - Singapore/Fling 08:26 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
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| I completely agree. | |
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| When was the last time someone did the play? | |
| Posted by: | portenopete 04:36 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
| In reply to: | Hal Prince and I at The Visit - Ann 10:12 am EDT 05/09/15 |
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| Ann, you mention missing an opportunity to see the play, but did you ever actually have a chance? I shuddered when I looked on ibdb.com and saw that the Jane Alexander/Harris Yulin production was 23 years ago! (I was thinking 10.) And before that was 1973 with Rachel Roberts and John McMartin (who 28 years later did the premiere of the musical in Chicago). Curious that none of the grandes dames like Maggie Smith, Judi Dench or Diana Rigg ever did it. It would be a great part for Kristin Scott Thomas or Harriet Walter, who drip with sang froid. Glad John Kander is enjoying the moment. I remember going to a panel on orchestration at Lincoln Center and him being introduced as "the nicest man in show business". | |
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| re: When was the last time someone did the play? | |
| Posted by: | Ann 09:52 am EDT 05/10/15 |
| In reply to: | When was the last time someone did the play? - portenopete 04:36 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
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| Yes, that's what I meant. There was a regional production I meant to get to, but never got around to it. I'll try reading it. | |
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| re: When was the last time someone did the play? | |
| Posted by: | GarthSparkle 08:38 pm EDT 05/10/15 |
| In reply to: | re: When was the last time someone did the play? - Ann 09:52 am EDT 05/10/15 |
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| Anyone around from 1958? I find it odd on a theater site subject The Visit no one mentions Lynn Fontanne, Alfred Lunt. An actress upstairs said she studied The Visit in school, thought Marion Seldes would have done a good job. I read it this weekend; lovely play. | |
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| re: When was the last time someone did the play? | |
| Posted by: | AlanScott 08:50 pm EDT 05/10/15 |
| In reply to: | re: When was the last time someone did the play? - GarthSparkle 08:38 pm EDT 05/10/15 |
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| For some of us, it looms so omnipresent as a theater event of the past that there is no need to mention it every time. I personally have repeatedly cited it on this site as my top time-travel choice. I don't think there is any lack of awareness of that production among the regular posters on this site. | |
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| re: When was the last time someone did the play? | |
| Posted by: | Snowysdad 11:02 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
| In reply to: | When was the last time someone did the play? - portenopete 04:36 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
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| I've had the great fortune to know many wonderful people in the business so that John Kander might not be THE nicest, but certainly he (and Fred Ebb) belong(ed) in that group. I was appearing in a production of Chicago and they were kind enough to come and see it. NSMT at the time was considering a future production of Zorba which was done. They gave permission for me to play The Chorus Leader, first time it was played by a man. After the show, Mr. Kander, Mr. Ebb and most of the company retired to the restaurant that was on the grounds but was not open at that hour. I sat at the piano banging out one after another K&E songs, much to their delight, including many that were not that well known. Finally Mr. Kander sat down and we played 4 hands. He delighted in reaching around me and playing on either side of me, which because I was tired gave me a severe case of the giggles. They came back to see the production of Zorba which because the two leads we wanted became unavailable after 9/11/01 was not as good as it might have been. Still they were complimentary and pleased with my singing (thank you guys). Everyone I know who knows them says that they are (were) just this nice to everyone. | |
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| re: When was the last time someone did the play? | |
| Posted by: | larry13 12:28 am EDT 05/10/15 |
| In reply to: | re: When was the last time someone did the play? - Snowysdad 11:02 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
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| Thank you for this beautiful story. What a fabulous experience for you, especially that piano session with Mr. Kander. It's nice to know that Mr. Ebb was a wonderful person too. | |
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| re: When was the last time someone did the play? | |
| Posted by: | whereismikeyfl 05:48 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
| In reply to: | When was the last time someone did the play? - portenopete 04:36 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
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| In Britain Complicite's 1989 production was so widely acclaimed that England saw no major production since (as far as I know) and many actresses who might have played the part in the 1990s/early 2000s (like Rigg, Dench, and Smith) did not have the chance. But maybe now that time has passed maybe will will see Kristin Scott Thomas or Harriet Walter take on the role. Or maybe even Kathryn Hunter might revisit it since she was only 33 when who won the Olivier for playing Claire in Complicite's production. | |
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| re: When was the last time someone did the play? | |
| Posted by: | portenopete 06:48 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
| In reply to: | re: When was the last time someone did the play? - whereismikeyfl 05:48 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
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| I have never heard of the Complicité production! Kathryn Hunter must have been extraordinary, even at 33. (Who was Anton? Simon McBurney?) | |
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| re: When was the last time someone did the play? | |
| Posted by: | AlanScott 07:11 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
| In reply to: | re: When was the last time someone did the play? - portenopete 06:48 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
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| Yes, Simon McBurney. Link below to a cast list. | |
| Link | The Complicit Visit |
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| re: When was the last time someone did the play? | |
| Posted by: | AlanScott 06:05 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
| In reply to: | re: When was the last time someone did the play? - whereismikeyfl 05:48 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
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| I'm seeing the Complicite production having been in 1990-1991. Was it done outside London before it was produced at the Lyttleton? In 1995, Terry Hands directed a Chichester production with Lauren Bacall and Joss Ackland. I suspect there were hopes of a London move, but the reviews were mediocre. Going backwards and into other media also: In 1981, Alexis Smith and William Hutt played it under Jean Gascon's directed at Stratford, Ont., but the reviews were not good for that production either. In 1998, it was announced the Liz Taylor would return to acting in a television adaptation but (obviously) that never happened. If you look up Durrenmatt on imdb, you find many television productions. As I mentioned here the other day, you can view a 1959 German television production (possibly adapted from a stage production) on youtube if you search Der Besuch der Altem Dame. There was also the excellent 1992 Senegalese film version titled Hyenas, which I've been mentioned here before. | |
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| re: When was the last time someone did the play? | |
| Posted by: | sf 01:14 pm EDT 05/10/15 |
| In reply to: | re: When was the last time someone did the play? - AlanScott 06:05 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
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| "In 1995, Terry Hands directed a Chichester production with Lauren Bacall and Joss Ackland. I suspect there were hopes of a London move, but the reviews were mediocre." Justifiably. There was nothing wrong with the staging, and Ackland was very good, but Bacall sleepwalked through the performance I saw. | |
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| Roundabout production in 1992 | |
| Posted by: | Charlie_Baker 09:06 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
| In reply to: | re: When was the last time someone did the play? - AlanScott 06:05 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
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| With Jane Alexander and Harris Yulin. I didn't see it. But Frank Rich reviewed it. See link. | |
| Link | The Visit review by Frank Rich |
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| re: When was the last time someone did the play? | |
| Posted by: | portenopete 06:51 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
| In reply to: | re: When was the last time someone did the play? - AlanScott 06:05 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
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| Yes I knew the Bacall/Ackland and Smith/Hutt productions but missed them both. (I wonder if Maggie Smith had been envisioned at Stratford: that was just a year after she finished her five-year association?) Speaking of Stratford, it's a shame they never programmed it for Martha Henry. | |
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| re: Hal Prince and I at The Visit | |
| Posted by: | reed23 03:58 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
| In reply to: | Hal Prince and I at The Visit - Ann 10:12 am EDT 05/09/15 |
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| Chris Newcomer, one of the "Eunuchs," is indeed a former "Mary Sunshine" who performed in the current production of CHICAGO, both on Broadway and extensively on the national tour. | |
| Link | Chris Newcomer |
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| re: Hal Prince and I at The Visit | |
| Posted by: | Delvino 01:05 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
| In reply to: | Hal Prince and I at The Visit - Ann 10:12 am EDT 05/09/15 |
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| Heartily agree on all points. I would add only: And Graciela Daniele's minimalist yet fully satisfying choreography for "Love and Love Alone" is exquisite, a proverbial master class in less is more. | |
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| re: Hal Prince and I at The Visit | |
| Posted by: | mlop 11:45 am EDT 05/09/15 |
| In reply to: | Hal Prince and I at The Visit - Ann 10:12 am EDT 05/09/15 |
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| I was there too last night so what a night. This was a return visit as I was there at a preview. I love it more and more each time and Chita just takes charge up there. The entrance applause just didn't stop. The standing ovation was exciting, the cast is so good. I am thrilled that John Kander's dream for him and Fred Ebb has been fulfilled. I saw the show 14 years ago in Chicago, and a benefit reading a few years back. I have known Chita forever and this is beautiful. John is too a friend and he is so happy. I covered the opening night festivities via photos and this meant a lot to me. I was at the Drama Desk nominations reception and have never seen John so happy. I can't wait to go back again as each time I get more and more. | |
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| one of the biggest applause lines.... | |
| Posted by: | lastcall 07:11 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Hal Prince and I at The Visit - mlop 11:45 am EDT 05/09/15 |
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| was when chita (as claire) says, "I am unkillable." saw it again last tuesday evening, enjoyed it even more the second time for this production. love and love alone...breathtakingly beautiful. | |
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