The first Moliere I saw in a professional production, and it's still vivid, imperfections be damned. What a cast! John Wood, Tammy Grimes, Patricia Elliott, Mildred Dunnock (!), Swoozie Kurtz, Victor Garber. In my memory: Elliott was just extraordinary as Dorine. I've seen the play since, but the Elliott Dorine was the gold standard for me. And many people assumed she was cast in Grimes' role, Elmir. (In truth, logic might've dictated the reverse, the ex-Molly Brown a more likely Dorine. But Elliott was perfection. Grimes was Grimes, but as always, unlike anyone else on stage.)
But to the news of the day: Wilbur's brilliantly rhymed iambic pentameters. Have read them often since. It doesn't get any better than that. |
