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| A Dennehy moment I willl NEVER forget | |
| Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 06:08 pm EDT 04/16/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Brian Dennehy Dead at 81 - StageLover 01:44 pm EDT 04/16/20 | |
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| In that magnificent production of DEATH OF A SALESMAN with Dennehy, Franz, et al., there's that scene where the whole family is talking together. It's one of their very few happy moments together -- maybe their only one, and I'm pretty sure it's a flashback scene. Willy is blathering on about something, in high spirits. But when Linda tries a few times to enter the conversation, Willy just shuts her down by bulldozing right over her words, completely dismissing her as if he has absolutely no interest in what she has to say, because he's the man of the house, the king of his castle and of his world, and she's just a woman. It's all there in the text, but Dennehy and Franz played it so beautifully that I could feel the whole audience cringe in hatred for him and sympathy for her every time that happened, and I even remember some audible responses of disgust from several spectators. Absolutely unforgettable. |
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| His Willy Loman was the greatest performance I've seen in a play in a quarter century of theatergoing | |
| Posted by: Lois (loisy@aol.com) 10:08 pm EDT 04/18/20 | |
| In reply to: A Dennehy moment I willl NEVER forget - Michael_Portantiere 06:08 pm EDT 04/16/20 | |
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| I saw his Salesman on Broadway, in LA, and in the West End, and was blown away every time by the emotional impact of his portrayal. The rest of the casts were awesome as well, especially Elizabeth Franz and Ron Eldard. All my other top favorite stage performances have been in musicals, and I've seen a lot of great theater, but that Salesman deserves to be seen widely, and I really hope that there is a way for Showtime to bring it back on their channel and/or a DVD release, or sell the rights to Broadway HD, or something. I also had the privilege of seeing his performances in Long Day's Journey, Inherit the Wind, and a few other productions. He was always excellent, and will be greatly missed. My condolences to Deirdre and all his family and friends. |
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| re: A Dennehy moment I willl NEVER forget | |
| Posted by: GavinLogan1 12:10 am EDT 04/17/20 | |
| In reply to: A Dennehy moment I willl NEVER forget - Michael_Portantiere 06:08 pm EDT 04/16/20 | |
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| the scene you're referring to is near the end of Act I, and it is not a flashback-- Happy has just come up with his 'brilliant' idea to sell sporting goods (they'll form opposing teams and play against one another... despite not actually having a product to SELL). Willy is so excited about the prospect of the boys finally being bigger than Bernard and Charley, and he feels important because he can offer them advice on business, believing himself to be such a big shot. Linda's interjections are bulldozed, as you say, and I think the other aspect of it is that he finally feels important and he can actually offer advice to which Biff will listen. Powerfully sad scene... I bet Dennehy was every bit as amazing as everyone says. |
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| re: A Dennehy moment I willl NEVER forget | |
| Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 12:13 am EDT 04/17/20 | |
| In reply to: re: A Dennehy moment I willl NEVER forget - GavinLogan1 12:10 am EDT 04/17/20 | |
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| Thanks for clarifying, I didn't have access to a script. And thanks for your additional explanation of what's going on in Willy's mind in that scene. It was an AMAZING moment. | |
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| re: A Dennehy moment I willl NEVER forget | |
| Posted by: GavinLogan1 12:18 am EDT 04/17/20 | |
| In reply to: re: A Dennehy moment I willl NEVER forget - Michael_Portantiere 12:13 am EDT 04/17/20 | |
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| I've taught the play probably close to 50 times now, and EVERY single time I learn something new or find another layer. I'm a fan of the Dustin Hoffman film (it's the only one my school has), and I saw Philip Seymour do the role in 2012, and he was fantastic as well. Is there a video of the Dennehy performance??? I'd love to see him tackle it. |
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| re: A Dennehy moment I willl NEVER forget | |
| Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 12:22 am EDT 04/17/20 | |
| In reply to: re: A Dennehy moment I willl NEVER forget - GavinLogan1 12:18 am EDT 04/17/20 | |
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| Yes! Link to full performance of Dennehy in SALESMAN. | |
| Link | DEATH OF A SALESMAN |
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| re: A Dennehy moment I willl NEVER forget | |
| Posted by: GavinLogan1 12:25 am EDT 04/17/20 | |
| In reply to: re: A Dennehy moment I willl NEVER forget - Michael_Portantiere 12:22 am EDT 04/17/20 | |
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| OMG!!! Thank you so much! Sorry Dustin, but I have a feeling you're about to be replaced. RIP Mr. Dennehy Thankfully your gifts remain with us in our hearts and on record! (My favourite movie as a child was COCOON, so I've admired him literally my whole life). |
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| DEATH OF A SALESMAN with Dennehy - the whole thing | |
| Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 07:58 pm EDT 04/17/20 | |
| In reply to: re: A Dennehy moment I willl NEVER forget - GavinLogan1 12:25 am EDT 04/17/20 | |
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| Sorry, the link I posted previously was just to a small excerpt at the beginning. Here is the whole thing on YouTube, in two parts. I've copied the URLs in the text right below here, so I could post both of them, and the actual link posted is to a great Charlie Rose interview with Dennehy and Arthur Miller at the time of the production. This video is with Ron Eldard, who replaced Kevin Anderson as Biff on Broadway. PART 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=867&v=DidKl6-6Tuw&feature=emb_logo PART 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZLMIRGj4fM&feature=emb_logo |
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| Link | Charlie Rose - Brian Dennehy - Arthur Miller - DEATH OF A SALESMAN |
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| Sorry, one more part... | |
| Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 12:24 am EDT 04/18/20 | |
| In reply to: DEATH OF A SALESMAN with Dennehy - the whole thing - Michael_Portantiere 07:58 pm EDT 04/17/20 | |
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| See link | |
| Link | DEATH OF A SALESMAN with Dennehy, Part 3 |
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| re: Sorry, one more part... | |
| Posted by: GavinLogan1 11:08 pm EDT 04/18/20 | |
| In reply to: Sorry, one more part... - Michael_Portantiere 12:24 am EDT 04/18/20 | |
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| Thanks so much for these links. I watched his scene with Charlie in Act II-- "you're the only friend I've got... isn't that a remarkable thing?" HEART. BROKEN. |
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| re: Sorry, one more part... | |
| Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 05:09 pm EDT 04/19/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Sorry, one more part... - GavinLogan1 11:08 pm EDT 04/18/20 | |
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| ***I watched his scene with Charlie in Act II-- "you're the only friend I've got... isn't that a remarkable thing?" HEART. BROKEN.*** Yes, and that actor who played Charley -- Howard Witt -- was so perfectly cast and so wonderful in the role. Every time I see a production of DEATH OF A SALESMAN, I find it almost unbearable to watch -- yet fully believable -- that, even though Willie is in a desperate financial situation from the beginning of the play and then loses his job completely, he CANNOT accept the offer of a job from Charley simply because of his pride. |
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| re: Sorry, one more part... | |
| Posted by: mikem 06:46 am EDT 04/19/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Sorry, one more part... - GavinLogan1 11:08 pm EDT 04/18/20 | |
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| Yes, thank you for the links! Really, really appreciated. | |
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| re: A Dennehy moment I willl NEVER forget. A Towering performance | |
| Posted by: Duke1979 08:23 pm EDT 04/16/20 | |
| In reply to: A Dennehy moment I willl NEVER forget - Michael_Portantiere 06:08 pm EDT 04/16/20 | |
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| I was thinking of this production just the other day when contemplating how long it may be before we can sit in the dark together and be enthralled by the magical combination of a writer and an actor. This performance along with his James Tyrone are seared into my memory forever. | |
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| A Dennehy performance I willl NEVER forget: Krapp’s Last Tape | |
| Posted by: barna99 08:07 am EDT 04/17/20 | |
| In reply to: re: A Dennehy moment I willl NEVER forget. A Towering performance - Duke1979 08:23 pm EDT 04/16/20 | |
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| I had only read the play and it was paired with Hughie (and it was great) but "Krapp’s Last Tape" was a mesmerizing performance, from beginning to end. Nothing short of a Beckett master class. I wish it had been filmed. | |
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