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| re: How was Joan Rivers in Broadway Bound? | |
| Posted by: AC126748 09:32 am EDT 08/26/20 | |
| In reply to: re: How was Joan Rivers in Broadway Bound? - dbdbdb 08:07 am EDT 08/26/20 | |
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| This aligns with my memory -- a professional, respectable performance, but not on the level of Lavin or Elizabeth Franz. I recall that in Leslie Bennetts' excellent biography of Rivers, Last Girl Before Freeway, she wrote that the cast was initially very cold toward Rivers. Apparently they felt that Elizabeth Franz, who was well liked, had been pushed out in favor of stunt casting. But Bennetts wrote that Rivers won the cast over with her professionalism and determination to give a good performance. |
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| re: How was Joan Rivers in Broadway Bound? | |
| Posted by: AlanScott 04:57 pm EDT 08/26/20 | |
| In reply to: re: How was Joan Rivers in Broadway Bound? - AC126748 09:32 am EDT 08/26/20 | |
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| "a professional, respectable performance" Reminds me of how I felt about Elizabeth Taylor in The Little Foxes and Jane Fonda in 33 Variations, although Fonda was better than Taylor. Taylor particularly seemed like an understudy who was given very strict instructions to imitate the star. Fonda at least seemed like the understudy who was given a bit more leeway and had been playing it for a couple of weeks while the star was on vacation. |
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| re: How was Joan Rivers in Broadway Bound? | |
| Posted by: AC126748 08:58 am EDT 08/27/20 | |
| In reply to: re: How was Joan Rivers in Broadway Bound? - AlanScott 04:57 pm EDT 08/26/20 | |
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| I agree with your assessment of Fonda's performance based on the first time I saw it, at a critics' preview. However, I went back and saw the show again in its final week, and by that point, she had fully come into her own. | |
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| Joan was also a "theatre critic" | |
| Posted by: DistantDrumming 07:19 pm EDT 08/26/20 | |
| In reply to: re: How was Joan Rivers in Broadway Bound? - AlanScott 04:57 pm EDT 08/26/20 | |
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| I enjoyed her appearances on Theater Talk | |
| Link | Joan, Critic |
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| re: How was Joan Rivers in Broadway Bound? | |
| Posted by: champagnesalesman 11:46 am EDT 08/26/20 | |
| In reply to: re: How was Joan Rivers in Broadway Bound? - AC126748 09:32 am EDT 08/26/20 | |
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| I recall enjoying her performance alot but not as much as Lavin's and it was, smaller. It reminded me of Carol Burnett in FRIENDLY FIRE her first big dramatic role where she seemed to be holding back..I think for fear that anything too "big" would remind you of something she had done in a sketch over 11 years on TV. Rivers fared better in SALLY MARR. Did anyone see her in FUN CITY or LUV? |
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| I saw her in FUN CITY | |
| Posted by: Jax 02:54 pm EDT 08/26/20 | |
| In reply to: re: How was Joan Rivers in Broadway Bound? - champagnesalesman 11:46 am EDT 08/26/20 | |
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| She was as broad as she used to be on the Carson show, no nuance, just hunting for laughs. The show, which she wrote, was terrible. An endless series of one-liners about how tough life in New York in the 70s was. Anyone who thinks that Neil Simon was a mere jokesmith, cranking out wisecracks, needs to experience FUN CITY. Simon's PRISONER OF SECOND AVENUE was an actual play version of what Rivers was trying to do. | |
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| re: How was Joan Rivers in Broadway Bound? | |
| Posted by: JereNYC (JereNYC@aol.com) 01:19 pm EDT 08/26/20 | |
| In reply to: re: How was Joan Rivers in Broadway Bound? - champagnesalesman 11:46 am EDT 08/26/20 | |
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| Based on that documentary that was released a few years before she died, Rivers fondest wish was to have been taken seriously as an actress, rather than just as a comic. She seems to have loved the theatre and attended productions big and small as much as her busy schedule allowed. It's a shame that she never seemed to achieve the success as an actress that she wanted, but that might have come had she devoted herself to it heart and soul, as she did her comedy career. Acting always seemed like a sideline and that's not a great way to get taken seriously. |
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| Rivers in The Swimmer | |
| Last Edit: AlanScott 04:53 pm EDT 08/26/20 | |
| Posted by: AlanScott 04:49 pm EDT 08/26/20 | |
| In reply to: re: How was Joan Rivers in Broadway Bound? - JereNYC 01:19 pm EDT 08/26/20 | |
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| You can see her in a smallish role in the very serious 1968 film The Swimmer, based (very freely) on a Cheever story, starring Burt Lancaster, directed by Frank Perry, at least officially. There were conflicts, and some of Perry's work was replaced, with one scene recast and newly directed by Sidney Pollack. Still, it's a strange and fascinating film. Rivers had already made a good number of TV appearances as a comedienne and personality, but I guess she hadn't quite yet become really famous when she was cast in a smallish but noticeable role in this very serious and intentionally odd and disturbing movie. Regarding, "She seems to have loved the theatre and attended productions big and small as much as her busy schedule allowed." She was seated behind me when I saw Urinetown at ATA before Broadway. Or was she in front of me? Now I can't remember. Henry Winkler was also seated near me and the friend I was with. When I returned to my seat during intermission, my friend was in a friendly conversation about the show with Winkler, who was there alone and had started the conversation with my friend. |
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| RIVERS -- at the theatre | |
| Posted by: BroadwayTonyJ 06:56 pm EDT 08/26/20 | |
| In reply to: Rivers in The Swimmer - AlanScott 04:49 pm EDT 08/26/20 | |
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| I saw Joan Rivers twice at 2 different Broadway shows. The first time was in 2005 at the Broadhurst for 700 Sundays. My partner and I were in Standing Room. We noticed her as the usher led her to her seat. The second time was in 2008 at the Booth for Dividing the Estate. I was sitting in maybe the 4th or 5th row of the Orchestra and Rivers was in the same row, a few seats to my left. Before the play started, she pulled a package of string red licorice out of her purse, began munching away, and them offered some to everyone in our row. When the package got to me, I took a piece and handed it back toward her (I think I was on the aisle). It was quite tasty. |
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| re: RIVERS -- at the theatre | |
| Posted by: writerkev 08:39 am EDT 08/27/20 | |
| In reply to: RIVERS -- at the theatre - BroadwayTonyJ 06:56 pm EDT 08/26/20 | |
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| Sure, I'll join in, what the heck. :^) I saw her at "Outside Mullingar" at MTC, and right after the play she was eagerly telling her companion they had to go back to visit the dressing rooms. I don't know if she knew Debra Messing or another of the actors personally, or maybe she saw that as part of her duty as a celebrity when seeing a play? |
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| re: RIVERS -- at the theatre | |
| Posted by: AC126748 09:00 am EDT 08/27/20 | |
| In reply to: re: RIVERS -- at the theatre - writerkev 08:39 am EDT 08/27/20 | |
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| I used to see her at the theater quite frequently. One time I remember was at a random Monday evening performance of DRIVING MISS DAISY, the Vanessa Redgrave/James Earl Jones revival, well into the run. I assume that because of her busy schedule she didn't always get to opening nights or press previews as most celebrities tend to do. I distinctly remember her wiping away tears during the final scene between Redgrave and Jones. | |
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| re: RIVERS -- at the theatre | |
| Posted by: AlexanderKat 04:46 pm EDT 08/27/20 | |
| In reply to: re: RIVERS -- at the theatre - AC126748 09:00 am EDT 08/27/20 | |
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| My turn...lol. Back in the seventies, I had arrived in Los Angeles and worked at a trendy West Hollywood restaurant. One day Joan Rivers came in and I was able to tell her how much I had enjoyed a recent TV movie she had written and would it be repeated. In her typical fashion, she shouted, "Write those network sons of bitches!" I mentioned I was looking forward to seeing her the following week at a place called Ye Little Club which she regularly appeared at. She told me to mention a name when I arrived. Then she actually punched my arm (lightly) and yelled, "Write it down. Write it down!" When I arrived I was seated at a ringside table and told Ms. Rivers was taking care of the check and would like to see me afterward. After the show, I was escorted to her dressing room where I was introduced to a warm Florence Henderson and an icky Roddy McDowell. Ms. Rivers refrained from talking to her visitors, sat me down next to her, and wanted to know all about me. She was incredibly gracious and comfortable to be with. To this day, she's one of the nicest people I've met. | |
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| re: How was Joan Rivers in Broadway Bound? | |
| Posted by: tandelor 01:57 pm EDT 08/26/20 | |
| In reply to: re: How was Joan Rivers in Broadway Bound? - JereNYC 01:19 pm EDT 08/26/20 | |
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| Seems sad that being regarded as one of the great comics of her generation wasn't enough. I say this as a huge fan of hers and with great respect. | |
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