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| Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? | |
| Posted by: DanielVincent 02:56 pm EST 02/15/21 | |
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| I only saw Davie, whom I felt did very fine work with some of the musical's least convincing material, but I *love* Gettelfinger on the off-Broadway recording. The recent thread focused on Celia Keenan-Bolger and Kelli O'Hara's performances in The Light in the Piazza has put me in a comparative mindset. Can anyone who saw both Gettelfinger and Davie speak to the differences in their performances? | |
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| re: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? | |
| Last Edit: Quicheo 11:51 am EST 02/16/21 | |
| Posted by: Quicheo 11:50 am EST 02/16/21 | |
| In reply to: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? - DanielVincent 02:56 pm EST 02/15/21 | |
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| A sad memory: I saw one of the last performances off-Broadway of Grey Gardens. I agree with the posters that have praised Ms. Gettelginger's performance--she was delightful, full of hope, yet still played the beginnings of some cracks in the façade. The entire production was magical. Seated behind me was a man who was speaking loudly to friends at intermission. It became clear that he was one of the producers of the show and was describing its planned / hoped for move to Broadway. He mentioned, as a throw away--"of course, the younger girl will have to be replaced." His take was that she simply wasn't physically attractive enough--and then went on a tangent about all these quirky actors--Peri Gilpin and Vicki Lewis, by name, but he was speaking of a whole class of people--that get a moment of fame but then can't book even TV movies because they aren't good looking (!). In his opinion, people didn't want to have to look at less-than-perfect people, and shouldn't have to. His friends nodded and sighed, and then one of the women said, "Well I think she's very good and you'd be stupid to lose her. But what do I know?" The houselights dimmed and the second act began before he responded. When I saw the show on Broadway, Ms. Davie was perfectly lovely and certainly looked more of-a-type with Ms. Ebersole. But I missed that frantic edge Ms. Gettelfinger mined just enough. And I remain sick to my stomach that some people in power think an audience just wants to gawk at their art. |
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| re: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? | |
| Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 01:35 pm EST 02/16/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? - Quicheo 11:50 am EST 02/16/21 | |
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| What you overheard is/was indeed, very sad, and it raises several questions. First of all, do we take this to mean that Sara was considered attractive enough for off-Broadway but not for Broadway? Mmore importantly, the comment of this producer indicates that he didn't understand his own show, because I think most of us would agree that the main issue is not how physically attractive the woman playing Little Edie needs to appear in the first act, but rather, whether or not she resembles Christine Ebersole enough to make it credible that the character in Act I ages into the character in Act II. I almost wish you would give this producer's name if you know it, though I can certainly understand why you would decline to do so! |
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| re: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? | |
| Last Edit: lordofspeech 07:19 pm EST 02/16/21 | |
| Posted by: lordofspeech 07:16 pm EST 02/16/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? - Michael_Portantiere 01:35 pm EST 02/16/21 | |
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| I saw it on Broadway and the carry-over from the first act to the second confused. Had the gitl been molested by somebody or grievously jilted? Right now I can’t remember what was supposed to have so unhinged her. Her parebts opposed a marriage? It’s not just that I don’t remember; it’s that I clearly remember not being able to grasp whst the script was driving at. And, by the way, the big Edie of Ebersole in Act I bore no resemblance to Big Edie in Act II. None. If the producers were looking for visual similarities between characters, they blew it there. |
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| re: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? | |
| Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 12:18 am EST 02/17/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? - lordofspeech 07:16 pm EST 02/16/21 | |
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| I think it was pretty clear that the major trauma in Little Edie's life was that she thought she was going to marry Joe Kennedy but then it didn't happen. That plus family trauma, including a highly dysfunctional relationship with her mother. Honestly, I'm surprised you missed all of that. | |
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| re: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? | |
| Posted by: Quicheo 10:18 am EST 02/17/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? - Michael_Portantiere 12:18 am EST 02/17/21 | |
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| And, of course, the non-arrival of the father, who has taken his affections and his money elsewhere. The mother and daughter suddenly drop in economic status but remain stuck in the house, by the financial as well as emotional devastation. | |
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| re: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? | |
| Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 10:34 am EST 02/17/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? - Quicheo 10:18 am EST 02/17/21 | |
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| "And, of course, the non-arrival of the father, who has taken his affections and his money elsewhere. The mother and daughter suddenly drop in economic status but remain stuck in the house, by the financial as well as emotional devastation." Yes, of course, that's what I meant by "family trauma." |
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| re: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? | |
| Posted by: lordofspeech 12:01 pm EST 02/17/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? - Michael_Portantiere 10:34 am EST 02/17/21 | |
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| No. Thanks. Thanks. I just couldn’t really recall it all and remember I hadn’t been able to sort it out at the time I saw the show. Did she lose her virginity to the Kennedy boy? Sorry. It just seemed a lot that was packed in there, especially if it was meant to track into act two. | |
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| re: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? | |
| Posted by: Quicheo 01:57 pm EST 02/16/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? - Michael_Portantiere 01:35 pm EST 02/16/21 | |
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| My sense was, Michael, that this man was part of the people who came in when raising money for the transfer and not part of the original team. He clearly considered himself an authority on how to make things work and what audiences want. And I agree with you about not understanding his show--and more so, what makes theater connect with people. And I was unable to ascertain who he was. |
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| re: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? | |
| Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 02:46 pm EST 02/16/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? - Quicheo 01:57 pm EST 02/16/21 | |
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| Thanks. It's a little bit of a relief -- though still disturbing, on another level -- that, as I suspected, the fellow in question was not so much a producer as a investor. | |
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| re: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? | |
| Posted by: Quicheo 02:53 pm EST 02/16/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? - Michael_Portantiere 02:46 pm EST 02/16/21 | |
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| Certainly. Or maybe just a mouthy blowhard. But he talked as if he had some say in the matter, but again, who knows? The crux of his comments was disheartening, though, especially when the actress he said would depart the production did indeed do so. | |
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| re: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? | |
| Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 04:55 pm EST 02/16/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? - Quicheo 02:53 pm EST 02/16/21 | |
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| "The crux of his comments was disheartening, though, especially when the actress he said would depart the production did indeed do so." Yes, I can certainly understand why it was very disheartening for you to have overheard that conversation. And P.S., aside from whatever judgments we might make about that blowhard for the opinion he expressed, I think we can all agree that he was an absolute idiot for speaking about something like that so openly while surrounded by people in an audience. For all he knew, one of Sara's relatives or closest friends could have been within earshot. P.P.S., again, I do wonder why Sara's appearance was not considered a problem when she was cast for the Off-Broadway production, but then one or more people came to see it as a problem for the move to Broadway. |
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| re: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? | |
| Posted by: Quicheo 05:11 pm EST 02/16/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? - Michael_Portantiere 04:55 pm EST 02/16/21 | |
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| "P.P.S., again, I do wonder why Sara's appearance was not considered a problem when she was cast for the Off-Broadway production, but then one or more people came to see it as a problem for the move to Broadway." I think it is because she is a beautiful person and there is nothing wrong with her appearance to a normal human being--indeed, to my eye, she, and Peri Gilpin and Vicki Lewis are all dazzling creatures. And this guy was clearly, as you point out, a boorish idiot. |
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| re: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? | |
| Posted by: PJ 08:02 am EST 02/16/21 | |
| In reply to: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? - DanielVincent 02:56 pm EST 02/15/21 | |
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| Echoing lots of the previous posters' thoughts. I saw both. Gettelfinger was statuesque and radiant. Casting her really underlined (in a visual, 3-dimensional way) Little Edie's potential: she had it all and was poised to be American royalty. There was something goddess-like about her, which matched (or perhaps outshone) Cavanaugh's Joe. "Body Beautiful Beale" was something that could really only stay in the show with Gettelfinger's Little Edie. That said, the transformation from Act 1 Little Edie to Act 2 Little Edie was...jarring. Which is perhaps what the creatives were going for? I can get over the physical differences (people shrink, people get fat, get skinny, get fat again, etc), but the transition from Gettelfinger's coltish Olympian to Ebersole's brilliantly kooky and deeply emotional spinster was perhaps too much when the show got up on its feet. Davie, in addition to looking a bit more like Ebersole, played a tiny bit more of that damage right from the start. There was an anxiety and unworthiness to her Little Edie which sort of built a stronger foundation for a believable decline into Ebersole's characterization. Of course, Davie was working backwards from Ebersole's perfectly-crafted performance while Gettelfinger was probably creating her Little Edie alongside Ebersole, so I think there's some advantage there. Basically, with Davie, I felt Little Edie's sadness earlier in the night, but I missed the shock and disappointment that Gettelfinger's casting brought. Ebersole's performance was perhaps as close to perfect as any of us will ever experience, and I don't think either actress would've derailed that. Heck, Rosie O'Donnell could've played Act 1 Little Edie and Ebersole would've been incredible. I, too, miss Gettelfinger's presence in theatre world. I recall her standing out in the Seussical ensemble in what I think was her first big job. Her ensemble work in Nine was terrific and I wish I could've seen her take over as Carla. It's a shame that her next-to-last big feature was as Jolene in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, where she had to put over the worst bits in a pretty decent show. She wasn't bad, but she was saddled with the worst material and most thankless role in that one. I recall her stepping away from theatre for a bit for an opportunity with a "Celtic Woman"-esque girl group. The Three Graces, perhaps? Seems like that fizzled quick - and was sort of late to that trend party to begin with. I wonder why she never played Ulla in The Producers or found her way into Roxie or Velma, as she seems perfect for those roles and was working steadily throughout those shows' runs. |
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| re: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? | |
| Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 09:49 am EST 02/16/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? - PJ 08:02 am EST 02/16/21 | |
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| That's a great, incisive, articulate analysis, PJ! Thanks so much. | |
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| re: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? | |
| Posted by: AC126748 08:51 am EST 02/16/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? - PJ 08:02 am EST 02/16/21 | |
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| I believe Gettelfinger moved back to the Louisville area, where she's from, a few years ago, although that might be outdated information by now. The most recent NYC credit I can find for her is the Off-Broadway musical ATOMIC in 2014. I saw GREY GARDENS in either its first or second week of previews. The show was already buzzy and largely sold out, but there was a blizzard, and I lucked into a cancellation ticket. Nothing could have prepared me for Ebersole's performance, but your read on Gettelfinger is spot on. Davie might have been more appropriate for the role, and as a partner for Ebersole, but she was never as interesting. |
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| re: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? | |
| Last Edit: EvFoDr 06:28 pm EST 02/15/21 | |
| Posted by: EvFoDr 06:26 pm EST 02/15/21 | |
| In reply to: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? - DanielVincent 02:56 pm EST 02/15/21 | |
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| This won't be terribly specific, primarly because I only saw Gettelfinger once and it was a long time ago, but I am so fond of the show I wanted to join in the discussion. I had the fortune (?) of first seeing the musical without any knowledge of it, and without having seen the documentary. I fell in love with it that afternoon at Playwright's Horizons. Certainly nothing in Gettelfinger's performance seemed out of place. She didn't seem like a weak link--an actor who, if replaced, would result in a better show. By the time it opened on Broadway, where I saw it an additional five times, I had basically memorized the documentary. I heard or read that one reason Davie was favored is because she seemed more like she could become the Little Edie of Act Two/the documentary. I feel like she might have incorporated more of the vocal mannerisms of Little Edie from the film, or at least attempted to match up better with what Ebersole was doing with Little Edie in Act Two. I enjoyed Davie very much. I wasn't exactly missing Gettelfinger, but also wasn't sure it made much of a difference that she was replaced. I have a real soft spot for Gettelfinger, having discovered her as the replacement Carla in the revival of Nine. Probably an unpopular opinion, but I thought she was better than Jane Krakowski (a performer I totally adore, so this is no diss!) I am happy to have both recordings of Grey Gardens so I can enjoy Gettelfinger, but also enjoy the changes and, I think improvements, they made on the show for Broadway. |
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| re: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? | |
| Posted by: stevemr 07:33 pm EST 02/15/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? - EvFoDr 06:26 pm EST 02/15/21 | |
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| I could be wrong, but my recollection is that Gettelfinger, while giving an excellent performance, was notably taller than Ebersole. Davie (also excellent) was far more credible as a younger version of Edie. It could be that simple. | |
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| re: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? | |
| Posted by: EvFoDr 09:36 pm EST 02/15/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? - stevemr 07:33 pm EST 02/15/21 | |
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| Perhaps! That goes along with the idea I mentioned about matching up better with Ebersole. Ebersole is 5'10" and Gettelfinger is 6'. Little Edie was 5' 9.5". I couldn't locate Davie's height. Although speaking for myself, absorbed in the story, the height difference did not make an impression on me when I saw it off Broadway. | |
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| re: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? | |
| Posted by: dbdbdb 03:20 pm EST 02/15/21 | |
| In reply to: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? - DanielVincent 02:56 pm EST 02/15/21 | |
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| I would describe Gettelfinger's Edie as tenser and more neurotic than Davie's characterization. She had a slightly coltish quality and there was a sense of nerves stretched to the breaking point. It was a little bit easier to imagine her falling off a psychological cliff and ending up the Little Edie of Act II. This is nothing against Davie, who had a great look for the character, sang well, and played her scenes incisively. I agree that the character's Act I material is weakish. But Davie benefited from having "Going Places," which, I think, works better than "Better Fall Out of Love." The former gives you a sense of the life she is being groomed for -- and, of course, for which she is all wrong. Whatever happened to Gettelfinger, anyway? She is such a good performer. | |
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