| 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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| Previous: | re: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? - Quicheo 05:11 pm EST 02/16/21 |
| Next: | re: Can anyone compare and contrast Sara Gettelfinger and Erin Davie's performances in Grey Gardens? - Michael_Portantiere 09:49 am EST 02/16/21 |
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