Saw the original production, which was notable for its starry cast and somewhat languid pace. It had a desultory quality, out of the gate lacking dramatic urgency, yet felt accurate and truthful and certainly had flights of Shepard poetry. I mostly recall Page, for it was the last time I saw her, and Amanda Plummer, who had the most challenging role and brought her characteristic eccentricity. Three acts, and no one complained about two intermissions. The Red Clay Ramblers provided music, which was welcome.
Random memory: it was a hard ticket, for obvious reasons, and I had to get seats for a Sunday night, the off-B'way schedule then. I remember getting out late, walking home (I lived about 8 blocks from the Promenade then, a wonderful theater I miss). A bunch of us -- total strangers -- talked about the play walking up Amsterdam, the city quiet in that special Sunday night way. |
