Loved this show, but big mistake to make her mother responsible for breaking off her engagement. That never happened, and it makes Big Edie a terrible mother.
I wonder how much this story was informed by the film 'Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?' Instead of Hollywood sisters, we have a faded East Coast Society mother & daughter living in a past that cannot be fully grasped but one that clouded their life, suffocated by their inability to function with the outside world, which was slipping away more & more with each passing year.
Sheer BRILLIANCE!!!! Respect to the reboot "On Broadway" production, and this "Off Broadway" production "as is" simply is quintessential "Grey Gardens." Thank you to "All" in contribution for an astounding piece of Creative Genius! Christine - BRAVO!!!!!
I love everything about them two. Sad and sweet at the same time. I'm just finding this play and absolutely loved it. I knew every word from the documentary made by the Maisel brothers. I must have watched the documentary hundreds of times, yes I'm a fan. Bought the books because my life felt more complete. Lois Wright is still alive and even bought her book too.
Wish I could have seen this in person. I just discovered the story of “Grey Gardens” about five years ago and have been obsessed with the story. The movie was amazing and I am just now learning there was a play. Thank you for posting.
I'm half an hour in. It certainly evokes the same level of anxiety as the documentary. Music and dialogue are great but the accents are positively spooky.
Ebersole is terrific but she gets the accent ALL WRONG. She's doing this northern NY flat accent, which is not at all what Lil Edie had. Edie had her own blend of classic NY-ese mixed with this delicate finishing school/transatlantic phony accent but with a New England/Bostonian cadence (rhythm and lilt). It was its own thing. The mother was way more refined sounding and not nearly as NY/obnoxious-sounding. I've listened. Trust me.
I love that this is here, this is the version I saw off Broadway, the night I went Lois Smith was sitting behind me, Frank Langella was three seats over from me, and Tracy Ullman and Meryl Streep were at the end of my row to the far right.
The real Big Edie and little Edie's story is TRAGIC. In no way is making a musical paying tribute to a story of shattered dreams. Little Edie was never even engaged to Jack. This is completely fictional. Period.
It’s a tragic life indeed and no one said that this wasn’t fiction. The Edie’s loved performance and an audience. I think they would have embraced this production whole heartedly.
little edie heard there was a broadway musical about grey gardens to work, and the idea thrilled her. she even wished her mother were still alive to see it
The Edith's are stars, immortalized in film and stage. They defied the "family"who disowned them, the Edith's are beloved and worth remembering. These lovely ladies wanted to be *seen*. Love and light ❤️🔥
It almost reminds me of Sondheim in that way. In both "Sunday in the Park" and "Into the Woods" the first act is strong and the second act is less good. Here, it's the first act that's weak and the second act is better. (Love Sondheim. Don't jump all over me.)
