“Grey Gardens”, once performed as Off-Broadway in 2006, has earned five Lucille Lortel Award nominations, twelve Drama Desk Award nominations, and ten Tony Awards nominations in 2007. Six years later, Kurt Beattie, the director, chose to bring back the crazy-funny-unforgettable mother-daughter story on stage again.
Perhaps it is Seattle’s most talented performers that made Beattie believed that he could get beyond the previous version that is remarkably successful. Or he could also be motivated by the intention to dig a deeper issue from the book by Doug Wright that the others have always ignored.
From a true story of a mother and daughter who both named Edith Beale based on the 1975 documentary film by Albert and David Maysles, the story describes the downfall of “the girl who has everything” from a wealthy family to how it transformed to a deprived lifestyle living in a crumbling house with some cracked dreams, thirty cats, and one visitor.
Whether you have heard the story of the Beales or not, Wright was able to inspire the readers by revitalize every character’s specific personality in his genuine writing. The story emphasizes the struggle between love and dream, which are not unfamiliar to us. Together with the rich historical background, the musical moves everyone simply because it can be easily related to everyone’s life.
The musical opens with a prologue set in 1973 that tells the story backward. Then, it quickly moves to Act One Little Edie’s (Jessica Skerritt) is ready for her engagement party in 1941. She is a daughter of Edith and grew up as a “celebrity child” because of her mother’s social network. Her beauty, privileged background, and remarkable talent in singing brought her to Joseph Patrick Kennedy Jr. (Matt Owen), son of a prominent businessman. Just when everything seems to be going so well, all of sudden, her engagement got cancelled on the same day, and she tried to escape from her family to chase her dream.
Inevitably, it takes plenty of time to describe the family background in Act One, especially how Edith ruined her daughter’s marriage which have affected Little Edie’s whole life and the process of relationship development with her father, her current lover and basically everyone she knew. The act focuses on why Little Edie just can’t seem to walk out from her mother’s shadow, like Little Edie said to Edith “I am just another you,” and it has made a disposition for Act Two.
Act Two opens in 1973, 32 years later after Little Edie failed to leave and went back to Grey Garden where she and Edith both live together again in this crumbling house. Yes, she was able to keep performing in New York but at the same time she had to go back home because her mother was bedridden and could no longer afford grocery money.
From the costumes, the interior and the relationship between Little Edie and Edith or the atmosphere, you can tell there is a big difference from the life Little Edie lived before. She is no longer as affectionate to her mother as before, at least she thinks so. She takes care of Edith like a nurse with the attitude of an employee in front of her boss. Yet, She does not get much appreciation even though she gave up her dream for Edith.
This act portrays the kind of love that can never be earned back and has a deeper perspective between love and dream. She had a dream, yes. A question instantly comes up to my mind: family or dream? Indeed, “one can only find love in an imperfect world.”
Time changes, environment changes and people changes. Patti Cohenour (Edith in Act One, Little Edie in Act two) did an incredible performance by acting an overly demand of limelight mother and a daughter with losing hope from two generations. Undoubtedly, all casts did a great job in solo and symbolic parts too, especially rising star Jessica Skerritt, her “Barbie” figure and her beautiful voice made a deep first impression for the audience.
If Act One represents the lighter side of love that we all agree it is fabulous, Act Two is the darker part that keeps you from walking out of the cave where love is hidden. Love can be as blurry as walking alone in a heavy rainy night. Yet, love isn’t unseen, it’s just not clear enough like seeing things at during a bright sunny day sometimes.
In collaboration between the 5th Avenue Theatre and ACT – A Contemporary Theatre, Grey Gardens has extended its show through Jun. 2.
| Written by Shita Lam |
| Monday, 15 April 2013 22:26 |
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