Review - Grey Gardens - 7/29/07 - Closing Performance

Grey Gardens

Walter Kerr Theatre

Sunday July 29, 2007 – 3:00pm

Since the last time I saw this show, I have lived it vicariously through the cast recordings. By doing this, I fell more in love with the show. I was a full on supporter for the Tony wins! So when I heard it was closing, I got sad. I wasn’t going to get a ticket for the closing performance, but I was glad I did. First, let me say that the mezzanine seats are amazing in this theater. I think I will continue to sit up there and not even bother looking for orchestra tickets.

The show itself was as amazing as everyone expected it to be. There is not much more to add from my last review. Each actor was giving 110% and it was very evident. The crowd gave very loud entrance applause when Mary Louise Wilson and Christine Ebersole first appeared. John McMartin also got a pretty loud entrance applause, which I don’t think he was expecting.

The crowd went NUTS when Christine came on at the beginning of Act II for “Revolutionary”, full on standing ovation. It had to be a few minutes and she was just so emotional and shocked by it. But once the audience somewhat died , she went on and just killed. All of Act II was pretty flawless. I had the real life “Jerry” sitting a few rows ahead of me. So during scenes like “Jerry Likes My Corn”, I couldn’t stop myself from watching his reactions. He was crying, which made me tear up. You could just tell how much it all meant to him! That was a moment I will never forget. He was also very kind to everyone that went up to him before the show.

The crowd went wild at curtain call. A few directors (I think) came out, and the composer gave a quick speech. Most of the audience was taking pictures, and the people on stage were taking pictures of the audience. It still wasn’t what I was expecting from my first “closing” but it was still amazing. It is so sad that this wonderful piece is not around anymore. It was so different and intriguing. But then again, I honestly couldn’t see myself seeing it once they start with replacements. Christine’s performance was so layered and breathtaking, I don’t think I would want to replace that image in my mind.