Grey Gardens: A Review
Posted on | June 2, 2009 | 9 Comments
Dudes, I know you’re totally into my constant shopping posts but I’m going to get heavy on you here. I’m going to pen a review. PEN A REVIEW!
I went to the opening night of Grey Gardens and sat front and center, because I’m way fancy like that. I also had cocktails prior and sushi after. I know, right?!?
Here are my thoughts on Grey Gardens:
1) I think maybe making a musical about two women who go totally bonkers and eat cat food out of the cans and live in squalor after being at the height of society is sort of odd. Like maybe a musical is not quite the genre that best matches the mood of the story. Like at all.
2) The final act is all about the women being bonkers and living in squalor. And, with the exception of a few bit roles passing through, it’s just the two of them being crazy together. Not much there in the way of narrative development. I mean, once people are crazy, that’s about a done deal.
3) I liked the first act, despite the dude sitting next to me falling asleep here and there. I like the tension between the mother and daughter. It was a pretty good dramatization of that thing that happens where you love your mom and want to please her at every moment and also want to rebel and ignore every single thing she’s ever said and also love her and know she’s right and also want to rebel and also GOD WHY IS SHE ALWAYS RIGHT?!?
4) I liked being at Portland Center Stage. It’s a beautiful space and I also like going to plays. I did, however, wear my new high heeled sandals for the second night in a row and now I have a blister on my toe that looks like a growth.
In summary: I like getting dressed up and watching people act out uncomfortable situations. And being drunk. [Insert line about a strip club here.]
Comments
9 Responses to “Grey Gardens: A Review”
Leave a Reply
June 2nd, 2009 @ 10:19 am
Once you’re crazy it’s a done deal. Yep. Dead on, girlie.
June 2nd, 2009 @ 12:27 pm
It felt really operatic to me. Not in the musical sense, but in the free-spirit-sets-out-on-her-own-but-is-forced-to-return-home-and-go-crazy-with-cats sort of way. Like Puccini or something. #IknownothingaboutoperaexceptIsawoneonce
June 2nd, 2009 @ 12:31 pm
I’m bringing my cats over to pee behind your portrait.
June 2nd, 2009 @ 3:10 pm
I thought it was brilliant. What were you drinking?
June 2nd, 2009 @ 3:17 pm
My impression of the show was the same as yours. After the number in the first act, where the future Jackie Kennedy and Lee Radziwill join their aunt singing and dancing to the lyrics, “dem’s da bestest vittles dat us culuhd folks gits,” you’ve pretty much seen all that’s worth seeing.
June 2nd, 2009 @ 7:39 pm
But what do you think of the documentary?
June 2nd, 2009 @ 9:06 pm
As a doctor, I just watched Grey Gardens and thought, why?? Why would someone make a play about two untreated mentally ill people?? I really didn’t get the point. Mental illness spans all walks of life — OK, got it.
June 8th, 2009 @ 5:35 pm
No one has commented on the music in Grey Gardens. The story is strange enough to be the main element of interest on first glance. But a more careful listen will reveal some fine tunesmithing and excellent singing by all concerned. Grey Gardens is a good two hours of American entetainment.
June 15th, 2009 @ 8:04 am
does this have anything to do with grey’s anatomy?