BWW Reviews: GREY GARDENS at ACT Not Quite Up To Expectations

You know when you go on vacation and come across that amazing restaurant that serves one of the most surprising dishes you've ever had that you pine over for years and then you find a restaurant back home that makes the same recipe? And maybe they don't have all the best ingredients or maybe the chef isn't quite as good but it just doesn't live up to the original? Well, unfortunately that's the equivalent of what I witnessed last night at "Grey Gardens" currently at ACT. It's still the same amazing show by Doug Wright, Scott Frankel, and Michael Korie and definitely had some outstanding moments but the whole just didn't quite compare to when I saw it on Broadway with the incredible Christine Ebersole.

For those that aren't familiar with the show, or the movie, or the documentary that started it all - where have you been? OK, so back in 1975 there was a documentary which focused on the Aunt and Cousin of former First Lady Jackie Kennedy who were living in squalor in their run down East Hampton estate. Big Edie and Little Edie Bouvier Beale were once part of the social elite but had since fallen on hard times to the point that the board of health had to step in and insist that conditions be improved or the house condemned. Since then their story has spawned a movie and a Broadway musical of the same name highlighting the rise and fall of these two eccentric characters.

The musical in particular became a critical smash with Christine Ebersole playing Big Edie in Act One set in the 40's during the height of their social standing and then switching to Little Edie in Act Two as we progress to the 70's during the time of the documentary and their downfall, a role which won her a Tony award for her tour de force performance. Now you may say it's not fair to compare the two especially since the original holds such a strong place in my memory. But I say if you're going to attempt something this iconic then you'd better be able to back it up.

Let me emphasize that the production was not bad by any stretch of the imagination. Patti Cohenour in the daunting dual role of Big and Little Edie does a fine job. She's a very gifted actress and manages the intricacies of the roles well and she really comes alive vocally in Act Two. But in Act One she just didn't have the power for the role as many of her vocals got lost in the mix especially when she would turn away from my section of the audience (as for some reason they chose to do the show in the round, but we'll get to that later). Even wearing a mic she didn't quite bring it, which lessened the power of the character. On the other hand, Jessica Skerritt and Suzy Hunt who play Little Edie in Act One and Big Edie in Act Two respectively completely brought, owned and then sold their roles. Skerritt's gorgeous voice only managed to compliment her as she takes her debutante from giddy to desperate and turned in a truly layered performance. Hunt's powerhouse of a voice and take-no-prisoners portrayal of the aging socialite was an absolute joy to behold and she made herself a perfect counterpart for Cohenour who really found some wonderful moments in Act Two. Allen Fitzpatrick as the no-nonsense Major Bouvier stole every scene he had on stage and turned in some very stirring and complex moments. I was however, also a little disappointed in Matt Owen whose portrayals of Joe Kennedy and Jerry seemed a little too lighthearted, which diminished the gravity of his situation. And Mark Anders who is a gifted actor but just didn't have the vocal chops to back it up as Gould; Big Edie's live in accompanist and companion.

And then there was that decision to put it in the round. The show is one performance after another and I don't mean because it's a musical but because the two main characters are always performing (either for party guests, their family or the camera) which lends itself well to being set on a proscenium or thrust stage as opposed to the round where it just felt muddled. Director Kurt Beattie would have been served better to put the show on one of their other non-round stages to serve the story. Maybe this might have helped the pacing of the show that felt as if it was always trying to catch up to the story.

All in all a somewhat disappointing production that maybe I was looking forward to a little too much. Sure, it was a good show with some fine moments but it just wasn't the meal that blew me away before and should have been able to this time as well.

"Grey Gardens" from the 5^th Avenue Theatre and ACT performs at ACT through June 2^nd. For tickets or information contact the 5^th Avenue box office at 206-625-1900 or the ACT box office at 206-292-7676 or visit them online at www.5thavenue.org or www.acttheatre.org.

Photo credit: Tracy Martin

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