Grey Gardens - The Musical
Amazon.com: Based on the Maysles brothers' cult 1975 documentary of the same name, this musical is an endearing—-and sometimes genuinely heartwrenching—-oddity propelled by Christine Ebersole's exceptional, for-the-history-books performance. The movie followed the kooky duo of Edith Bouvier Beale and her daughter, Little Edie Beale, as they lived with their 52 cats in a derelict East Hampton mansion. The show's first act, set in 1941, is a prologue of sorts, while the second act, set in 1973, follows the movie closely. Ebersole plays Edith in Act I (which she concludes in dazzling manner with "Will You?") and Little Edie in Act II (when Mary Louise Wilson comes in to play the mother). And while Wilson is superb, this is Ebersole's show. Technically, she is flawless—-just listen to the way she changes her voice between the acts—-but she also makes Little Edie a poignant eccentric, a lost soul stuck in a world of deluded, decaying grandeur. It all peaks in the poignant "Around the World," the show's best song and an Ebersole tour de force. Note that this recording documents the Off-Broadway production; the show transferred to Broadway in the fall of 2006 with a slightly altered first act. --Elisabeth Vincentelli
Product Description: GREY GARDENS proclaimed the #1 Show of the Year by Time Magazine is preserved here in its Original Broadway Cast Recording. The show had been previously recorded following its off-Broadway premiere in the spring of 2006 (and its cast album released by PS Classics in August of 2006), but this new recording features the new songs and new cast members that were added for its Broadway transfer last fall. The new GREY GARDENS opened on Broadway on November 2, 2006, to rave reviews, led by Ben Brantley in The New York Times, who called it an experience no passionate theatergoer should miss! Starring Tony Award winner Christine Ebersole and Tony Award nominee Mary Louise Wilson, it subsequently appeared on over 25 Best of 2006 lists, including #1 Show of the Year (Time), Best Musical of the Year (USA Today, Entertainment Weekly) and Performance of the Year (The New York Times, New York) for Ms. Ebersole. In addition to the new songs and new performances, this Original Broadway Cast Recording also features an all-new 32-page full-color booklet complete with lyrics and Broadway production photos.
Subjects:
I love this musical!
After seeing the DVD (documentary) of Grey Gardens the musical more than met my expectations. I would highly recommend it to anyone.
Originality at its very best
This is a real original treat. It's incredible that they've come out with a musical based in such a (real) story. And it certainly works wonderfully! Beautiful - and sometimes very funny - songs, fascinating story and originality at its very best. "The Revolutionary Custome for Today" is hilarious. Donçt miss it.
A milestone in American musical evolution
The score is nigh perfect in evolving from a Cole Porter, Irving Berlin pastiche in Act One to a Stephen Sondheim, neo Phillip Glass tone in Act Two. The song, "Will You," so brilliantly acted by Christine Ebersoll, never fails to bring me to tears. I was thrilled to see Grey Gardens on Broadway and shocked to learn it closed in late July 2007. In a half-century of theatre going around the globe, this show remains an all-time highlight for me...up there with Gypsy, West Side Story, Follies, Candide, Cabaret, Sweeney Todd and Billy Eliot. Thank God for this wonderful CD.
Evocative and Haunting....
GREY GARDENS, the musical that won Christine Ebersole her second Tony, is a stunning achievement. It is not a musical you will be able to shake from your mind when after you listen to it.
How best to describe this musical? Well, it was inspired by the documentary of the same name about Jackie Onassis' eccentric relatives, her Aunt and cousin, both named Edie Beale. However, the musical take the documentary one step further by re-imagining what the Beales might have been like in their heyday, as well as why they might have ended the way they did.
So, as many are aware, there are two cast recordings of this fabulous musical. Both recordings were produced by PS Classics. I have both, and highly recommend getting both. However, if you can only afford one, or only want one, here is a summary of the differences between the shows.
The below lists the changes made for the BROADWAY cast album:
1. "Toyland" was replaced with "The Girl Who Has Everything" for the opening number.
2. "Beautiful Body Beale" and "Better Fall Out of Love" were replaced by "Goin' Places."
3. "Being Bouvier" and "Tomorrow's Women" were merged into the song "Marry Well."
4. "Miss Porter's Anthem" was dropped from "The Five Fifteen reprise."
5. "The Telegram," a song in the off-Broadway show, is included on the Broadway cast album.
6. The Sister Marla verse was changed in "Choose to Be Happy" reflecting the song changes in the Broadway version.
7. The "Peas in a Pod reprise" is dropped for a reprise of "The Girl Who Has Everything."
The booklets for both cds are essentially the same. The main difference is that the off-Broadway version has a small interview about how the creators came up with the show, and the Broadway version has more pictures (as well as the artwork/logos used to promote Broadway show).
The biggest difference between the two is in the casting. When the show transferred to Broadway, two of the cast members were replaced.
On the Off-Broadway version, Little Edie is played by Sara Gettelfinger. The role is taken over by Erin Davie on the Broadway version. Both sing the role equally well. Each has a different take on Little Edie. Sara sings in a more elegant and refined voice, however it is Erin that brings out and highlights Little Edie's eccentricities and quirks. Each in their own way prepare the listener for Christine Ebersole as Little Edie in Act Two.
The second change is that Audrey Twitchellm, who played Lee Bouvier, is replaced by Kelsey Fowler. Twitchell outgrew the role she had originated so was replaced by Fowler.
Warning: both versions of GREY GARDENS have the same cd number. So, be sure when you order you specify which version you want. The Off-Broadway version is said to be going out of print. However, it may be awhile before it actually does go out print, so be aware that you might have to email amazon.com if you don't recieve the version of the show you want.
Grey Gardens' dramatic score
This is a show that ought to be seen, not just heard, to appreciate truly the emotional passage these two women travel in their tortured lives. The score isn't a classic, but it's worth getting the CD just to hear Christine Ebersole sing "Another Winter in a Summer Time." It should become a classic, and her rendition is sublime.
