(OUTscene NW) RE-view: ACT and 5th Ave's 'Grey Gardens' Sparkles!

by MK Scott

Finally saw 'Grey Gardens' the Musical, the Joint-Production of Seattle's 5th Avenue Theater and A.C.T. and was blown away the production, not necessary the show itself, but I do get where they were coming from. More Later.

Grey Gardens is a musical with book by Doug Wright, music by Scott Frankel, and lyrics by Michael Korie, based on the 1975 documentary of the same title about the lives of Edith Ewing Bouvier Beale ("Big Edie") and her daughter Edith Bouvier Beale ("Little Edie") by Albert and David Maysles. The Beales were Jacqueline Kennedy's aunt and cousin, respectively. Set at Grey Gardens, the Bouviers' mansion in East Hampton, New York, the musical tracks the progression of the two women's lives from their original status as rich and socially polished aristocrats to their eventual largely isolated existence in a home overrun by cats and cited for repeated health code violations. However, its more central purpose is to untangle the complicated dynamics of their dysfunctional mother/daughter relationship.

The show feel like 2 different shows, with 2nd act as 180 degree turn.

The first act depicts the characters in their heyday and is a speculative take on what their lives might have been like when they were younger, when Little Edie (Tom Skerritt's Daughter, Jessica Skerritt) was 24 and Big Edie (Patti Cohenour) was 47. We also get a glimpse of Bouvier Patriarch, JV (Allen Fitzpatrick), Future first Lady, Jackie at Age 12, and younger sister, Lee at age 8. Little Edie is engaged to Joseph Kennedy, JR (Matt Owen) and Big Edie's companion, George Gould Strong (Mark Anders).

Rejected, Big Edie pushes Joe, Jr out with a promise of a scandal, and Little Edie left heart broken. JV tells Jackie and Lee to 'Marry Well' and of course ends up the Life the Little Edie wanted.

Act one is like one of those High-class, feel good Musicals, like 'No No Nannette' and 'Little Night Music'

Act TWO is like the 3rd Act of 'Noises Off', with little bit of 'Gypsy' rolled in.  The second act is set 32 years later in 1973, and hews closely to the Maysles Brothers' documentary in its portrayal of them in their later years, when Little Edie (Patti Cohenour) is 56 and Big Edie (Suzy Hunt) is 79. The same actress who plays Big Edie in the first act plays Little Edie in the second act. Get it?

What brings both Acts together is character of Big Edie, who is like Cabaret's Sally Bowles, of being the last or only one at the Party, despite the fact her whole world is crashing around her and she never wakes up. Little Edie is like a Pre-Cabaret, Sally, still waiting for her big break and for the party to start, but she is getting older and her looks are going away.  It any wonder why Gay men identify with Little Edie, it is the same reason we flock to Sally Bowles. This time Little Edie is an actual person.

The mother-Daughter conflict reminds you of Gypsy's Mama Rose and Louise Rose and How the bond is so strong, no one can move on.

The production was stage in the round and that is always hard to do, Kurt Beatie direction was top notch. The sets came in and out of the stage floor by elevator and gave it a very professional transition.

Of Course, I would loved to seen a grown Up Jackie come by with the check or Little Edie finally achieving cult status as a performer. But you still got the Movie version to welt your appetite.

Grey Gardens Continues at ACT through June 2nd.