Arts Grey Gardens!
So the musical version of the Maysles Brothers doc Grey Gardens has finally opened in New York, and the reviews are coming in. Here’s Ben Brantley, who starts out his review with the most annoyingly gratuitous Oscar reference ever:
Resurrecting that strange socialite-in-limbo known as “Little” Edie Beale in “Grey Gardens,” the irritatingly mixed blessing of a musical that opened last night at Playwrights Horizons, Christine Ebersole easily matches the achievements of this year’s newly anointed Oscar winners Philip Seymour Hoffman (who played Truman Capote in “Capote”) and Reese Witherspoon (June Carter Cash in “Walk the Line”).Like Mr. Hoffman and Ms. Witherspoon, Ms. Ebersole embodies a once living figure of, shall we say, distinctive style with a radiant conviction and finesse that turn surface mimicry into fine-grained portraiture
Anyway, he doesn’t like the play, but check out his reasons for dismissal: “Ms. Ebersole’s Edie, it must be noted, is a pearl of incalculable price in a show that is, at best, costume jewelry. Adapted by Doug Wright (book), Scott Frankel (music) and Michael Korie (lyrics), “Grey Gardens” tilts perilously toward cheap celebrity camp.”
Cheap celebrity camp? Where? Sign me up! Who’s getting the rights in Seattle? Ian Bell, I think somebody’s caaalling yooouu!
Have you seen the original documentary? It's a fascinating, tragic but weird freakshow that goes far beyond camp. Maybe that's why Whatsit doesn't like the musical. Seriously weird, creeps going up and down your spine weird, like "I shouldn't be watching this" weird. One of my favorites. I dunno if I'd be all that interested in a camp musical version.