in Tintypes
Such an unusual, warm, powerful and one-of-a-kind performance鈥�.I remember loving her in this piece鈥nd the piece itself鈥�.and as an actor, back then!
as Homer in
The play and the performances were ALL stellar in that piece 鈥� I sat up close to the stage with my mother. David Rounds' performance was so funny and touching and other-worldly. What a loss, to think he only lived to 53 and all the great things he鈥檇 have given us鈥�.
, Gorgeous in 鈥檚 The Sisters Rosensweig
A wonderful play, can鈥檛 believe BOTH she and Wendy are gone. Her performance in this play boggled the mind鈥�..she had a monologue that had me at the edge of my seat as though I was watching someone dive backwards off a cliff. She was one of my top favorites in all of theater and film.
as Ned in
A terrific production of an old play written in the late 20鈥檚, by Phillip Barry. Reg鈥檚 character was a sad alcoholic, and I was profoundly touched by his funny/sad human portrayal of this hopeless fellow in a classically dysfunctional setting. He was heartbreaking.
as Jelly Roll Morton in
I always had a huge crush on Greg Hines鈥�.he was warm, endearing, humble and sexy and easy on stage and when he danced鈥�..it seemed as though his feet were always two inches off the floor and that he was making it all up in the moment.
as Nicholas Nickleby in
No explanation needed here: A young Roger in an extraordinary Dickensian tale of epic proportion and it was a heart-wrenching performance on his part鈥ot to mention he was surrounded by AMAZING actors in a revolutionary eight-hour play鈥�.I would be remiss if I didn鈥檛 mention David Threlfall as Smike, the abused, crippled boy befriended by Nicholas. His performance was almost too painful to watch it was so real and sensitive.
as Mason in
The exquisite monologue that wrote about baseball, delivered by the character of Mason, had a LOT of Richard himself in it. I never thought anyone could get inside the psyche of someone who鈥檚 thoughts and sentiments are as complex as Richard鈥檚鈥�..but Dennis O鈥橦are did it and elevated it to some celestial place.
as Magdalena in
Mary is a close friend and one of the funniest, smartest, most talented people I know. It always amazes me when you think you know what a friend or colleague does and then they pull one out that shocks and surprises you on every level. She was riveting.
as Mama Rose in
She really was that bawdy broad for me鈥o hard and yet heartbreaking and that fact that Tyne is not a 鈥渟inger鈥� in the BIG VOICED Broadway sense made the impact of her own WANT for attention all the greater. A very on-the-edge turn on her part.
in
I鈥檝e never seen a person play a motor vehicle before鈥nd Chuck鈥檚 voice and talent and mere presence on stage was more powerful than a Mercedes Benz.
Extra honorary mentions:
Supporting Roles: Two supporting roles in big casts, surrounded by big names and stellar performers were standouts to me, where I singled them out and said...鈥漎eah they鈥檙e ALL GREAT, but who is THAT!!!???
A) as Mother's Younger Brother in
B) as Meg in
I had the good fortune of working with both of them and becoming friends later on. Nice to be blown away by someone you鈥檝e never seen before!
*** The Obvious Greats: Of course, like the rest of the world; I will always remember being transported and in awe of:
A) as Margaret in The Light in the Piazza
B) as Black Stache in (frankly, the play, the production and the entire cast鈥Y VEY!!!)
C) as Little Edie
D) Dame in Lettice and Lovage...saw it twice鈥�.I am a devoted fan.
F) as in Barrymore (wow)
***
Off-Broadway performances I will never forget:
(A) as Amy Hammer in The House in Town (Richard Greenberg). A beautiful, delicate characterization鈥�..another heartbreaker...
(B) as Kayama in . He and the show were SO EXCITING and unconventional.
***
People I was on stage with that knocked my socks off every night:
A) as Bill in . It was like flying in a helicopter every night with him鈥�..talent, heart, warmth, humor, the sheer magical LOVE of doing what he did SO well...
B) as Laurie in Hurrah At Last (Richard Greenberg). Relentlessly brilliant execution of roller-coaster role.
***
Two shows that all around had an enormous effect:
A) Cloud Nine
The entire cast was SO unusual and gifted and the brilliant concept brought to this play changed the industry for so many.
B)
Again, the cast, the collaboration, the telling of a people in what proved to be MUCH more than a musical revue鈥�.the number "Black and Blue" was so deep and painful, I thought I鈥檇 die.
