Wednesday, March 7, 2007

The Year of Magical Thinking


Vanessa Redgrave is the greatest actress alive, and I don't mean that as hyperbole. She is the greatest actress alive. Watching her embody Joan Didion (my favorite author) was thrilling, mesmerizing and every other superlative you can think of. Redgrave's wrenching work made up for the some of the script's weaknesses and lack of dramatic intensity. It's obvious that Didion is no playwright; her work here sounds like an extended New Yorker article. Still, when coupled with an actress of Redgrave's caliber, the proverbial phonebook would come off sounding like Shakespeare. It's only the second preview, so I have faith that director David Hare will provide able dramaturgy between now and the show's official opening. I will be back again soon, to marvel at Ms. Redgrave's master class once again.

1 comment:

Steve On Broadway (SOB) said...

Appreciate the early heads-up, Cameron. I'm very eager to see Vanessa Redgrave again, but I'll wait to see it until after it opens!