Last night while revisiting Maggie Smith's work, I watched The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. I hadn't realized that Zoe Caldwell had done it on Broadway.
I'm a bit surprised that Roundabout hasn't attempted a revival. Is a revival possible or is it outdated material? Or is it so identified with Maggie Smith that nobody else wants to put their stamp on it?
I always thought it was interesting that the "British" play was written by Jay Presson Allen, an American. She wrote the screenplay to Hitchcock's "Marnie" and later the TV series "Family."
She also wrote the (excellent but controversially adapted) screenplay to "Cabaret."
And Goth, "Brodie" originally opened in London with Vanessa Redgrave in the title role. That was two years before Caldwell did it in NY.
"And Goth, "Brodie" originally opened in London with Vanessa Redgrave in the title role. That was two years before Caldwell did it in NY"
Yes, I knew it had a London run prior to Broadway. Interesting that Redgrave or another British actress didn't come over when the show was on Broadway.
Murder By Death has always been one of my favorite movies. How can you not like such a stellar cast? Neil Simon really outdid himself with writing that one. Just when you think it can't get any better, in walks Nancy Walker and steals her scenes. Nancy and Alec Guiness are hilarious in the kitchen scenes.
In the scene where Dickie whispers what negrophila is into her ear the line reading she gives of "That's tacky, that's really tacky!" is masterful. She manages to convey shock, horror, good breeding, judgement, and titilation (as well as make me gut laugh every time).
In a lifetime of extraordinary line readings, I think my absolute favorite of Smith's is when she says 'Stanley...I saw your privates!'* in California Suite.
* It's been a while since I've seen it...I think that's the wording.
It's interesting that Redgrave was 29 when she created the role on stage. (If you want to see exactly what she looked like back then, watch her performance as Anne Boleyn in "A Man For All Seasons," which came out the same year of 1966.)
Caldwell was 35 when she did the part on Broadway in 1968.
And Maggie Smith was 34 when the movie came out in 1969.
I know a lot of people want to cast the part older, but there you have it. You need someone who is right for the part with a command of the role (and her classroom), but not an older woman. She's in her prime!
Fiona Shaw played the title role in an acclaimed production at London's National Theatre in 1998. There was talk of bringing it to BAM for a limited run but it never happened.
I know it is off topic, but if you want to see a new movie that is just a gem, go see The Best Exotic Hotel Marigold. It has a stellar cast and a great story. Oh and of course Smith steals the show.
The play needs to be played vividly, just shy of camp (the camp is there without it being reached for) and apparently efforts to do it more modestly have failed, not only Nixon's but some said that Shaw - who goodness knows can be virtuoso - wasn't quite larger than life in the role.
I'd love to see what Samantha Morton would do with it.
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joined:5/20/03
Posted: 6/20/12 at 09:17am