Broadway Theater Greatest Performance

[+ Lucky]

Dare I start another thread about Broadway theater? I know it is summer and not much is happening, but there is a documentary making the rounds called The Golden Age of Broadway which I found quite fascinating. In it, several famous stars are asked who they would say gave the greatest Broadway performance ever, and many name someone I never heard of: Laurette Taylor. She was the star of The Glass Menagerie. Apparently extremely gifted, she had quite a drinking problem and reputedly would periodically walk off the stage to vomit. (Must have been quite a show.)

 

Here's what Tennessee Williams said about her at her death.:

December 5, 1949

 

Creator of 'The Glass Menagerie' Pays Tribute to Laurette Taylor

By TENNESSEE WILLIAMS

New Orleans -- I do not altogether trust the emotionalism that is commonly indulged in over the death of an artist, not because it is necessarily lacking in sincerity but because it may come too easily. In what I say now about Laurette Taylor I restrict myself to those things which I have felt continually about her as apart from any which this unhappy occasion produces.

 

Of course the first is that I consider her the greatest artist of her profession that I have known. The second is that I loved her as a person. In a way the second is more remarkable. I have seldom encountered any argument about her preeminent stature as an actress. But for me to love her was remarkable because I have always been so awkward and diffident around actors that it has made a barrier between us almost all but insuperable.

 

In the case of Laurette Taylor, I cannot say that I ever got over the awkwardness and the awe which originally were present, but she would not allow it to stand between us. The great warmth of her heart burned through and we became close friends.

 

I am afraid it is the only close friendship I have ever had with a player.

 

Gallant Performer

 

Gallantry is the word that best fits those human qualities which made Laurette Taylor so intensely lovable as a person. I do not think it is realized how much she sacrificed of her personal comfort and health during the year and a half that she played in "The Glass Menagerie." She remained in the part that long because of a heroic perseverance I find as magnificent as her art itself. It is not necessary to mention the mistaken reservation some people had about her ability to remain long with a play.

 

But Laurette was painfully aware of that reservation and was determined to beat it. She did. She was neither a well nor strong person at any time during the run of the play and often continued her performance when a person of ordinary spirit would not have dared to. Even when throat trouble made it painful for her to speak she continued in her demanding part and I have never seen her physical suffering affect the unfailing wonder of her performance.

 

It is our immeasurable loss that Laurette Taylor's performances were not preserved on the modern screen. The same is true of Duse and Bernhardt, with whom her name belongs. Their glory survives in the testimony and inspiration of those who saw them. Too many people have been too deeply moved by the gift of Laurette Taylor for that to disappear from us.

 

In this unfathomable experience of ours there are sometimes hints of something that lies outside the flesh and its mortality. I suppose these intuitions come to many people in their religious vocations, but I have sensed them more clearly in the work of artists and most clearly of all in the art of Laurette Taylor. There was a radiance about her art which I can compare only to the greatest lines of poetry, and which gave me the same shock of revelation as if the air about us had been momentarily broken through by light from some clear space beyond us.

 

Playwright's Reward

 

The last word that I received from her was a telegram which reached me early this fall. It was immediately after the road company of our play had opened in Pittsburgh. The notices spoke warmly of Pauline Lord's performance in the part of Amanda. "I have just read the Pittsburgh notices," Laurette wired me. "What did I tell you, my boy? You don't need me."

 

I feel now - as I have always felt - that a whole career of writing for the theatre is rewarded enough by having created one good part for a great actress. Having created a part for Laurette Taylor is a reward I find sufficient for all the effort that went before and any that may come after.

[TinyBubbles]

I have to say that one of my all time favorite Broadway performances is Jennifer Holliday in the origional production of Dreamgirls...I know every queen in here has heard the music from that show a million times but having seen her in the origional production back in '82 was AMAZING!!! The final scene of Act 1 when she sings "And I Am Telling You" was just riviting!! And when you add in the fact that she wasnt even 21 yet, and sang half the damn song sitting in a chair slumped over a table...Not many of these wannabe Divas now a days could do that!!!

[mercury40]

Wonderful topic.

 

My first B'way show was back in the 50's when I saw Mary Martin in the Sound of Music. Her performance in that role has never been matched.

 

I also remember seeing Patti Duke in the Miracle Worker. Her portrayal of Helen Keller was mesmerizing. I believe she was only 12yo at the time.

 

Oh, to relive those years.

[Guest alanm]

I also saw Mary in "The Sound of Music." Few would consider Maria in "The Sound of Music" her best role (that honor would go to the parts she played in "South Pacific," "Peter Pan" or "One Touch of Venus"). But, I was a thrill to see one of Broadway greatest stars in person.

 

That same weekend in 1960, I also saw Ethel Merman in "Gypsy," which was the greatest performance in a musical I have ever seen. All the things that made Merman annoying on TV and films -- the classic brassy dame -- somehow worked for her wonderfully on stage. At 16, I assumed that shows and stars like Martin and Merman would be around forever, that did not quite happen.

[Holden]

My introduction to the theatre was one weekend in NYC when I was privaledged to see "Sweet Bird of Youth" with Paul Newman and Geraldine Page and "Gypsy" with Ethel Merman. I was mesmarized by both productions. It started my involvement with theatre that to this day, I go to NYC at least twice a year and spend the entire weekend (Fri night, Sat mat and Sat night) at THE THEATRE. Somewhere in there I try to squeeze in THE GAIETY.

[OneFinger]

Two of my most memorable experiences were:

 

[li] Carol Channing in her 1,999 performance of Dolly.

 

[li] Nel Carter in Ain't Misbehaving. (For a full-figured person she could dance with the best of them.)

[Guest rohale]

I'm glad this thread started and has taken a life of its own. To read that wonderful tribute by Tennessee Williams in honor of the late Laurette Taylor is quite remarkable.

 

I've seen quite a number of Broadway plays over the years both in the U.S and Europe. The first impression of a play that captured my attention was the imcomparable performance by Tom Baker in " Educating Rita " at the Yorkshire play house in Northern England. That was the first ever play I went to with my parents as a youngster. I later saw Tom again, but this time with the legendary Susannah York in " Hetta Garbler " at the west end. What a performance she gave, she was fabulous. She is one of those actresses that never stops working. To be able to see this legendary British actress on stage is something I will never forget. She was also very grand and quite famous on British television as well in the early 1980's.

 

I also saw the great man himself Sir Peter O'Toole give a gripping performance in both MacBeth and Henry V. His performance in MacBeth was very powerful and largely carried through his expressive voice. What to talk of his work in Henry V, his performance speaks volumes for itself. He's one true class act on stage and film.

 

I also saw Patrick Stewart in Los Angeles and New York in his one man play of " A Christmas Carol ". Mr Stewart played all of the characters and he was brilliant.

 

Michael Crawford in " Phantom Of The Opera ". I thought he did a really good job as the Phantom. He has a nice subtle voice and he can project his voice in different octaves. I'm a big fan of his work. His performance is FX, I still think he's been somewhat underated in that production.

 

I also had a chance to see one of Hollywood's true legends, Paul Newman in " Boys Town ". I really enjoyed watching this Broadway production. I didn't feel he gave it his all, but none the less it was still wonderful to see him live on stage.

 

For the most part I've had positive experiences watching various plays over the years. I hope that experience carries on for years to come.

 

Rohale

[Guest zipperzone]

The year was 1976 (or '77) and it was Christmas day.

 

I was living in Montreal at the time and had travelled to Toronto to spend Christmas with a friend of mine. His Xmas present to me was a pair of tickets to that day's matinee performance of "Applause" with Lauren Bacall, then playing at the Royal Alex.

 

It was beyond wonderful. Front row center seats, and the afternoon spent watching one of my all time favorites. It was like Betty was playing for us alone. And what a way to spend a Christmas afternoon!

 

I often look back on that perfect day and tell the story about the time I spent Christmas with Bacall.

 

Must have been a pretty shitty Christmas for her. Imagine being in a road company, 500 miles from home and having to work on Christmas day! But then it probably beat sitting around in a dreary hotel suite getting smashed.

[bigguyinpasadena]

I remember when they sent real "stars" out to tour with shows.

I am nudged towards this nostalgia having seen a production of A Little Night Music at the music center in LA.

I can remember seeing this tour years ago with Len Cairou(who I also got to see in Sweeny Todd)and Hermoine Gingold.This production featured Victor Gabor(WTF-weak voice and stiff as a board)and Zoe Caldwell(pretty good)and I guess this is the best LA can expect these days.

And don't even get me started about having to pay $80 to see Hairspray with......?BRUCE VILANCHE??????sorry-I'll pass.

[+ bigjoey]

my favorites include zero mostel in both "fiddler" and "funny thing happened..."; when he walked out on the stage, he owned the audience and they were putty in his hands. pearl bailey in "dolly" was far superior to channing and the whole cast was great; the novelty was cute but the cast held their own. babs in "funny girl" was delightful. best performance for a set was the musical "twenthy century" where the set didn't stop moving and at one point, the train came out to the audience with great effect.

 

right now my favorite show on broadway is "lion king"; i saw it when it first opened and just went back and it was better than ever. the creativity was first rate. i give it best performance for costumes; the costumes are a show by themselves.

[foxy]

When I was a teenager I worked all summer mowing lawns to save up $30 to buy two tickets to "Camelot". I brought a girl I thought I was in love with who reminded me of Tuesday Weld (who I was really in love with). She hated me (must have know I was gay). I do remember the musical with fondness even though I never heard of the stars...Julie Andrews, Richard Burton and Robert Goulet. I wonder what ever became of them? The sets were fabulous.

[baltimore observer]

I also saw Broadway: The Golden Age two weeks ago at the movie theater on 2nd Avenue, near 12th Street. I loved the movie, as did the entire audience that day.

 

The greatest Broadway performance I've seen to date is Hugh Jackman in Boy From Oz, though Carol Channing in Hello Dolly, Yul Brynner in King & I, John Raitt in Pajama Game, and Harvey Fierstein in Torch Song Triology and in Hairspray are all close seconds.

 

Support the arts.

[OneFinger]

>my favorites include zero mostel in both "fiddler"...

 

Thanks for reminding me of another memorable performance. I was not a big fan of Zero Mostel until I saw him in Fiddler (at the Winter Gardens).

 

You're right - from the moment he walked out on stage he had the audience eating out of his hand. He was fantastic and I can't imagine anyone else doing that role justice.