Grey Gardens

I attended the opening of Grey Gardens at AFD to support a number of my friends involved in the show. The overall quality of the production is fantastic. I am not a huge fan of the documentary, but the performances of the cast combined with the beautiful set and gorgeous music made for a wonderful evening. It's amazing to watch the cast bring these real characters to life. You don't want to miss it!

I was lucky enough to see "Grey Gardens" on Broadway with Christine Ebersole in the dual roles of Edith/Little Edie. The beautiful score and both funny and wrenching story of a dysfunctional (yet ultimately loving) mother/daughter relationship immediately made it one of my favorite musicals. I was delighted to find AFD's production just as moving. The sets and costumes were wonderful, with lovely attentions to period detail. The orchestra, hidden away, never jarred the viewer but in fact provided well played support for the voices. Every character was ably played by very versatile performers, with particular attention to that unique NY/Miss Porter's School upper crust accent, so recognizable to anyone who's ever seen the famous Maysles brothers' documentaries upon which the musical is based (and young Joseph Kennedy also had his "Bah-ston" accent down pat!).

As wonderful as the whole cast was, particular praise must be showered upon Margaret McCarty, who played the roles that garnered Christine Ebersole a Best Actress Tony on Broadway. The phrase that immediately springs to mind is "tour de force." As Act 1's Edith Bouvier Beale of 1941 and Act 2's "Little Edie" Beale of 1973 she gave the audience two distinct characters with her acting prowess and, certainly not least of all, her excellent singing voice. A friend commented after, “That was a role she was BORN to play” and I have to agree. This is going to be one of those productions that folks around here will remember for years, and I urge you not to miss it!