| "Grand Hotel" 35th Anniversary concert at 54 Below (re: Was Grand Hotel a hit?) | |
| Last Edit: Marlo*Manners 11:00 am EST 11/21/24 | |
| Posted by: Marlo*Manners 10:38 am EST 11/21/24 | |
| In reply to: Was Grand Hotel a hit? - sc2 12:34 pm EST 11/20/24 | |
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| This event went on last week at 54 Below. It was a reunion, somewhat incomplete but nonetheless a reunion. Many of the leads in the original have passed on, or passed into other careers: David Carroll and Michael Jeter passed from AIDS, Liliane Montevecchi passed in 2018. Zina Bethune, René Ceballos and Cyd Charisse, replacement Grusinskayas have also passed. John Wylie the original Col. Doctor passed in 2004. Jane Krakowski is very busy in L.A. doing TV and Baron replacement Brent Barrett lives in Nevada with his partner and very occasionally does concerts. Karen Akers also seemed to be busy elsewhere. Several notable covers and replacements were MIA as well - Lynette Perry the replacement Flaemmchen wasn't there. Ditto John Schneider, Mark Jacoby, Penny Worth, Chip Zien, Austin Pendleton and Rex Smith. Of the original Broadway leads, only Timothy Jerome as Preysing was on hand. The entire event was organized, produced and directed by Walter Willison, who was Gunther Gustafsson, scullery worker an ensemble role in the original, but here took on the role of Colonel Doctor Otternschlag and acted as narrator and compère from a table booth stage right. He narrated various book scenes and commented on the action. Willison still has a beautiful voice in his haunting solo "I Waltz Alone". The cast used the entire room - "We'll Take a Glass Together" was performed in front of my table and the Baron put his "glass" (mimed) down on my table. The intimacy and sense of being in the same room and space as the characters was effective. The concert according to Willison was performed for Tommy Tune earlier this year. A lot of the performers were people who were ensemble members in the original moved into leading roles along with a few special guests and a few new faces. Ken Jennings, who was the original Tobias Ragg in "Sweeney Todd" demoted to bellboy ensemble player George Strunk in the original cast, was promoted to Otto Kringelein. Bob Stillman who played the role of Erik, the front desk clerk who is an expectant father in the OBC was moved up to Baron Felix von Geigern. Keith Crowningshield, another original cast bellboy was the touching Erik at the concert. Jill Powell who was a replacement telephone operator and Flaemmchen understudy stepped back into Flaemmchen very charmingly. Charles Mandracchia, the OBC doorman was moved effectively into the sinister Chauffeur. Newcomers included 82 year-old Jennifer Bassey Davis (widow of Luther Davis, the book writer) a soap opera veteran who acted on Broadway as Joan Bassie many moons ago as Grusinskaya and Lorna Dallas as Rafaela Ottiano. David White (Five Guys Named Moe) and his son Neo White were the Jimmys. Jennifer Bassey Davis had real diva presence and carried herself with great dignity. Her acting had authority. Bob Stillman is still devastatingly handsome and a real leading man - the tenor high notes are a little beyond him now (I suspect Brent Barrett still has all the notes and sounds great) but he covered well in a few exposed spots. His acting was excellent. Jill Powell initially seemed a bit vintage (as did a lot of the cast for their roles) but her vivacity and ability to convey youth, vulnerability and likeability won out and won me over. Ken Jennings was deeply touching as Otto Kringelein. Lorna Dallas sang her solos trenchantly and with a rich sound. Timothy Jerome didn't seem as imposing or brutal as the character should be - maybe due to age. I suspect he was very different 35 years ago. The piece had a sense of nostalgia, survival and vitality in age that gave it an extra emotional kick. A lot of these hotel residents are teetering on the brink but determined to survive. I bet this cast had lots of stories to tell and did well with this one. Marlo Manners (Lady Barrington) |
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