-Tallulah Bankhead
It is the first thing that greets you when you enter Ogunquit on US Route One: the Ogunquit Playhouse. The Playhouse was started by Broadway showman, Walter Hartwig, and his wife Maude.
The Hartwigs were part of the "Little Theatre Movement" bringing theatre outside of Manhattan. During the 1930's most summer stock theatres were in renovated barns, grange halls, or churches. When the Ogunquit Playhouse was built in 1937, it rivaled many New York city theatres 'til the 1950's! The Ogunquit Playhouse is also on the National Historical Registry.
The Ogunquit Playhouse has quite a legacy of actors and actresses that have graced its stage over the past seven decades ( Bette Davis, Tallulah Bankhead, Gary Merrill, Ethel Barrymore and countless others). It is always a pleasure to take in a show, and let the magic of Broadway spill on to the stage!
We decided to see the Drowsy Chaperone with Carson Kressley, and Georgia Engel. It's a "musical in a comedy". Kressley is an old "show tune queen" narrating his favorite broadway musical, "The Drowsy Chaperone". Kressley is entertaining and animated as he narrates his favorite parts of the show from his easy chair in his New York City Studio apartment. We get a glimpse of his life as he escapes into his favorite musical. There are twists and turns. The show is fast, and there is no intermission. Georgia Engel is a delight, and portrays the same type of lovable character as "Georgette" in Mary Tyler Moore. Kressley listens to the recording, and the musical comes alive in his apartment. The record album is old, and there are scratches, static and skips, but like all good recordings its worth a good listening!
Mike and I enjoyed the show and do recommend seeing it. Georgia Engel played the same role on Broadway.
The Details:
Ogunquit Playhouse
Main Street
Ogunquit, ME 03907
Telephone 207-646-2402
Show times evenings at 8pm
Enjoyed the show. Show is 1 hour and 50 minutes
Playing til June 26th
Two Thumbs Up!
So glad you could see it. We saw the 'Drowsy Chaperone' at Proctor's Theatre in Schencectady, NY a few years ago. The production we attended had Geogia Engel playing the same character, she was a joy. I too was reminded of her part as "Georgette" in The Mary Tyler Moore Show...but the show stealer was the "show queen" played (now) by Carson Kressley. A few days ago on our morning commute my significant other's self-mixed CD was playing in the car and suddenly Georgia Engle was singing "MY dress, My dress..." and knowing that the 'Drowsy Chaperone' was at the Playhouse, I was longing for Ogunquit....So I logged on to see the latest...only to find that you and Mike had attended the show. So glad that you both enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteJust to correct my awful typo...we saw the 'Drowsy Chaperone' at the Proctors Theatre which is located in New York's "Electric City", once the home of General Electric, the City of SCHENECTADY, NY...The first time we stayed at the Ogunquit Beach Inn (Sept.of 2000) I actually had a Schenectady mailing address, and my better half, Alan, was still living in Boston...So please excuse my fingers.
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