This matinee audience is fantastic. We have gotten laughter and applause in places we’ve never had it before. I want to clone them. Though we have only 7 shows left, all of us are still finding new moments and it’s so much fun–so exciting.
With Theodore Bikel and his wife Tamara Brooks (photo: Michael Rudd)
Theodore Bikel and his wife, Tamara Brooks, are in the audience this afternoon. He was the original Captain Von Trapp in “Sound of Music,” and played Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof” more than anyone else–2,094 times! She is a conductor and composer. They adored the show and were very moved. He said how rare it is to be truly taken outside oneself and that this happened to him–to both of them– this afternoon. Tamara told me that in the margins of his composition of The Missa Solemna (his great Mass) part of which we sing in the play, Beethoven wrote, “The result of freedom (in death) is Mirth, is Peace.” Ahhhh, yes. And Moises captures this so well in the scene when Beethoven and I are together–when I have a morphine-induced hallucination and we laugh heartily together.
Tonight, Diane Ladd, a longtime friend of mine is coming.
Diane Ladd (photo: Michael Rudd)
And I will welcolme backstage Dr. Michael Carrera and his wife June. His adolescent pregnancy prevention program, done with the Children’s Aid Society, is one of the most successful and widely replicated nationally. I have considered him my guru in this field for at least 15 years. We will go to dinner together and do some major catching up.
Dr. Michael Carerra and his wife June (photo: Michael Rudd)
Scarlet Pressley-Brown of Delta Air Lines, her husband Wendell Brown, and their daughter April Partridge
Speaking of catching up, I had a very good time after last night’s show, catching up with Tom (Hayden) and Barbara in the dressing room. I was correct in thinking that they would like the play.
See you next time.
Michael
Today I saw 33 Variations; it was a BRILLIANT piece of theatre. Jane Fonda performance is mesmerizing to watch, as was the rest of the cast. I thought Colin Hanks was fantastic as Mike.
Thank God I had the chance to see it. I had tickets for the closing show and as we know it was canceled. I was going to just pass on the show after the cancelation. Some inner voice was telling me I should not miss the show, and I am very happy I listened to my inner voice.
Ms. Fonda, if you were peeking at the audience before the show started, I was the one in a blue and red polo standing up waving to you. You performance in 33 Variations was a force to be reckon with, and the show was just brilliant.
Thanks for a great day at the theatre.
All the best,
Michael
Dan Griffin
Ms. Fonda,
Until today I was thinking that your performance in The Dollmaker was your crowning achievement. I was mistaken.
Thank you for your work and dedication,
Dan Griffin
Kelsey
Sounds like a great audience! Actually, sounds like an incredible audience since you want to clone them. Haha.
Lenore Goldfarb
Dear Ms. Fonda,
Congratulations on all the wonderful visitors you have been receiving during the last few days of the show.
I wanted to let you know that during a recent mini conference held on Thursday May 14 I passed on some of the messages you were kind enough to share with us when you spoke in Montreal. I work in Maternal-Child health… I have a clinic here in Montreal and I head a charitable foundation.
Among other things, I mentioned the statistic you quoted that 1 in 3 women are victims of incest. It generated quite a good deal of discussion. There seem to be somewhat pervasive stereotypical views of what an incest victim is “supposed to look like”. I put forth the idea that if one would look around the room of women, there were likely many survivors in the audience at that moment. I went on to discuss how we in our particular niche of the health care community can offer some assistance.
And while on the topic of assistance, I would be interested in learning more about the charities you represent/support and would be interested in making a contribution if I may.
Warmest regards,
Lenore Goldfarb
Karen
Wow, Mr Bikel looks great. Fancy doing a role that many times….goodness. I guess that is up there with Topol and Rex Harrison and Yul Brynner and their respective roles. Love Diane and her daughter and of course Bruce…..hard to like him in Coming Home, though….or The Cowboys, but he did play those roles so well! Too well!
Hannah Castellaw
I loved the play (I was the goofball that told you at the stage door that I came all the way from Texas to see it. You were very gracious amidst the throng of autograph seekers.) If given the chance I would have told you that I saw in your portrayal of Dr. Brandt what I see in my mother everyday. Shie is also 71. She is dying of Alzheimer’s Disease after living with it for about 9 years or more. (I wish I had room to tell you about her life and what she has meant to me.) What I saw was the juxtaposition of strength and fragility–the strength of spirit and physical fragility. Amazing. I am not sure how you pulled that off on stage where you have to project. How do you speak with a weak voice on stage? I imagine it would be much easier in film. I was wondering if the portrayal of ALS symptoms was strictly mimicry or do you tap into something else? I mean sense memory can’t help much if you can’t pull up a memory of something you never sensed. I love the photos of you with your friends and family. You know a TON of people. I was trying to figure out how many degrees of separation between you and me. I came up with 2 degrees 2 different ways. Jane Fonda – Bill Moyers – Naomi Shihab Nye – Hannah Castellaw. And also, Jane Fonda – Wille Nelson – Joel Dilley – Hannah Castellaw Just a silly, trivial way to show how connected we all are to everyone and everything. Thank you for giving Dr. Brandt life. Thank you for this wonderful blog. Thank you for being such an inspiration for me as my mother is coming closer to death. You and Joan Didion have helped me be less afraid.
Hannah Castellaw
I was remiss in not including Moisés Kaufman with you and Joan Didion. His treatment of death was sublime. The minuet (including the way it was lit) was elevating.
Meg
Theo Bikel at 85 looks as vibrant and vital as always! What an inspiration he is!
Meg
Inspired by the President’s speech at Notre Dame, I want to thank you for all you do to reduce the number of unwanted/unplanned/ill-advised pregnancies. Thank you!
Timothy Dougherty
hello Jane , nice post was reading a Beethoven Quote :Recommend virtue to your children; it alone, not money, can make them happy. I speak from experience.
Ludwig van Beethoven As you say Beethoven wrote, “The result of freedom (in death) is Mirth, is Peace.” The analysis done on a sample of Beethoven’s hair that there were alarmingly high levels of lead in Beethoven’s system. High concentrations of lead can lead to bizarre and erratic behaviour, including rages. Another symptom of lead poisoning is deafness. Beethoven wrote his Heiligenstadt Testament, which records his resolution to continue living for and through his art. I know just how he feels, Mirth and Peace and then Death.
Brenda
Thank you for an absolutely stunning play…I feel truly blessed to have seen you perform. And thanks for signing autographs after the show…you could have so easily rushed off to your waiting car but instead took the time to greet perfect strangers and show your appreciation. You are a class act…
Amanda
I wish I had gone on a day when the audience was especially interactive.
Best,
Amanda
Alan Anderson
One of my guests Saturday afternoon is an avid musical theater fan, and wasn’t sure she would enjoy 33 Variations. After the curtain call I looked over at her and saw that she had tears streaming down her face and was unable to speak – the piece touched her on a profound level. It was exciting to share this experience with her. Thank you Jane for enhancing the experience further by greeting us backstage after the show. It was wonderful to see you again after so many years. As always you were gracious and beautiful. We were excited to run into Theodore Bikel when we left your dressing room! So my guest had a dramatic AND musical theater experience all in one. Thank you and congratulations.