This post is my contribution to
Stage To Screen Blogathon hosted by
The Rosebud Cinema and
Rachel's Theatre Reviews. Click here for a list of all the participating blogs in the blogathon.
Like the two main characters in the story, I have a love-hate relationship with the movie (and play)
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Yes, our relationship goes back about 25 years, about as long as the relationship between George (
Richard Burton in the film) and Martha (
Liz Taylor in the film).
Over the course of 25 years I've seen the movie version several times and also have seen the play version twice, but to this day I'm still not certain I understand all that is going on with these characters.
Each time I see the film or play I gain a little more insight and see something I hadn't seen before, even though the experience is not always pleasant - both the play and film are DOWNERS!
ORIGINS OF THE PLAY AND MOVIE
The original play by Edward Albee opened in 1962, was highly acclaimed, and won several Tonys including Best Play. The play was revived on Broadway in 2005 and 2010 and each production won Tonys. The only movie version was made in 1966, directed by
Mike Nichols. It too was also highly acclaimed: it was a box office smash and was nominated for an astonishing 13 Oscars, some of which are questionable (Best Sound? Best Score? Best Costumes?). But that's a topic for another blog post...
When I first became familiar with the movie and the stage play it was DEFINITELY NOT love at first sight, let me tell you.....
MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE MOVIE
I first watched the movie on late-night TV (and recorded it on a VHS tape!). When it ended at 2:30 AM, I was so sleepy. I admired the look of the film and the acting of the entire cast, but I certainly could not relate to any of the characters. I didn't LOVE the movie, but I LIKED many of the scenes, including the first 20 minutes of banter with dysfunctional Martha and George before the arrival of the party guests Nick and Honey (
George Segal and Sandy Dennis) especially when Martha imitates Bette Davis by exclaiming "What A Dump!" But some scenes seemed slow and boring such as the scene with a drunk George and Nick on the swings talking about their pasts. And the ending - how sad! How depressing!
MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE PLAY
I remember first seeing the stage play of
Virginia Woolf in 1992 at the Village Players in Oak Park, IL. It started at 8 PM, and was a LONG play - the longest I've ever seen at 3 hours. Thankfully, there were two intermissions. I was amazed that the dialogue was the same as the movie pretty much word-for-word, although I think I was too young to grasp the depth of the dialogue.
Earlier this year, I saw the stage play again (a co-worker of mine played Martha). This time watching the play, I gained a little more insight into these characters. For example, it occurred to me that the scene where a drunk George picks Nick's brain is the most crucial part of the play/film because - in my opinion - it shows how depraved George really is, and how he instigates all that happens in the rest of the play/film.
No matter when I watch it is still a LONG play. It's still depressing - the play and movie. And I'm still not sure I fully get it. Who is more depraved, George or Martha? Do they love each other more than Nick and Honey? All they all hypocrites? What happens at the end? Will Nick and Honey stay together? Will they adopt a child? Will George and Martha continue to drink?
So many unanswered questions. It's a story that can be talked about for hours, and interpreted a number of ways. Perhaps this is why it is considered to be brilliant.
Might be enjoyable if you are into dolphins or aquatics, but I found it to be a bit dull overall, and not very believable. Surprised that it was directed by Mike Nichols; I'd be interested in reading more about why he directed it. George C. Scott (I think miscast) plays a research scientist who teaches Dolphins to communicate with humans in dolphin-like voices. One day two of his dolphins are kidnapped and they are involved in a spy plot to assassinate the President of the US. Very outlandish, and the noises they dolphins make are annoying after awhile. (Was nominated for the Best Sound Oscar, but should have been Worst Sound).
