On Sunday May 19, 2002 I went to New York with my husband and daughter to see “The Goat”. There’s been a major change at the John Golden Theater.
Now quotes from the excellent reviews the play has gotten are posted above and around the theater. I took pictures and will post them on the list soon. At this point, “The Goat” has won the New York Drama Critics’ Award, Outer Critics’ Circle Award and Drama Desk Award for Best New Play as well as being nominated for the Tony award for Best New Play.
The house for “The Goat” was just about full—good for the show. The Ladies’ room hasn’t gotten any bigger since February, girls: same long line and cramped spaces.
“The Goat” itself has undergone some changes in the blocking and script. The performances have all been honed to perfection (as if they could get any better than the February performance!). The actors have become finely attuned to their parts and the production and settled into a good rhythm together.
By the 3rd scene, Bill’s character, Martin, seems even more hollowed out and despairing (even before Stevie comes back). Bill is also playing him with a higher level of anger and defiance in the 3rd scene which makes him seem more tragic and haunted.
The blocking is very different in the 3rd scene—to good effect—and at the conclusion it is radically different and serves the play’s themes much better. I don’t want to talk about plot details because some of you might be going to see the play. If anyone who saw the February performance wants the details, let me know.
After the show we went back to the stage door area to wait for Bill. While we were waiting, John Lithgow walked by—hiding under a straw hat. Stephen Rowe (Ross) and Jeffrey Carlson (Billy) from the “Goat” cast came out and we complimented them on their performances. They were intrigued to hear that we had seen a preview performance too and wanted to hear what we thought of the changes. We waited awhile longer and then finally the stage door opened and I heard Bill’s voice. Now, I knew he had the Drama Desk Awards that night where he would be both a nominee and a presenter. If I got a chance to speak to him and give him the book from the group, I wanted to be polite and brief because he would be hurrying to the Awards show. He came out with Mercedes Ruehl and a man, from the Drama Desk awards, who was there to escort them to the awards rehearsal—past all autograph seekers, no doubt! So I started bravely in Bill’s direction, book in hand. Next thing I know a short man in a baseball cap is in front of me and I hear Bill say, “Hi, Jerry”.
I’m wondering, who is the Jerry, someone who works backstage? When the man turned around, I saw it was Jerry Stiller (father of Ben). Wow. If it hadn’t been Bill there, I would have loved to talk to Jerry Stiller. As a kid, I was a big fan of he and his wife, Anne Meara. Bill and Jerry Stiller talked for a few minutes. Bill has the same short haircut as in February and there are even more blond highlights in his hair than there were then. It looks great on stage and up close. He was wearing a white and blue plaid shirt and dark blue jacket.
After Bill and Jerry Stiller finished talking, I approached Bill. I told him who I was. He remembered the group from February and recognized my name as one of the people who wrote to him when the Tony nominations came out. I complimented him on his brilliant performance that day. Then I gave him the book from the list-serve group, and told him that we know how modest he is and wanted him to see the great reviews he has gotten as well as the reviews and accounts of seeing the play from list members. I gave him a quick overview of the contents. He was very appreciative and promised to read the book. He was very warm and friendly with me and seems to value our praise for his work. He thought it was great that my husband and I came back to see the official opening version of the play. The whole cast seems very committed to this play and it has to be an exhilarating experience: an Edward Albee play, 3 awards so far, and the chance to do that play every day but Monday. Bill’s contract for “The Goat” runs to September but he said they have to keep getting an audience. I told him I hoped he would win the Drama Desk award and thanked him again for his wonderful performance in the play.
All of this took only 4-5 minutes or so. The escort from the Awards said they should get moving and off they went. I talked to Mercedes Ruehl as we walked down. To give you all an idea where my head was, I gave a nearly complete description above of Bill’s hair and what he was wearing above. When I was shopping with my daughter yesterday, I had to ask her what Mercedes Ruehl was wearing and she gave me a complete description and normally I would be very aware of what a famous actress whose work I love was wearing, but not with Bill there. The escort hurried Bill and Mercedes past a group of people on the street. Bill managed to shake a few hands and I think he even gave out some autographs. They got into a sleek black car much like the one in February and off they went.
Bill seemed very exhilarated after the performance and there was an air of great excitement about the departure, mixed with a little tension from the poor beleaguered escort, who had a tough job to do. In spite of all the hurry, Bill could not have been more warm and friendly and receptive to what we sent him.
“The Goat” won the award for Best New Play that night. Mary Anne