Whiter Than White

Good screening of Ambersons for cast and friends last night. Having done a first reading of the full, original Welles version, the cast members were somewhat aware of what was shortened, cut, or reshot, and I could hear and see the small, angry, disgusted reactions around me - when it ended, someone, I think Natalie Wilder (who's playing Mrs. Johnson), called out "Bring on the boarding house scene!" - referring to the beautiful original final scene of the movie replaced by the awful hospital scene. I was a little surprised that the scene that everyone noticed was cut and was upset about was Major Amberson's final monologue before his death (which is faded to black about halfway through the uncut length) - nice to see that scene makes an impression.

Good discussions all around, and much appreciation of the fine acting in the film - except, as always for the performance of Tim Holt as George Amberson Minifer, which always splits people into those that love it or hate it (I think it's a fine performance by a good actor of a character that needs to be both horrible and likable at the same time - an almost impossible line to walk, which can only be done through casting a naturally likable actor in the part, and Tim Holt is a cold cold actor who does a great job of playing a real shit).

Tonight, more work on Everything Must Go. It's usually been a rule of mine for years now to always avoid rehearsing on Friday-Saturday-Sunday-Monday evenings, but with all these shows and the actor conflicts, there's no way to make that work this year.

from LP Cover Lover, again: