PLAYBILL ON OPENING NIGHT: Prymate Tackles Issues, Poses Challenges
By Harry Haun
06 May 2004
"What helped me with the role was very specific research, just getting information," he said. "I started with the American Museum of Natural History because they have the Prymate Hall there. It is outstanding taxidermy. Then I went up to the Bronx Zoo where they have a harem of 47 living gorillas. The silverback in that harem is called Timmy, and he's the one that I based my character Graham on. Timmy has four mates and 22 children.
"Then, during my first week at Florida State University where we tried the play out, I worked with a Gorilla Behavior Specialist. And maintenance is done with my therapist, Courtney Franklin, who's responsible for my physical fitness. Twice a week we meet, Tuesday and Thursday; on Wednesday and Saturday I meet with my massage therapist."
Robert Walden, one of "Bloody Mama" Shelley Winters' brood (like De Niro), originated the Naughton role in Florida and now understudies it. He's now grayed and goateed in a Great White Hunter way, recently relocated here from L.A. and looking for stage work. His last was a play above the Promenade called Tammy Can Fly. ("It couldn't," he said.)
Next up at the Promenade (June 15) is Jim Dale, seated at the party with wife Julie and director Frank Dunlop, who steered him through Scapino 30 years ago and is now steering him through Address Unknown, a two-character play based a 1932 correspondence of letters that was banned in Nazi Germany. "We started rehearsing Monday with William Atherton," said Dale. "It's a very, very, very powerful play."
Chez Josephine's proprietor Jean-Claude Baker, made the play and party, escorting the HBO image of his mom, gorgeous Lynn Whitfield. Her critique: "It was an interesting play with marvelous performances, but I feel physically concerned about humanity . . ."
Still glamorous Sally Ann Howes, flying high that her old"Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" movie will be arriving as a musical on Broadway in the spring from London, said she went over for the show's first night, "and — would you believe it? — I took the last bow on the stage of the Palladium. I said, 'That's what I'm going to do for the rest of my life: Let everyone else work, and then I'll come on for the applause.'" Nice work, and you can get it, girl!
The celebrity turn-out, like Tavern's lighting, was a little on the low-voltage side: Jane Alexander was playing Mrs. Sherin and not really fielding any professional questions, but smiling nevertheless and looking elegant as usual. Broadway-bowing Heather Tom was flanked by her also-thespian siblings, David and Nicole, and their parents. Also spotted about: Leonard Nimoy, Tony winner Priscilla Lopez and — has it come to this? — Kwame Jackson of "The Apprentice." Maybe it is time to sign off and start afresh.
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