Terrence McNally on Master Class

A Tony winner for Best Play, Master Class stars Emmy and Tony Awardwinning actress Tyne Daly as Maria Callas. The cast also includes Jeremy Cohen as Manny, Laquita Mitchell as Second Soprano (Sharon), Ta'u Pupu'a as Tenor (Tony), and Alexandra Silber as First Soprano (Sophie). The play is a portrait of the opera diva told through her recollections of the glories, triumphs, and tragedies of her own life and career. Her voice is gone, her lover is long departed, and her sanity could possibly be next. All she has is a lonely itinerary of master classes and luggage packed full of the memories that are her only travel companion. Her students are the hapless targets of her sharp tongue, while she remains the picture of innocent aristocracy. Master Class shows that while the actress may have left the stage, she will never give up her audience.

[@davy91101]

I was somewhat surprised that McNally singled out Tyne Daly for her performance as Callas. I saw Zoe Caldwell twice at the Taper Forum in LA and the cast later went to NY where she won a Tony. She was superb. This is not to take away Ms. Daly's performance which I have only in in bits and pieces on YT. Previously I had only seen her in her TV series Cagney and Lacey a none too distinguished piece of writing noted for casting women in what was usually regarded as the purview of male actors. Daly lost a lot of weight and obviously worked hard. Caldwell never made a movie nor appeared on TV (this is an observation not a critical judgement) and her achievements on the stage speak for themselves; she was an Australian who career took her to the US and Britain. Her transatlantic accent doesn't copy Callas' accent other than the latter was able to lose her Brooklyn accent and in interviews provide us with an accent that one is not born with but acquires. Daly works at it and pulls it off but not consistently. It's a pity that neither were filmed.

[@gimmiefriedchicken]

Do you know where i can watch this play?

[@JustinLodes]

Cronies got him 😐 ahhhh covid-19!!!!!! Ahhhhhhhhh