Our eldest daughter, at 17, did this part, Emily, the whole scene three. It was her portion of the local arts scholarship contest. The judges wept. It was like watching Secretariat run against mill wagon ponies. This is as moving a scene as I think there is in theatre. Jenny went to college on that scholarship. She's 48 now, so the power and truth of this holds, and always shall.
I saw that production at Lincoln Center and was so touched by it to my very core, as i am watching it today 2023. I think about what Emily said that human beings don't realize life as they live it. To me that's the operative meaning in the whole play. Most folks don't get it.
Doing this for an audition and have been told I do it great! Which is a complete honor because Emily Webb is such a iconic character in a play with such an insightful meaning!
This was the best production of the play, according to the Thornton Wilder Society. I have to agree, having seen the ones with Hal Holbrook and Paul Newman as the Stage Manager.
I remember the first time I saw this in a fine arts class in college. That night I cried harder in the shower than I had for a while, I don't think I have since then.
This and King Lear in my humble opinion are the greatest plays. But I don’t understand why the dead-who are otherwise so seemingly all knowing, fail to understand or show compassion for George as he throws himself on Emily’s grave. Doesn’t George’s expressions of caring and love show that he too understands what Emily says in her final speech--that he understands life’s full greatness? If he didn’t understand it, he would not show the sorrow of the loss of that greatness.
I would question saying his emotions are “only” a product of earthly interactions, as if to diminish them or see them as inferior to what the dead know. There are people who as earthly beings can transcend their seeming limitations. Perhaps George grasped what Emily expressed. When I saw the play I felt like telling the dead people “hey come on, have some compassion on the poor guy”.
No. They're dead, devoid of passion and life. The more George grieves, the more it confuses them, as they continue to drift away from earthly emotions. That is what's so bittersweet about it.
@@victorkong82 exactly, that’s also why Emily’s goodbye was a goodbye to the earth and personal joy that came with being on it.. She wasn’t just saying goodbye to her mama and papa, she was saying goodbye to having a mama and papa and being human.. that’s why it’s so sad.
Having died myself and.come back, and being old, please let me explain. Life is SHORT and for the living. Understanding the brevity and uniqueness of life, the dead think that instead of mourning Emily, he should be among the living enjoying his brief life to the fullest. He will have ALL Of ETERNITY to hang out at the cemetery when he is dead. In other words, if George REALLY understood life as Emily now does he would not BE at the cemetery at all.
Our eldest daughter, at 17, did this part, Emily, the whole scene three. It was her portion of the local arts scholarship contest. The judges wept. It was like watching Secretariat run against mill wagon ponies. This is as moving a scene as I think there is in theatre. Jenny went to college on that scholarship. She's 48 now, so the power and truth of this holds, and always shall.
I saw that production at Lincoln Center and was so touched by it to my very core, as i am watching it today 2023. I think about what Emily said that human beings don't realize life as they live it. To me that's the operative meaning in the whole play. Most folks don't get it.
If you can do Emily Webb, you can act.
Penelope Ann Miller is a fantastic actress. I miss seeing her in stuff.
She's such a great actress ! 10/10
Our town..Our town... My favorite...play...
I love it..!
Doing this for an audition and have been told I do it great! Which is a complete honor because Emily Webb is such a iconic character in a play with such an insightful meaning!
This was the best production of the play, according to the Thornton Wilder Society. I have to agree, having seen the ones with Hal Holbrook and Paul Newman as the Stage Manager.
Absolutely! This cast was GOLD. Every performance rings true. All the other productions don't come close to this one.
My favorite part in any play.
I remember the first time I saw this in a fine arts class in college. That night I cried harder in the shower than I had for a while, I don't think I have since then.
This and King Lear in my humble opinion are the greatest plays. But I don’t understand why the dead-who are otherwise so seemingly all knowing, fail to understand or show compassion for George as he throws himself on Emily’s grave. Doesn’t George’s expressions of caring and love show that he too understands what Emily says in her final speech--that he understands life’s full greatness? If he didn’t understand it, he would not show the sorrow of the loss of that greatness.
I would question saying his emotions are “only” a product of earthly interactions, as if to diminish them or see them as inferior to what the dead know. There are people who as earthly beings can transcend their seeming limitations. Perhaps George grasped what Emily expressed. When I saw the play I felt like telling the dead people “hey come on, have some compassion on the poor guy”.
No. They're dead, devoid of passion and life. The more George grieves, the more it confuses them, as they continue to drift away from earthly emotions. That is what's so bittersweet about it.
@@victorkong82 exactly, that’s also why Emily’s goodbye was a goodbye to the earth and personal joy that came with being on it.. She wasn’t just saying goodbye to her mama and papa, she was saying goodbye to having a mama and papa and being human.. that’s why it’s so sad.
Having died myself and.come back, and being old, please let me explain. Life is SHORT and for the living. Understanding the brevity and uniqueness of life, the dead think that instead of mourning Emily, he should be among the living enjoying his brief life to the fullest. He will have ALL Of ETERNITY to hang out at the cemetery when he is dead.
In other words, if George REALLY understood life as Emily now does he would not BE at the cemetery at all.
Like the Mother Gibbs in this one.
Damn
Penelope looks like Lizzy Borden