MovieChat Forums > Fool for Love (1986) Discussion > Original Play Was An Awesome Ride

Original Play Was An Awesome Ride

posted 14 years ago by suebrash
4 replies | jump to latest

You may wonder why I would write about a play on a movie site. You wouldn't ask if you were able to see the original production of this play with the original cast, first produced at San Francisco's Magic Theatre, then moved wholly intact to Circle In The Square in NYC. Raw and unforgettable to anyone lucky enough to see it.

Ed Harris gave one of the most amazing performances in contemporary theatre night after night as Eddie, a role written for him by Sam Shepard after they were in "The Right Stuff". He laid the blueprint for the role just as Brando did for Stanley in "Streetcar Named Desire", immortalized on film. Too bad that Ed Harris didn't have the same opportunity to record his definitive performance as Eddie. He and Kathy Baker as Mae tore it up 8 times a week in flesh and blood right in front of you... live... so real you could feel the sweat and the claustrophobia... the sexual and emotional pulse delivered in spades every time. Supporting actors Dennis Ludlow and Will Marchetti were also superb... Set, sound, lighting design all created the real/unreal motel room in the intimate theatres the play was produced in... around 100 or so lucky enough to see it nightly. Direction by Sam Shepard was tight and unpredictable, largely due to Mr. Harris' over the edge performance; scary but tender as a man desperate at all costs to get her back.... Two people trapped by their past in a desperate embrace that hurts and feels so good, all at once.

As a theatre-goer for over 50 years, this ranks as one of the most unforgettable plays I remember over my lifetime. I must have seen it at least 20 times, in SF and NYC. I lament that the film really does not capture the visceral or emotional arc that I know is in the play.

Some comments express confusion about what really happens or if their obsessive encounters will continue to go on? The truth revealed sets Eddie and Mae free the way I see it. To me, this was clearly the ending in the way that Harris and Baker played it. Electric.

[–] dedoc1967 10 years ago

Are you sure it transferred to the Circle in the Square? I'm nearly 100% positive it played at the Douglas Fairbanks on 42nd Street (now gone) in the early 80s. I worked there for awhile, but after that show played hence not being 100% sure but co-workers told me it had played there.

[–] suebrash 10 years ago

Yes I am sure when it opened in New York with Ed and Kathy and the original SF cast it was at Circle In The Square. However, it ran quite awhile and moved later.Kathy stayed with it but other actors came and went in the other roles along the way. Thanks for your interest. The nature of theatre is that once it is gone, it is gone . Sadly, some of the theatre spaces too.... Both of these theatres are no longer there....

[–] dedoc1967 10 years ago

When it played at the Fairbanks, it was starring Will Patton (who wasn't especially famous yet I think). This would have been roughly 1985-1988 time frame. The original run of Nunsense followed it at the Fairbanks -- another transfer.

[–] suebrash 10 years ago

Yes, Will Patton was the first Eddie after Ed Harris left the show, I believe.Ed. was already moving very rapidly in his film career and had projects pulling him back to film work. Will Patton was probably very good but I never saw him in the role.