Wit
-- Emma stars
and Nichols directs this
HBO original, based on the Pulitzer awarded play by Margaret Edson. The story of Dr.
Vivian Bearing PhD, a noted professor of John Donne's poetry who must re-evaluate her life when diagnosed with
cancer: picture Fosse
facing death in 'All That Jazz' but with erudite poet, John Donne 'helping' the
hero in significantly less abstract and arty terms.
A kindergarten teacher in Atlanta won the '99 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for a first play, 
Wit, an unsentimental
and perhaps cynical view of a woman's fight with cancer. Awards in fact are abundant:Drama
Desk Award (Best New Drama, Outstanding Actress - Play Kathleen Chalfant) Lucille Lortel
Award (Best Play); Kathleen Chalfant, Best Actress; Best Director Michael Chybowski, Best
Lighting - NY Drama Critics Circle (Best Play) Drama League Award (Distinguished
Production of a Play, Distinguished Performance) Outer Critics Circle Award (Best
Off-Broadway Play); John Gassner Playwriting Obie, et al.
No we didn't see Chalfant
but we did get to see courtesy of HBO,
Emma. And on broadway, the play: "Wit is the kind of
theatrical experience of which legends are made." - THE NEW YORK TIMES.
Rarely do we see Emma doing work equal to her skills, though she has a lengthy and
prestigious résumé. In doing Margaret
Edson, we see Emma in a most compelling characterization-- even if Christopher Lloyd
takes you back to his future: Jonathan Ward, Audra McDonald, and Eileen Atkins make
relevant points. In Lloyd's defense, it's hard to be a recognizable face in a truly
important film.
Emma
is just one of those people though, when channel surfing you stop dead-on. You know
regardless of content, regardless of others in the cast and without cognizance of writers,
directors and any various concerns-- that you're in for a treat: something from someone's
heart, rather than a pocketbook.
So many years since we updated this page. We are absolutely
in love with Sense and Sensibilty,
screenplay by Emma and never, no matter how often we watch it, are we not moved by the
artful way in which represented. Particularly, the ending. Further, don't miss Last Chance Harvey with Dustin Hoffman. What
chemistry. Emma is magic.
How unique is that today?
What of cancer?
©2010 R K Puma
ro@rkpuma.com
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