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.
How unique is that today?
What of cancer?
©2010 R K Puma
ro@rkpuma.com
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