Many Plays Have Not Been But Need To Be Revived On Broadway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And This Is My First Choice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                         "The Member Of The Wedding," Carson McCullers' stage adaptation of her own novel of the same title, opened on Broadway at The Empire Theatre, on January 5, 1950.

                            Part of the reason for its success was not only the author's poetic lyricism in her dialogue but its extraordinary cast--Julie Harris, Ethel Waters, and Brandon DeWilde.

                              That cast is one reason why this play has never been revived.  The other might be that the Southern gothic tone of its nature may be too much for today's allegedly PC world.

                               But let' get back to that cast.  They were truly extraordinary, and while The Empire Theatre has been defunct for ages, the performances of this extraordinary trio have been preserved on film, made in 1952, and Julie Harris received an Oscar nomination for her performance as Frankie Adams, who imagines herself to be a more sophisticated version of herself named F. Jasmine Adams.  That film, by the way, was directed by Fred Zinnemann.

                                Indeed, that cast can never be beat.  But if one looks far and wide, I think one might be able to find a suitable cast, and an audience that would run to this play, which would be perfect for The Booth Theatre.

                                Now, girls, I know Celia Keenan- Bolger recently turned 48, but she still has that eternal child-woman quality, delineated so superbly in both "The Glass Menagerie" and "To Kill A Mockingbird."  I still say she could pass--especially on stage ss Frankie, and I would run straight to that theater to see her.  Now, for Berenice, the Ethel Waters role, there are many choices out there, but the two best I think would be Tonya Pinkins and La Toya Jackson.  Both are fine, but I would give it to Jackson, as she seems to have more gravitas.

                                 The role of John Henry West, originated by Brandon DeWilde in 1950 is the most problematic role to cast.  It requires a boy of eight, with blond hair, who can act.  I feel this would eliminate most of the young male children working on the New York stage now.  Best to conduct a search throughout the South.   An extraordinary child needs to be found.  Which is how Mary Badham was found for "To Kill A Mockingbird," and Sondra Locke for "The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter."  And both received Oscar nominations.

                                    How I long to see "The Member Of Wedding" on stage in my lifetime.   And the clock is ticking, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     When I was eight, I would have made the perfect John Henry West.  Unfortunately, unlike Celia I cannot trans morph my age on stage.  At least, not THAT young!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         I will be forced to see Nathan Lane (??????????) do Willy Loman in "Death Of A Salesman" this Spring.  Not my choice for Willy, but this will probably be my last, and only, chance to see this play on stage.

                                            So, how about taking a stab at "The Member Of The Wedding???????"