Screening of Grey Gardens and a party at Grey Gardens

So it sounds like this screening actually did happen on the 11th. How did people secure tickets to it? Lucky!

It also looks like photos from the event are online already. Here are photos of the screening and of the party.

From Grey Gardens Yahoo Group, by Libra Man, on April 13, 2009

Hamptons screening of Grey Gardens

On Saturday night, I attended a screening of Grey Gardens in East Hampton, followed by a dinner at Grey Gardens. It was a wonderful time, and perhaps the most fun I've had in a while. I couldn't wait for the movie to start once we sat down. It was introduced by HBO's Len Amato, with writer/director/executive producer Michael Sucsy and executive producers Lucy Barzun Donnelly and Rachael Horovitz. Judy Maysles, David's widow, was there and recounted how the Maysles lived in a garage during the filming of Grey Gardens. And then the movie started! It's told in flashbacks, and the first scene is the premiere of the documentary at Grey Gardens in the 1970s. It was completely amazing how much Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange looked and sounded like Little and Big Edie. The relationship of the women is the core of the story, but you really understand how it Little Edie came to stay with Big Edie and why their living situation deteriorated to the point that it had.

The use of actual dialogue from the documentary fascinated me. Scenes from the documentary were used in other points in the story. For example, Edie does the VMI marching song to impress Max Gordon. This reshuffling and repositioning made the story seem familiar, yet fresh at the same time.

The performances were wonderful! Drew looks and sounds so much like Edie! There's a scene with Jackie in the garden where Edie flips out, and the anger that comes is authentically Edie, reminiscent of the "push you under the goddamn bed" scene from the original documentary.

Lois Wright, who was sitting with us, chuckled at a line from that scene. She thought Drew was great, but she actually gasped at times during Jessica Lange's performance as Big Edie. Jessica captured the singsong quality of Big Edie's voice perfectly, and, when dressed as Big Edie from the 1970s, was nearly indistinguishable from her real-life counterpart.

The screening was at Goose Creek, an estate in Wainscott that has its own movie theater (and which hosted Madonna's 40th birthday party). Following the screening, we all went over to Grey Gardens for dinner. The evening felt like a who's who of the Hamptons. Lorraine Bracco, Dick Cavett, Bob Balaban, and Chrisie Brinkley (who looked gorgeous) were all there. Frances Hayward, Sally Quinn, and Ben Bradlee were at the house. Patrick McMullan was photographing everyone. From the production and HBO, the executive producers, screenwriter Patricia Rozema, and producer David Coatsworth were there. Publicist Peggy Siegel posed for a photo as Little Edie in the yellow bedroom. I talked a bit with HBO's publicity people, Angela and Rae, about the interest in the film, and they've noticed a strong interest in both HBO's film and the story of the Beales. I explored the house quite a bit with Big Andrew and researcher Kent Bartram, and caught up with Celia Maysles and Henry Corra. Martha Stewart and architect Richard Meier had been at the event, but I never crossed paths with them.

I'm still on overload from the trip, but in the most wonderful way. I anticipate seeing the film again on the 18th, and highly recommend that you all do the same!

Andrew

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