Photo Flash: First Look at Annette Bening in RUTH DRAPER'S MONOLOGUES at Geffen Playhouse
By: Christina Mancuso May. 19, 2014
Four-time Academy Award nominee Annette Bening returns to the Geffen Playhouse for the world premiere of Ruth Draper's Monologues. A pioneer in 20th century drama, Ruth Draper was described as, "the greatest individual performer that America has ever given us." BroadwayWorld has a first look below!
Draper's uncanny ability, while alone on stage, to shift between many characters brought awe to actors, royalty and throngs of crowds for decades. Now, Annette Bening makes these timeless monologues her own - highlighting their continued influence on audiences and artists alike. Meet the harried society woman, the hostess, the debutante and the instructress of poise. Like Draper before her, Bening embraces and embodies these monologues in a tour-de-force premiere.Born into a wealthy New York family in 1884, Ruth Draper displayed a gift for creating one-person sketches of persons that she had known or observed. According to Manhattan society at the time, drawing room entertainment was acceptable but performing on the stage was not. Despite the social barriers, she made her professional debut and became the toast of New York. She went on to sell out performances throughout the United States and Europe. Today her work continues to inspire artists such as Lily Tomlin, John Lithgow, Tom Waits, Charles Busch, Julia Sweeney, Simon Callow and Charles Nelson Reilly.
Videos
