Although it took a few months get on board, once I did, I devoured the first season of
The Gilded Age back in 2022. I was instantly taken with the writing, the acting, and the smouldering sexiness of Mr. Russell. I did a couple of posts about Mr. Russell, actor Morgan Spector after watching. (
HERE:) I also loved actor Sullivan Jones, who I profiled, (
HERE:) after seeing him in the min-series Halston.
Despite loving the first season, it took me awhile to get back to the show, but I just recently finished season 2. I think one of the reasons I was slow to start season 2, is because I tire of these shows with such small episode orders. It's almost better to wait and watch two seasons together.
It's not so much that the show (and so many others) only produces 8 episodes a season, it's more that they don't put out a season a year. If The Gilded Age had done so, we'd be starting season 6 this year and not season 4. That being said, I did love season 2 and am looking forward to watching season 3 soon. I especially love seeing so many stage actors getting a chance to shine in the New York based production.
The Who's Tommy
One of my favorite parts of season 2, is enjoying seeing more of actor
Michael Cerveris who plays Watson, a valet to Dr. Russell. Usually, the stories for the servants are just 'filler', with the possible exception of Jack's (Ben Ahlers) watch story, which actually moved the character along and changing his trajectory. Watson's storyline was sadly a way to move the character off the canvas, but because of Cerveris' performance, it hit an emotional punch.
Hedwig
I first discovered the immense talent of actor and singer Michael Cerveris through his performances on the Tony Awards. I remember still being a teen, sitting at home dreaming in the 90's, watching him perform nominated songs from The Who's Tommy and Assassins. I didn't know it at the time, but Cerveris was a teen idol briefly in the 80's through his music and his short stint on the show Fame. He even appeared with a pin-up in Tiger Beat magazine.
Assassins
https://www.instagram.com/michaelcerveris/?hl=en
Total Eclipse
'Total Eclipse was my Off Broadway debut. I was hired to be Peter Gallagher’s understudy, but after both he and Peter Firth withdrew from the show, I was finally given the unenviable (yet very enviable) task of trying not only to embody Arthur Rimbaud, but to live up to the standard of acting excellence and human decency exemplified by Peter Evans. The bulk of the play was the two of us--and often little or no clothing. To be honest, much about the process was traumatic for me.'
Recently DavidAsset, who some of you remember from his appearance on
FH, (
HERE) posted a video on
DreamCap of Cerveris' 2002 turn in
Passion. David shares that back before the orange idiot took over, The Kennedy Center booked first rate productions.
Passion was part of a Sondheim Celebration put on at the Center. I'm a huge fan of
Passion and it' music, and still have my DVD of the original production that aired on PBS. Donna Murphy, originated the role of Fosca in the original production.
I remember at the time reading that Giorgio, (played in the original by Jere Shea) was nude on stage in the opening number. Sadly, it was not shown in the PBS version. In the 2002 version with Cerveris, you can see Giorgio isn't wearing any Italian Risorgimento period undies for his version of the opening number Happiness. Although I don't think the actor has shown much skin on screen, he's certainly shared a bit on stage.
Passion
Some say happiness comes and goes.
then this happiness is a kind of happiness
No one really knows.