From your webmaster:

Hello dear readers. I, your humble webmaster has decided to indulge myself in a bit of blogging. This is my Broadway Bids Bye Bye blog to The Homecoming. The forty-year-old revival that coincided with James Frains fortieth birthday.

On a cloudy Sunday afternoon at The Cort Theatre in Manhattan, a well-filled theater enjoyed a last opportunity to see this season's revival of Harold Pinter's "The Homecoming." The play ran from it's strike postponed beginning on December 4, 2007 until April 13, 2008. I got to see the play three times, on opening night, once in January and on it's final matinee on April 13th. This final performance was flawless. The brutal emotions onstage were riveting, broken up surprisingly, by frequent laughs. Perhaps Pinter designed roller-coasters in another life?

These six actors gave it their all, one last time, with feeling. The family tensions were very palpable, the cutting jokes dark and sharp. In the midst of this family reunion, each character seemed to be fighting to keep their little light of themself ablaze in the midst of everyone trying to rain on each others parade.

In the end, Teddy leaves defeated and bitter, his wife refusing to return to America with him to his well ordered university life. Ruth steps out of her vacant, formally defeated self by seizing the reins on this new group of men over whom she has clearly gained control. The final moment shows the surly Max's patriarchal throne being toppled by his own display of vulnerability in his admission of desire for Ruth. An act which is punctuated by the dropping of his sword-wielding cane as he himself drops to his knees. The last slow fade of the spotlight ends with Ruth at the center of this new dysfunctional family union, bringing this homecoming into a new chapter which we are gratefully not going to be witnessing. Fade to black, indeed.

Thirty seconds later, the stage lights come up again and the last curtain call was on. The cast was recieved by a standing ovation, with cheers as each cast member took their bow. Ian McShane asked to take a couple of minutes and thanked, well, absolutely everyone. He began with thanking the great audience (always a good start), then thanking "The Shuberts for the loan of their theater." Director Daniel Sullivan was thanked and the producers, "for their courage in bringing this show back to Broadway." He then warmly thanked many, many of the crew and production team by name, during which Michael McKean popped in a suggestion to the audience "check the fine print in the program."

Mr. McShane also thanked "these wonderful, excellent five actors" with whom he got to share the stage for the run. What a treat. It brought back old high school play excitement to witness the cast finishing up with hugs of farewell to one another. As the house lights came up some people joined them onstage as everyone else made their ways out or backstage, depending on who they were and where they were wanted, one supposes.

I attended the play's finale with my fellow Frain fans Carol and Bianca. We three joined a mild throng outside the stagedoor after the play. It was one last chance to see this cast as they go their separate ways. I don't generally (okay, never) do the stagedoor thingie, but sought to keep my friends company. It was fun to see all the non-cast folk as they came out onto the street to be greeted by a group not waiting for them. The range of reaction was charming, some people looking almost apologetic, some amused, some plowing through trying to get on their way. One woman gave a triumphant glance back towards us as she went her way in through the stagedoor! Three guys came out with some equipment. I said - "Oh, must be the band." Okay, it's not a musical, there was no band. Sometimes I like to keep myself amused. Bianca laughed. I don't think Carol heard me.

Then all at once, out came Ian McShane, Raśl Esparza and Gareth Saxe. Gareth had a bouquet of blooms and signed autographs as he scooted around to the theater doors waiting for someone, making him look more like a fan than a cast member. Very sweet. Both Ian and Raśl stopped and chatted with everyone, signing Playbills and taking pictures, talking about the performance, the run and what they'll do next. Whilst this flurry of activity was happening, Michael McKean popped out, jacket on and backpack in hand and made his way towards 7th Avenue, stopping momentarily to sign a few autographs and acknowledge a compliment or two from fans. Raśl Esparza especially seems to have quite a popular following of theater fans. It's wonderful to see the time and care they took to greet folks. But still no James.

After the first cast folks made their way away, many of the fans went as well. A few of us were still there waiting on James Frain and Eve Best. Our little crowd of three had a few non-Playbill items seeking an autograph. Carol had her copy of the play in paperback, Bianca had a copy of the photo that her understanding boyfriend Frank took of her and James last month and I had a programme from James' first play at the Almeida - the 1991 production of "All for Love" which was also his first professional job ever. His bio in the programme is exactly two lines long. I quote - "JAMES FRAIN     Myris ~ Currently training at Central School of Speech and Drama. First professional engagement."    That's it.

After another good five or ten minutes of waiting, during which we talked about the performance, were checking train and bus schedules and plotting our own getaways, the door opens and out comes James and his party. His wife and friends made their way to the outer edge of the wee crowd to wait. He very graciously chatted with us as people complimented the performance, his hat and talked other topics.

Seeing folks with Playbills and pens out, he asked "Anyone want the do-da?" When my turn came, I presented him with the seventeen-year-old Almeida programme asking "I wonder if you wouldn't mind autographing this for me?" His eyes and mouth went wide and he said "Where did you find this?!"    "Online." (where else?) He immediately started craning his neck around trying to spot his wife Marta and said "I've got to show this to my wife, may I?" I said "Of course" of course, and he dashed 'round to show her, saying "Someone brought this..." I couldn't hear what else he said because everyone around us was asking "What was that?!", and I had to explain. When he came back I opened it to his wee bio where there was a nice space for his autograph. He looked on, still in wonder as did the fellow standing next to him who said"Wow," at which laughed.

I tried to take a photo of Mr. Frain with my play companions, but couldn't get to grips with Carol's alien camera. I was having trouble fitting their three heads in at which James suggested "Why don't we step back?" I said to him, "You're very good at this!" We checked the one I managed and James Frain said "..and we have feet!" Imagine my embarrassment. Feet! Oh dear. Then a fellow stage door fan stepped in and took the nice one. Actually he was nicely taller than me, my photo would have been a different angle even if it were properly done. I really like this one. Thank you nice stagedoor guy!

Carol had the presence of mind to ask him what he is up to next. He said that they are still waiting for official word on a go ahead to film a third season of The Tudors. One possible kink being the looming possibility of a Screen Actors Guild strike. It seems everyone is having their turn this year. It's a pity that anyone has to strike and people's livelihoods are certainly worth defending. America has a proud history of striking when needed and we need to spread the capital from our capitalism.

The other work he mentioned was a small part - "..just a small something," he said - in an upcoming Robert DeNiro film - Everybody's Fine which will be filming in Connecticut. So, hopefully everything will be fine and James and his fans will have some new things to look forward to.

He winded up the autographs and pictures and finally made his way towards the corner with his group. There were a last couple of folks holding out for Eve Best to make an appearence, but our work was done!

We thanked the fellow who helped with the camera and before saying goodbye, decided to take a three-block walk to the Sheraton to see if the Tudors publicity castle was still wrapped around the base of the hotel. It was, we gazed, snapped pictures and it seemed a fitting way to end the afternoon. We three bid farewell to one another, the doorman at the Sheraton helped me into a cab and I made my way home.

So, I can personally say that I find James Frain to be a gracious, charming man with the most lovely blue eyes in addition to being a brilliant actor with a serious gift for accents. And there are witnesses to back me up. I believe we can also confirm that his Broadway debut hasn't ruined him! It was a pleasure to meet him.