'A Delicate Balance'

lifestyle SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2014 HITLER’S ART Painting by future Fuehrer for sale 100-year-old watercolor of Munich’s old city struggling to make a living as an artist, almost two 28x22 cm (11x8.5 inch) scene, unimaginatively called “one of the works of the Fuehrer.” hall is expected to fetch at least 50,000 euros decades before rising to power as the Nazi dictator. “The Old City Hall,” also includes the original bill of The starting price is 4,500 euros, and Weidler, A($60,000) at auction this weekend, not so It has drawn interest from around the world, with sale and a signed letter from Hitler’s adjutant, Albert whose auction house has sold several Hitlers over much for its artistic value as for the signature in the most viewing it as a curiosity or as an investment, Bormann, brother of Hitler’s private secretary Martin the past decade, said she expects it will go for 50,000 bottom left corner: A. Hitler. said auction house director Kathrin Weidler. It’s Bormann. From the text of the undated Bormann let- ó but wouldn’t be surprised if sold for double that. Nuremberg’s Weidler auction house says the being sold by a pair of elderly sisters, whose grandfa- ter, it appears the Nazi-era owner sent a photo of the If it does, however, it will be because of the name painting is one some 2,000 painted by Adolf Hitler ther purchased the painting in 1916. Though Hitler’s painting to Hitler’s office asking about its prove- in the corner alone, she said. “It’s perfectly well done, and is thought to be from about 1914, when he was paintings surface fairly regularly, Weidler said this nance. Bormann wrote back that it appears to be but I’d rate its artistic value as fairly minimal.” — AP ‘A Delicate Balance’ still a bracing brew Glenn Close and Lindsay Duncan during a performance of “A Delicate Balance,” in New York. — AP photos hoever has to restock and refill the brandy, whiskey, screwdrivers, gin and marti- are perfectly in synch as a couple who seem club menswear give the play a polished look onstage bar at the new Broadway nis, all disappearing at an alarming rate. clueless and oddly obtuse, but can suddenly that makes the eventual savagery all the more Wrevival of Edward Albee’s “A Delicate Albee’s 1967 Pulitzer Prize-winner, which flash their fangs. painful. It is truly a revival where everyone Balance” has their work cut out for them. takes an upper class, suburban WASP family to Santo Loquasto’s gorgeous, elegant sitting does great work, but keep your eye on that In this still-stunning Albee play with a cast the breaking point over a weekend, is superbly room and Ann Roth’s comfy, elegantly chic busy bar. Imagine taking care of that each to stand up and toast, a full glass seems always directed by Pam MacKinnon and so well per- costumes for the women and proper country day. — AP being drained. There’s cognac, anisette, formed by a trans-Atlantic ensemble that each actor manages to convince you that they are the focus of the show. John Lithgow plays the soft center as Tobias, the somewhat coolly aloof patriarch, in John Stamos name only. He would like nothing more than being left in a comfortable chair with a good book and maybe an after-dinner digestif. lights up Elvis Instead, his calm is constantly interrupted by his sister-in-law, Claire (played by Lindsay Duncan), a hard-boiled alcoholic who trades Presley’s Graceland snipes and snarls with his wife, Agnes (Glenn Close), the morally superior fulcrum of the porting Elvis Presley-like sideburns, family. “There is a balance to be maintained, This image released by Philip Rinaldi Publicity, actor John Stamos helped flip the after all, though the rest of you teeter, uncon- Glenn Close appears in a scene from the new switch Friday on the colorful display S cerned, or uncaring, assuming you’re on level revival of “A Delicate Balance,” in New York. of holiday lights adorning Graceland, ground,” Agnes says. Close had been searching for a stage project Presley’s home-turned-museum in Add to this potent cocktail the arrival of since her show “Damages” ended in 2012 and Memphis. Julia (Martha Plimpton), the much-married landed on Edward Albee’s 1967 Pulitzer Prize An avid fan of the King, Stamos joined daughter of Tobias and Agnes, who has fled winner, which examines the stresses and hundreds of fans who watched yellow, red her latest husband but can’t reclaim her old Glenn Close and John Lithgow during a performance of “A Delicate Balance,” in New York. strains of family and friendship. and blue lights illuminate the large front bedroom because it’s being occupied by Harry yard of Presley’s former home. Stamos was and Edna (Bob Balaban and Clare Higgins), joined by young patients from Le Bonheur two old friends of her parents who have fled Children’s Hospital at the lighting ceremo- their own home, filled with unexplained ny. Stamos, perhaps best known for roles dread. The house is full. The bar is stocked. Let on TV shows such as “General Hospital,” the insults fly. ‘’Full House” and “ER,” told The Associated Press in an interview after the ceremony Revival that he wore the sideburns for his appear- “A Delicate Balance” first arrived on ance at Graceland. Presley often wore Broadway four years after Albee’s blistering long sideburns. “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” also plumbing “It’s so funny. I had a beard, and I was the often papered-over resentments lurking like, ‘I better shave this and I’ll keep the beneath very civilized people. ‘burns in tribute,” Stamos said. This revival of “A Delicate Balance,” which When asked if he styled his hair a little opened Thursday at the Golden Theatre, higher in honor of Presley, who wore a comes just a year after MacKinnon won a Tony pompadour, the quick-witted Stamos for directing a stunning revival of “Virginia joked, “This is a new wig. I put a special Woolf.” Albee has clearly found a soul mate in wig on for tonight.” the examination of how life gets compromised Stamos has close ties to Graceland: His and calcified. voice is featured on the iPad tour of the MacKinnon has an equally blistering cast home. He remembers dressing up as this time, with Lithgow as a terribly good inef- Presley during an episode of “Full House,” fective peacemaker, trying to avoid verbal land and, while visiting Graceland in the 1990s mines, counseling “let it be,” and constantly for a TV special, he even got to play one fetching drinks. His story about an old house chord on Presley’s piano. cat becomes an aria and his eventual collapse “I think the first time I saw him, the into a barking puddle of honesty is gorgeous. word ‘supernova’ came into my head,” Close’s Agnes perfectly navigates the role’s Stamos said. “I was just immediately in twin dangers of barking self-righteousness, on awe. He had it all. Nobody’s had it all. the one hand, and nasty bitchiness on the oth- People have good voices, or they’re good er. She’s able to switch from soft and loving to looking, or their charismatic, or they’re arch and noble to pounce like an alley cat. good people, but it’s the combination.” Duncan, who actually balances a glass on her Stamos said he is appearing in the head, is a nasty, truth-telling drunk; she hovers upcoming ABC musical comedy series like a hawk to look for weakness and then “Galavant,” which he describes as “a cross flashes her talons. between ‘The Princess Bride’ and Monty Plimpton consummately conjures an imma- Python.” He also has worked on pilots for ture, needy daughter, equal parts smug, put- two new TV shows. — AP upon and damaged. And Balaban and Higgins John Lithgow, left, and Lindsay Duncan during a performance. .

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