I was pleased to see longtime local arts honoree Christopher Plummer get the major prize he’s long deserved, on last night’s Oscars. Connecticut theatergoers know how Plummer acted in John Houseman’s legendary Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford, Ct., was involved in one of the ill-fated plans for its rebirth in the 1990s, and has had homes in Darien and Weston. Plummer’s speech was as smooth and graceful and rakish as his one-man stage turn as John Barrymore over a decade ago.
There was also, of course, Meryl Streep—celebrated Yale School of Drama grad, whose adventures at that institution were recently rehashed in Julie Salamon’s biography of Wendy Wasserstein. And the return of the Muppets (who won for best song) is reason for great rejoicing for the annual summer puppetry conference at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center, which has muppet money and talent all over it.
Though I lament that Spielberg’s adaptation of Tintin wasn’t even nominated, I was happy that Rango won Best Animated Feature, since its lead chameleon spouts this immortal line:
“Burn everything! Except Shakespeare!”
I’m always amused, and pleased, by how this cinematically driven evening must rely so heavily on live theater follies for the its entertainment value. Crystal’s elaborate film-spoof intros get hoots, but his ad-libby comments on the acceptance speeches do even better. The most dazzling display of the evening was Cirque du Soleil—I raced upstairs and got my daughters out of bed so they could see it.
