Join Eve Best, Colm Meaney and Kevin Spacey for a behind-the-scenes look at the Old Vic's latest production of Eugene O'Neill's A Moon For The Misbegotten. Every week, new video taken by the cast and crew will be posted on this site and if you have any questions for the cast simply click the comments button below. Previews start on the 15th September and the play runs until 23 December 2006.
This is fantastic. So nice to bring a bit of The Old Vic to our homes. Keep up the good work.
I see why kevin wants to update the theater. However, the performing structure at the Old Vic is quite beautiful. I can see why kevin loves to act there.
Very elegant, but amused at his description of the chandelier. I, too, thought it was real.
Posted by: Anita | 09/19/2006 at 04:25 PM
I loved the show - such poetry, such rawness - congratulations (and it was only a preview that I saw!) I have a question for anyone in the cast who might know the answer, please: was this play embargoed from performance by O'Neill the way Long Day's Journey was, given that it also featured Jamie Tyrone? And I would love to see inside that hut some time when the lights are on! Thanks for this blog - good fun.
Posted by: Alexandra | 09/19/2006 at 06:16 PM
"This is my hat. This is our assistant director. This is our real director. This is Josie" - is it just me or am I the only one hearing "My name is Lester Burnham. This is my neighborhood; this is my street; this is my life"? ;-)
This play was just awesome last Friday. Made me stick to my seat in anticipation during the 2nd half.
Posted by: Terri | 09/19/2006 at 08:35 PM
What a great idea! Enjoyed the backstage tours enormously. Keep them coming. All I can say is, roll on October, and show me to my seat!
Posted by: Christine | 09/20/2006 at 12:59 AM
I think this is fantastic, thanks Kevin...Ofcourse I will never get the honored opportunity to see any play at the Old Vic (Ohio is Nowhereland), I appriciate you bringing bits n' pieces of what goes on...to me...
Posted by: Robyn Pierce | 09/20/2006 at 01:09 AM
Praiseworthy enterprise!
People, who can´t visit the Old Vic personally, are in a position to see interesting things from behind the scenes of theatre at least, now.
Thank you very much!
Posted by: Ilona | 09/20/2006 at 12:45 PM
needless to say that this is a phantastic idea!!
i mean, its real fun to watch, and it looks like it is fun to do as well - really generous of you guys to share a bit of what your day brings!!
apart from that, we know that "making of" blogs for movies are really popular - i think that one of the strengths of the old vic team might be their capacity to do crossovers from film and tv to theatre, be that with actors or ideas like this one. sure helps to build a new audience :)
couple of questions about the project:
whose idea was it?
who is editing it?
what is your target audience?
i am asking because i saw that, as of yet(?), you arent advertising these blogs on the old vic web site, which is something i would have exspected you to do if this was basically for marketing purposes.
and now, a coupla questions about this blog:
why is there a hole in the hat?
why is it that every time somebody mentions that its now so-and-so many days before that-and-that date, the actors break out into vocal exercices?
thanks for everything, and keep them coming!! :)
ch.
Posted by: ch. | 09/20/2006 at 02:17 PM
From BC Canada I was at Cloaca in 04 and it's nice to see the inside and how it gets put together . Thanks for doing that. Will try and make it back and when I do the Old Vic is the first place I'm heading.
Posted by: darlene | 09/20/2006 at 04:14 PM
Applause, applause! Thanks for the Magic Time! Break a leg to all.
Cheers,
Vicki
Posted by: Vicki | 09/20/2006 at 07:59 PM
Grand idea, this blog. Thanks so much for it. It has a nice rawness to it, so we who watch can sort of feel we're actually there, in the dust and dullness of getting ready for opening night. I wish you all great success with this project, and Mr. Spacey, I wish you great success with the Old Vic. A nice thing you're doing, and a great job, I believe, as well.
Posted by: Patressa G. Kearns | 09/20/2006 at 08:59 PM
Thank you for the wonderful blog. it's really great to have a much closer look at the production & the old vic , especially for those like me who live very far and probably will not have a chance to see the show .
thank you very much and keep up the good work !
Posted by: Mici | 09/21/2006 at 05:25 AM
This is so exciting, thank you so much, Mr Spacey ! It really makes us (my husband and I) look forward to coming to the Old Vic, which we'll actually do in october.
We are currently studying the play, and the moving relationship between Jim Tyrone and Josie reminded me of a famous french poem by Paul Verlaine. I can't resist the temptation to reproduce it here, first in english, and then in its original version.
My familiar dream
I often have this strange and penetrating dream
Of an unknown woman, whom I love and who loves me,
And who, each time, is neither quite the same
Nor completely another, and who loves and understands me.
For she understands me, and my heart, an open book
To her alone, alas ! is no longer a problem
To her alone, and when my pale brow is clammy
She alone knows how to refresh it, with her tears.
Is she brunette, blonde or redheaded? I don't know.
Her name ? I just recall it's sweet and sonorous
Like the names of beloved whom Life sent into exile.
Her gaze is like the gaze of a statue,
And her voice, her distant, and calm and deep voice,
Has the inflection of beloved voices that have fallen silent.
Mon rêve familier
Je fais souvent ce rêve étrange et pénétrant
D'une femme inconnue, et que j'aime, et qui m'aime,
Et qui n'est, chaque fois, ni tout à fait la même,
Ni tout à fait une autre, et m'aime, et me comprend.
Car elle me comprend, et mon coeur, transparent
Pour elle seule, hélas ! cesse d'être un problème
Pour elle seule, et les moiteurs de mon front blême
Elle seule les sait rafraîchir, en pleurant.
Est-elle blonde, brune ou rousse? – Je l'ignore.
Son nom? Je me souviens qu'il est doux et sonore,
Comme ceux des aimés que la vie exila.
Son regard est pareil au regard des statues,
Et, pour sa voix, lointaine, et calme, et grave, elle a
L'inflexion des voix chères qui se sont tues.
Oh God, I wish I could record the original text, so that you hear the music of it, a "french beauty" as it were :-) !
A bientôt !
Claire
Posted by: Claire | 09/21/2006 at 11:35 AM
Hello Kevin Spacey!!!I love you!!!!You are fantansting!!!I love your hat!!!It´s a wonderful video,I saw again and again,I repeat all the time!!!I want to know a person like you,no really I want to know you exactly!!!I love you!!
Kisses
I want to see you in the old vic but I´am very far,I live in Argentina!!!
Goodbye
Good luck
Galaks
Posted by: Galaks | 09/23/2006 at 12:20 AM
Do you smoke, Kevin?
Towards the end of video one you were holding a cigarette between your lips.
Was it just a property for the play?
I think you said some years ago that you had quit smoking due to acting on stage.
I'm concerned for your health.
Posted by: Isako | 09/24/2006 at 01:29 PM
Wow Kevin, what a great idea. Not often we get get to see the man behind the big screen and I just love it. I'll be definately visiting for more clips and I'm thinking of seeing the play. looking at getting tickets on the net, but I'm unsure of the view I'll get from row "N" in the stalls?
Been a big fan of yours since I first saw Usual Suspects and now have most of your movies. I don't suppose u could sign a few of the DVD covers of your movies if I bring them along, LOL!!!
Posted by: Pete | 09/24/2006 at 06:25 PM
Kevin,I LOVE you...I hate you....
XL
take all my loves,my love, yea take them all
what thou then more than thou hadst before?
No love, my love that thou hadst this more
then if for my love recievest
I cannot blame thee for my love thou usest
But yet be blam'd if thou thyself deceivest
by wilful taste of what thyself refusest
I do forgive thy robbery, gentle thief
Although stealthee all my poverty
and yet, love knows it is agreater grief
to bear love's wrong than hate's known injury
lascivious grace, in whom all ill well shows
Rill me with spites, yet we msut not be foes.
Posted by: Camila Graham | 09/26/2006 at 01:33 PM
lol why your wild mr spacey the cast and yourself are doining so good you all are perfect i hope all goes well keep a cool head yeah i love the videos shame i cant see you guys live oh well ill take the scraps keep em coming your brilliant xxxxxxx fantastic i love the drawl in that voice of yours its cool love you loads
Posted by: elizabeth | 09/27/2006 at 04:13 AM
when's the next one due, at last got them to play and good quality, And can't wait to see more.
It's very instant, french new wave, you really feel like you are wandering around, please, please do more.
If possible with little clips from the play itself and some footage of the Q n A.
And more with people behind the scenes.
And can we see Minnie !!!
please
Posted by: florence Lawrence | 10/02/2006 at 09:26 PM
Saw the play this week and was stunned. Being English I don't cry in public or give standing ovations. Guess what - I'm not so English now! The blog is a great idea - particularly as I know I won't get to see the play again. Kevin, you are a god. Eve, I'm just jealous of your talent and proximity to Mr S. Break a leg guys.xx
Posted by: K. | 10/13/2006 at 11:04 PM
Hello Kevin Spacey...
I check out the various websites about you often and of course check on what is happening with regards to the Old Vic Theatre whenever I can. I simply happened upon the 'Moon Blog videos' and I am well pleased to see behind the scenes takes. Wonderful Idea!
I do not know how appropriate it is to write this on here, but I wanted to mention that I am still waiting to hear what you thought of my book, 'Divine Timing'....I sent a personally signed copy to you last year and was told by Hamish Jenkinson, your production assistant, to be patient since it might be some time before you replied. Indeed it has been some time now and I often spare a thought to what your thoughts are on this matter (?)
My good friend, Joanna (the Marchioness of Aberdeen) who helped me to achieve my dream of sending you a book often asks if I have received a letter from you ......but I shall remain 'patiently yours' until that day arrives.
I am a great fan of yours and would like to think that on some level you will one day be considered a 'great fan of mine' too!!
"Life is the Ultimate Adventure"
Posted by: Carol Vigneault Leslie | 10/22/2006 at 10:29 PM
Well written article, and I agree entirely. Thank you for your fresh point of view. Keep up the good work.
Posted by: Manchester United | 07/06/2009 at 06:45 AM