Skip to main content

"Tammy Faye" at the Palace

 "Tammy Faye" is an overstuffed show with strong performances; beneath the miscalculations, there is a simple story trying to be heard.


This is the story of Tammy Faye herself. She comes from nothing--almost literally nothing, because she eventually confesses that it's a source of wonder for her just to have access to a warm bath. She meets a puppeteer, Jim, who wants to help to bring "Church" into American living rooms (through the television). But Jim's gifts are limited--and Tammy Faye's are not. It is soon clear that TF has a "Princess Di" aura; she can empathize, and she quickly becomes something like the voice of her generation.

When Jim turns out to be a cad (and worse), Tammy Faye enters her "solo" phase. (She is 39.) She is crafty about her decisions; no one will call her Mrs. Bakker, and no one will dissuade her from wearing excessive mascara. Like Di, Tammy Faye makes waves with her outreach to "the gays" (specifically, to people living with HIV). But she herself is felled by cancer. When her (oddly incompetent) doctor remarks on her courage, the moment makes sense; this is a tough human being.

Where the show stumbles is in its Jerry Falwell/Ronald Reagan subplot. Despite the contributions of Michael Cerveris, the Falwell story just isn't as gripping as Elton John imagines it is. Also, despite the typically wonderful presence of Christian Borle, it's not really clear who Jim Baker is. The show seems to soft-peddle an "affair" from Baker's life, but cursory research suggests that the encounter may have been a case of sexual assault. If Elton John decided this wasn't assault, might he not still *mention* the specific allegations (mention these in the show)? The omission is bizarre. Rape is a long way from a cut-and-dry extramarital affair.

The script briefly alludes to Tammy Faye's growing family--but we never see the children, and we never (never) get a clue with regard to the impact parenthood has on TF's life. This kind of choice always makes me skeptical. Parenthood is not a footnote in anyone's story. It changes everything. I'd much rather see a depiction of this portion of TF's life--than see a lengthy dance number featuring Jerry Falwell.

But the lead is terrific. I think the Tony Awards may feature a showdown between Katie Brayben and Audra McDonald. That's a testament to Brayben's abilities.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to Host a Baby

-You have assumed responsibility for a mewling, puking ball of life, a yellow-lab pup. He will spit his half-digested kibble all over your shoes, all over your hard-cover edition of Jennifer Haigh's novel  Faith . He will eat your tables, your chairs, your "I {Heart] Montessori" magnet, placed too low on the fridge. When you try to watch Bette Davis in  Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte , on your TV, your dog will bark through the murder-prologue, for no apparent reason. He will whimper through Lena Dunham's  Girls , such that you have to rewind several times to catch every nuance of Andrew Rannells's ad-libbing--and, still, you'll have a nagging suspicion you've missed something. Your dog will poop on the kitchen floor, in the hallway, between the tiny bars of his crate. He'll announce his wakefulness at 5 AM, 2 AM, or while you and another human are mid-coitus. All this, and you get outside, and it's: "Don't let him pee on my tulips!" When...
3 comments
Read more

The Death of Bergoglio

  It's frustrating for me to hear Bergoglio described as "the less awful pope"--because awful is still awful. I think I get fixated on ideas of purity, which can be juvenile, but putting that aside, here are some things that Bergoglio could have done and did not. (I'm quoting from a survivor of sexual abuse at the hands of the Church.) He could levy the harshest penalty, excommunication, against a dozen or more of the most egregious abuse enabling church officials. (He's done this to no enablers, or predators for that matter.) He could insist that every diocese and religious order turn over every record they have about suspected and known abusers to law enforcement. Francis could order every prelate on the planet to post on his diocesan website the names of every proven, admitted and credibly accused child molesting cleric. (Imagine how much safer children would be if police, prosecutors, parents and the public knew the identities of these potentially dangerous me...
1 comment
Read more

Raymond Carver: "What's in Alaska?"

Outside, Mary held Jack's arm and walked with her head down. They moved slowly on the sidewalk. He listened to the scuffing sounds her shoes made. He heard the sharp and separate sound of a dog barking and above that a murmuring of very distant traffic.  She raised her head. "When we get home, Jack, I want to be fucked, talked to, diverted. Divert me, Jack. I need to be diverted tonight." She tightened her hold on his arm. He could feel the dampness in that shoe. He unlocked the door and flipped the light. "Come to bed," she said. "I'm coming," he said. He went to the kitchen and drank two glasses of water. He turned off the living-room light and felt his way along the wall into the bedroom. "Jack!" she yelled. "Jack!" "Jesus Christ, it's me!" he said. "I'm trying to get the light on." He found the lamp, and she sat up in bed. Her eyes were bright. He pulled the stem on the alarm and b...
1 comment
Read more