Christine Ebersole-- "Around The World" from GREY GARDENS

If you want to know what true musical theatre genius is, listen to this Christine Ebersole singing "Around The World" from the musical Grey Gardens accompanied by composer Scott Frankel (lyrics by Michael Korie). I love this version even better than the orchestrated one. If you know the character of Edie from the "Grey Gardens" documentary, you can see that this is a picture perfect characterization. This will go down in theatre history as one of the all time great performances. And a word about the song, this is the kind of mature perfection one expects from a great Broadway musical. The lyrics are specific, they are perfectly rhymed to the point that you don't notice them -- i.e. they don't call attention to themselves. And they perfectly convey Little Edie using her own language. It's stunning.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Christine
• Ebersole
• Grey
• Gardens
• Scott
• Frankel
• Michael
• Korie
• Around
• The
• World

[gabrielleaviva]

Thank you steve Shack! We need poeple like you to expose youtube fans to great art!!!

[steveshack]

@gabrielleaviva

Thank you so much. I"m just glad I was there to record it.

[grai]

@steveshack you did a great job recording it - I would have been shaking like a leaf!!

Thanks so much!!

[steveshack]

@grai Oh, believe me. I was doing everything possible to keep a steady hand. It was really frustrating because what I WANTED to do was scream like a little girl. Luckily, since I hadn't seen the show, I didn't know what was about to happen, how great it was going to be.

[scudder99]

@steveshack I have to watch this every few weeks. It comforts me to know there is still this kind of talent in the world. You don't get to witness it too often. We should send you cash for capturing this.

[steveshack]

@scudder99 I was just at the right place at the right time. Isn't it amazing how her performance never gets old? I listen to it all the time, too. And such perfect songwriting. Amazing.

[lades68]

I am totally obsessed with this....Christine Ebersole is mind blowing....

[TheWhatev33]

I cannot believe this doesn't have 5 million views. 150 percent American Musical Theater delivery. PERIOD. AMAZING!

[aphotog24]

A true "love match" between song, performance and capturing the very essence of an authentic enigma...I love the Beales ladies. Thanks for posting this version, so right you are!

[AdamEfimoff]

@steveshack this gave her the tony and she is just amazing in this musical she was perfect a

[mwigg]

@Kevertenor:  I see your point. But, to me, when Christine begins singing the words "Around the world," that's her escapism to when she was a little girl/fantasy land/world where she's not taking care of her mother. Perhaps it's purposely a bit jarring to note the disjoint between reality/fantasy, caged bird/free bird, young dreams/current despair.

[Mattdeos]

Utterly breathtaking.... its funny, I found this ages ago and every once in a while I keep coming back to watch it again. Never gets old.

Christine (and Edie, too, if you read this wherever you are) THANK YOU.

[azormage]

@Kevertenor Musical theatre depends on the convention that otherwise average and normal people are also amazing singers. If you're not willing to accept that, fair enough, but musical theatre is not going to be your favorite.

[greengringo2003]

Wow. This is, simply, marvelous. Thank you for posting.

[markbob120]

@scudder99 why would you think thanks=money. Quite annoying. You belong in East Hampton

[Kulmandu]

Oh, my. This is beautiful. Thank you, thank you, thank you for capturing and posting this.

[Kevertenor]

She was Little Eddie's voice down pat, but when she sings it completely goes away and it just loses everything. It's a total break in the character. I think she is great and this is a fantastic song but it seems like, ok here is Little Eddie talking and Christine Ebersole will be filling in for the singing.