Review: Vanessa Redgrave and James Earl Jones propel ‘Driving Miss Daisy’

Great actors make beautiful music in their smoothly polished star vehicle

BY MICHAEL SOMMERS

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

BROADWAY REVIEW

A touching little play, "Driving Miss Daisy" nabbed a Pulitzer Prize in 1988 and enjoyed a long run Off Broadway before becoming a popular film. "Driving Miss Daisy" now arrives on Broadway as a well-polished star vehicle for Vanessa Redgrave and James Earl Jones.

What? You don't have your tickets already?

Best book your seats soon should you hope to witness these great artists give warm, winning life to the characters of starchy Atlanta matron Daisy Werthan and her devoted driver Hoke Coleburn. The show that opened Monday at the John Golden Theatre is a cinch to become a hot ticket during its 16-week engagement.

Economically yet tenderly crafted by Alfred Uhry, the play spans the years 1948 to 1973 and traces the relationship that develops between the crusty Daisy and trusty Hoke, hired as a driver by her son Boolie (Boyd Gaines). The episodic (and well-known) story sees the characters age with the passage of time while their understanding and appreciation of each other gradually grows.

A "little play" in that its emotions are understated and its brief scenes are mostly everyday situations, "Driving Miss Daisy" could easily be overwhelmed by actors of such magnificence as Redgrave and Jones, but they unerringly provide honest and nicely-detailed performances that befit the modest story.

That's not as easy as it appears. The 800-seat Golden is a relatively deep and narrow playhouse, which means the actors need to project their characters forcefully to register with viewers situated towards the rear of the auditorium. At first, the acting by Redgrave and Jones seems rather too expansive but soon the audience adjusts to their scale and the remainder of the 90-minute drama smoothly rolls along.

Standing tall and ramrod straight in the opening scene as 72-year-old Daisy stubbornly argues with Boolie while making cake batter — watch her distrustfully sniff every egg to judge their freshness — Redgrave is every flinty inch the indomitable soul. Although Daisy's posture breaks down and her hands increasingly tremble as the years wear away, Redgrave keeps the lady's feisty nature intact to the end.

A burly figure in a black suit, Jones genially depicts Hoke with a neat mustache and as a shrewd master of nearly every situation. Lending extra pleasure to their performances is the way that Jones' rich, rumbling bass makes especially beautiful music with Redgrave's silvery clarity of expression.

Amiably depicting Boolie, Gaines adeptly backstops the stars and easily holds his own with them.

Director David Esbjornson moves the play along steadily. Designer Peter Kaczorowksi's lighting assists to keep matters intimate while designer John Lee Beatty deploys pieces of golden oak furniture to suggest numerous locations, including the interior of the automobile that Hoke and Daisy so often share.

"Driving Miss Daisy" continues through Jan. 29 at the John Golden Theatre, 252 W. 45th St., New York. Call (212) 239-6200 or visit www.daisyonbroadway.com.