Quotable Quotes: Connecting with the Cast of On Golden Pond
WHO: The cast of Broadway's On Golden Pond
WHAT: Opening night
WHERE: Blue Fin at the W Hotel in Times Square
WHEN: April 7, 2005
"It's about family. It's about people we all know, or should know. Or will know. The universal theme of how people go through life, toward age." --James Earl Jones on the play
"They're all just races horses. When that gun sounds they just take off and that's really exciting to watch." --Playwright Ernest Thompson about the stars of the show
"It's a joy. We have such a good time on stage with each other. It's like a tennis match, he lobs one and I lob one right back to him." --Leslie Uggams on her onstage banter with co-star James Earl Jones
"You draw on your experiences in your life. I do have a strong father in my life much as Chelsea does. There's nothing literal about the two relationships. I have a great relationship with my father. The themes in the play are so universal, I think any actress coming into this play would find a way into this part." --Linda Powell comparing her real-life relationship with her father to the troubled relationship of her character
"You sit there as a father biting your finger nails. But Linda has been a professional actress for 15 years, and I'm very proud of her." --Former Secretary of State General Colin Powell on watching his daughter perform
"As an audience member myself, it's the kind of play I like to see because you do laugh a lot, you do get to have a lot of emotion, and it seems like a very satisfying evening in the theater." --Ernest Thompson on his play
"It was all an accident. And they call good accidents serendipity." --James Earl Jones on how he chose this project as his return to Broadway
"I'm kind of the dramatic relief in the play. Chelsea carries the plot with her because she has a lot of resentment built up and the tensions that exist in the family--a lot of them--circle around her." --Linda Powell
"He's a natural. But what I love about him more than his acting on stage is he's quite a young man off the stage. He's not affected at all. He's very talented. He draws beautifully. I learn a lot from him. He keeps you humble." --Leslie Uggams on her young co-star Alexander Mitchell
"She brought grace to the production." --James Earl Jones on Leslie Uggams
"It was a fantastic show. All of the performers were fabulous. I was, of course, very proud of my daughter." --General Colin Powell giving his review of the opening night performance
"I've always believed as a writer if you can make an audience laugh, you can take them anywhere. They don't realize they're going there until it's too late." --Ernest Thompson
"I'm blessed to be on stage with James Earl Jones and Leslie Uggams. When I come out, the look in their eyes and they work we've done just kind of flows out. It's a wonderful experience." --Linda Powell
"That's why I think people love this play so much--because it speaks to everybody. Old, young, teenage… you sit in the theater and someone in your life is going through what they are going through up on that stage." --Leslie Uggams
"He's a real 13 year old. He's a real 13 year old backstage, but the best thing is, he's a real 13 year old onstage. There's nothing phony about him. I think he has more Broadway credits than any of us. I'm not sure, maybe not more than James Earl Jones, but I think this might be his fourth show." --Linda Powell on Alexander Mitchell
"I'm used to him now. He's an old friend now. He and Alma. It's lovely to have them there. But they are just like how my parents were with me. They are so excited about their daughter on that stage." --Leslie Uggams on meeting Colin Powell
"This is like an acting lesson-- watching this company--because they're not playing it for the laughs. It's easy to take on On Golden Pond and turn it into either into a laugh-fest or a valentine." --Ernest Thompson
Interviews by Beth Stevens
Compiled by Alixandra Liner
