(Photo: Emma Rosenblum [5])

"I loved it. The first musical I ever saw was Weill’s Lady in the Dark, in 1941—the first act of Grey Gardens was like that. It’s a typical American form of art. It’s tremendous."
—Marie-Hélène Weill, Lecturer at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

What do you make of the Beales’ relationship?
"I’m not a controlling dad—I have seven kids; it’s too hard to control so many. Luckily I have an empty nest, so it’s no longer a problem."
—Richard Mills, Retired, 70

"I’m really not thinking of this as a musical, so there’s nothing in my head as the tune I’m going to be humming. It’s the story line that’s fascinating."
—Susan Schwartz, Lawyer, 50

"This is the first Broadway play I’ve seen in ten years, and I got dragged here. I brought a magazine to read, expecting the worst. But it was way better than I anticipated."
—Tom Molnar, Financial Services, 24

"I didn’t enjoy the first act. I wasn’t comfortable at all in my seat—my knees are longer than three inches. But I loved the second act after I figured out a way to sit."
—Ann Marshall, Retired Schoolteacher, “very old”

Gray Gardens, Walter Kerr Theatre, November 12, 2006, 8 p.m.

Related:

• Archive: “Theater Features”
• Table of Contents: Nov 27, 2006 issue of New York | Subscribe!