There are few great ladies of the theatre and screen, and at Saturday night’s preview of The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore, I saw one of them.
Olympia Dukakis is truly a majestic presence. The play is a haunting Tennessee Williams drama, and as Flora Goforth, she plays a wealthy American widow. In her Italian mountaintop home, Flora has detached from the world to write her memoirs. When a handsome young visitor arrives without warning to be with Flora in her final hours, the play becomes a fascinating meditation about life and death.
The cast is excellent, and the direction is powerful. It is a definite must-see.
I waited after the show to say hello to Olympia. She had given me a quote for one of my books. A warm and gracious professional greeted me with appreciation for my kind words about her wonderful performance.
The show officially opened last night in New York City.
