
Jimmie Green on book
If you look the word up in the Webster’s New World dictionary it says 1] all the parts considered as a whole; total effect 3] a company of actors, dancers, etc.or all but the featured artists – their performance together. This is what all theatre productions aspire to accomplish. Even movies, like those written and directed by Mike Lee, who is known for the movie Secrets and Lies among others, can accomplish this unity and closeness. Gone are the days of the “star” vehicle and even plays that have star names attached strive for an ensemble. Plays like August: Osage County by Tracy Letts, which had a long run on Broadway are all about families and large casts working together. Upstaging, backbiting, tyrannical directors, divas who rule the stage and leading men who continue to relate only to the audience are not what is currently in vogue.
The Cherry Orchard cast is slowly becoming an ensemble. Most extraordinary to me is the work of Jimmie Greene. As the senior member of the cast, it is amazing to me how giving he is, and what a “trooper” he is. The other night when many actors were struggling with the dark of the outdoors, limited lighting, and accuracy with their lines – he immediately just sat down with the script and played SM until our real stage manager, Marla, was able to arrive. What a hero! At 84 years old, it was simply miraculous how WELL he was able to read the lines, and call them out immediately, loudly and clearly when we needed them.
Here’s a little you may not know about Jimmie- just something I wrote recently to spark the interest of a local editor in LA.
“Of greater interest, and I believe a story worth hearing about, is the fact that Jimmy Greene aka James Nolan Greene (listed on imdb as James Greene) is playing in the role of Firs. Jimmy is 84 years old and began his career in 1951 on Broadway in Romeo & Juliet starring Olivia De Havilland. He has been acting in the theater, in film and television for the last 59 years. He is not a star, but an accomplished actor who has worked with such famous artists as Sidney Lumet, Geraldine Page, Faye Dunaway, Leo Penn, Fritz Weaver, Tom Bosley, Jason Robards, Marlon Brando, Tony Randall, Paul Muni, Blair Brown, John Housman, Barnard Hughs, Jose Quintero and Ed Begley to mention only a few. He has starred in over 100 movies, 40 Broadway plays, 50 Off Broadway plays, and more than 40 TV shows. More amazing to me is the story of why he always wanted to perform in the play The Cherry Orchard, and why he decided to come to our auditions. He is a perfect gentleman, consummate actor, modest and talented professional, with a mind like a steel trap! It is a great honor for us to have him among our cast.
Jimmie never talks about his roles, his auditions, the actors he has worked with or famous people he has known. Unless you ask him to relate a story about his life in the theatre, he is perfectly silent and present as a person. He is modest beyond belief. He arrives on time, never complains, and has never asked to have an understudy in case he should be cast in television or film during the run of the show. He is a deeply committed and hard-working artist, a true professional.
So, that’s all for tonight…