“Tea for two, and two for tea, Grey Gardens for you, and gay men for me!” That’s the tune I wanted to sing as I sat amid a fabulous sampling of Chelsea in Harlem last night for the celebration of Staunch!: The Ultimate Grey Gardens Festival at Maysles Cinema. The evening was a kick-off for the new Grey Gardens book compiled by Rebekah and Sara Maysles, daughters of director Albert Maysles.
The organizers at the cozy eponymous theater prepared themselves for a hefty gathering by having a simulcast screening of the cult classic both upstairs and downstairs, the latter serving as a recreation of Big and Little Edie’s room with other items and audio outtakes in tow.
Here’s a pic of what it looked like:
After the film, there was a panel discussion with Michael Henry Adams (author of Harlem: Lost and Found), Albert Maysles (in the flesh!), Jerry Torre (the Marble Faun!), Grey Gardens musical composer Scott Frankel, and Mr. Mickey (editor of Paper Magazine).
Highlights were:
1) Lots of talk on how gay men with mommy issues were mesmerized by this flick. What gay man doesn’t have mommy issues?
2) Jerry (the Marble Faun) admitting he had the hots for Albert when he first met him (laughter exploded from the audience), to which Albert responded “Oh, the opportunities I missed!” (thunderous laughter ensued).
3) Jerry’s love for Big Edie, how her words of wisdom helped him deal with his sexuality and how he appreciated the safe environment both women created.
4) Mr. Mickey sporting a fabulous set of purple beads round his chubby neck and trying to bring the conversation back to himself as much as possible. (Mr. Mickey, can we do lunch, girlfriend?)
5) Michael Henry Adams’s observation of how the dilapidated 28-room mansion symbolized the internal realities of an otherwise “perfect” neighborhood in the superficial Hamptons.
Although there were many more intellectual and cultural musings, what seemed to resonate with everyone there–both panel and audience alike–was the eccentricity and the authenticity of the characters. Recluses as they were, the Beales took an opportunity to show themselves to the world–completely and utterly as themselves. Who’s brave enough to do that these days?