One of the exciting discoveries I made researching my book on Tallulah was the fact that the ending of Hellman’s play that reached Broadway is not the ending that Hellman originally intended, which was performed during the try-out in Baltimore.
Interesting that two actresses are alternating in the current revival: it would take at least two (or a giant personality as protean as Tallulah’s) to get out everything that’s in the role of Regina!
I wonder–does either actress bring out Regina’s sense of humor?
And of course the role of Birdie is not so complex but tugs at the audience’s sympathies in the most powerful way.
Tallulah reportedly told producer/director Herman Shumlin she’d play either role–and that’s exactly what these two current Foxes stars are doing at alternate performances.