“Opening Night” Freedom from the existential fear of “aging”

Convey “hope”

The play ``The Second Woman,'' in which Myrtle plays the lead role, depicts the tragedy of a middle-aged woman. They practice hard before the first day, but things don't go well. She cannot fully understand her role. Sarah, a 65-year-old playwright, confronts Myrtle with these words:

"The woman you're playing is as helpless as you and I. She has no weapons. She wants to be in love, but it's too late. That's all."

However, Myrtle resists the "powerlessness" of a middle-aged woman. No matter how many times he is asked his age, he does not answer and passionately declares, ``Age is meaningless.'' When Sarah asks him, ``What is missing in this play?'' he answers... ``Hope.''

"Opening Night" (c)1977 Faces Distribution Corporation

Cassavetes says, ``She explores her own situation and her own life and finds great The Truth in the characters she plays. But she still feels like she has to convey some hope to the audience.'' Because the audience won't listen to anything unless it's offered something, and if they're not offered something, they'll all leave, so she thinks it's a bad play. I think anything is great if you can feel it and change it.'' (*3)

The ``hope'' that Cassavetes speaks of is not only offered to the audience, but may also be a word that can save Myrtle herself. That's why he doesn't just recite the lines written on paper, but speaks the lines using words he's come up with himself. Against Sarah's wishes.

What's really interesting is that Gena Rowlands and John Cassavetes, who are a married couple in real life, also play husband and wife on stage. Although the words "I love you" are repeated over and over, it is clear that a mental rift has appeared between the two, and a crisis is approaching in their marriage. However, the two exchange improvised plays, moving the play forward in a cheery rather than melancholy manner. Rather than clinging to romantic love like a teenager, they can easily overcome the midlife crisis by accepting who they are now.

By burying Nancy's ghost with her own hands, Myrtle is freed from the existential fear of "aging." The audience and staff congratulated her with thunderous applause. ``Opening Night'' is a kind of horror, a midlife crisis story, a couple's movie, and, after all, an ``actor's movie.''

(*1) https://cinephiliabeyond.org/john-cassavetes-the-man-and-his-work/

(*2) https://cinephiliabeyond.org/killing-of-a-chinese-bookie/

(*3) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kr_lkOl9So

Text: Rui Takeshima

A pop culture writer who wants to be kicked by Hit Girl. Host of the web magazine "POP MASTER".

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"Opening Night"

"John Cassavetes Retrospective Reprise"

Released nationwide from June 24th (Saturday) at Theater Image Forum and other locations

Distribution: Zaji Films

(c)1977 Faces Distribution Corporation