Sunday, May 17, 2009

Grey Gardens Available for Summer Rental


Bookmark and Share

Grey Gardens - Before

Grey Gardens - After

New York Magazine's Intel blog has reported that Grey Gardens, the famous East Hampton manse of the Bouvier-Beals, is for rent. "Little" Edie, the cousin and "Big" Edie, the aunt of Jacqueline Kennedy became famous cult figures once their strange life and surroundings were documented by the Maysles brothers documentary of the same name. After "Big Edie" passed away, "Little Edie" sold the run down, unspeakably filthy house to Sally Quinn and Washinton Post Editor, Ben Bradlee. They spent a year and a small fortune fixing it up and making it habitable again. Even so, it is reported, the smell of cat urine can be had on humid days.

You can rent this now famous dune shack for $30,000 which will give you bragging rights from August 28 to Labor Day. However, no pets are allowed.

The Beals and the Maysles

The story of Grey Gardens was first told in the documentary, followed by the Broadway musical, now running in various cities around the country, including Boston, where I saw and reviewed it for Berkshire Fine Arts.

The interior has been beautifully restored.

For this blog entry I had hoped to talk more about the cast members, especially Aimee Doherty who played the young Edie in Act One and the blushingly handsome R. Patrick Ryan who portrayed both Joe Kennedy and "Jerry". However, we are still awaiting replies from the Lyric Stage PR person.

For anyone who has seen the musical, this room will be familiar.


It is a lot of money for ten days rental, which comes to about $3,000 a day, but it has 7 bedrooms, a pool and tennis court, and the cachet that comes from being the most fabled house in America. If fifteen people kicked in a share it would cost only $2,000 a head. Almost affordable. And the bragging rights?

Priceless.

No comments: