McGovern is both playwright and leading actress in Ava at the Geffen Playhouse.
The stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood are more image than substance, more enigma than knowable.
She’s mesmerizing when Gardner’s tempestuous nature and legendary temper explode in sudden and unexpected ways.
Elizabeth McGovern in ‘Ava Gardner: The Secret Conversations’.Photos by Jeff Lorch. Credit: The Geffen Playhouse
This is also enhanced by the fact that McGovern is never giving us an imitation of Gardner.
Yes, she models the transatlantic clipped tones of mid-century stars, tinged with Gardner’s North Carolina roots.
And she carries herself with Gardner’s immense self-possession.
Aaron Cotsa Ganis toasts Elizabeth McGovern in ‘Ava Gardner: The Secret Conversations’.Photos by Jeff Lorch. Credit: The Geffen Playhouse
Ganis has an even more difficult task, and he not only rises to but exceeds the challenge.
Playing one of these men is a tall order, much less all four.
It’s a strange magic trick, a performance miles more interesting than oft-Oscar-winning biopic roles aided by prosthetics.
Aaron Cotsa Gains in ‘Ava Gardner: The Secret Conversations’.Photos by Jeff Lorch. Credit: The Geffen Playhouse
Still, the center ofAva,as a character and a play, will not hold.
That’s at least somewhat intentional.
Avahas two electric actors at its center, but it lacks cohesion.
Aaron Cotsa Ganis in ‘Ava Gardner: The Secret Conversations’.Photos by Jeff Lorch. Credit: The Geffen Playhouse
Gardner never believed herself a great actress and was rarely given material to prove herself otherwise.
