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On Stage with Bette Davis: Inside the Famous Flop of Miss Moffat
A reflection on one of Broadway's most iconic flops, this memoir follows a musical that featured one of the silver screen's most powerful personalities. Bette Davis was nominated for twelve Academy Awards and twice won the Best Actress award, starring in classics like Jezebel, The Letter, The Little Foxes, All About Eve and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, among many more. In 1974, the living legend agreed to star in Miss Moffat, a musical adaptation of Emlyn Williams' The Corn in Green. Expectations were high, but Miss Moffat opened and then abruptly closed, leading theatre gossips to speculate on what went wrong.
Early in his career, Kevin Lane Dearinger, a young actor who had recently relocated to New York, landed a minor role in Miss Moffat. Inexperienced and unsure of himself, he kept a journal of his observations and experiences throughout production. He observed the older and more seasoned Miss Davis, who seemed determined to remain clear-headed despite the unfolding calamity. In this book, Dearinger revisits his journal to reflect on his own life, a fated stage production, his experience with an entertainment legend and a bygone era of Broadway.
Early in his career, Kevin Lane Dearinger, a young actor who had recently relocated to New York, landed a minor role in Miss Moffat. Inexperienced and unsure of himself, he kept a journal of his observations and experiences throughout production. He observed the older and more seasoned Miss Davis, who seemed determined to remain clear-headed despite the unfolding calamity. In this book, Dearinger revisits his journal to reflect on his own life, a fated stage production, his experience with an entertainment legend and a bygone era of Broadway.
161 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 9, 2022
11 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 24, 2022
Brief but fascinating
A rare chance to enjoy the detailed memories of an actor who was part of a celebrated flop musical that starred Bette Davis. Refreshingly honest and heartfelt, this is a must read for anyone who loves musicals as well as Davis fans. I finished this all too brief book in one sitting, but relished every page. Kudos to Mr. Dearinger for capturing the Broadway of 1974 - what a delightful time capsule.
A rare chance to enjoy the detailed memories of an actor who was part of a celebrated flop musical that starred Bette Davis. Refreshingly honest and heartfelt, this is a must read for anyone who loves musicals as well as Davis fans. I finished this all too brief book in one sitting, but relished every page. Kudos to Mr. Dearinger for capturing the Broadway of 1974 - what a delightful time capsule.
January 10, 2025
Delightful in every way. This is a priceless summary of what it was like to be backstage and front stage on the musical that is not too good. Wonderful insight on working with Bette Davis.
April 3, 2024
I discovered Mr. Dearinger's book accidentally, downloaded a sample for my e-reader, and decided to read it in its entirety. As of this date I am approximately one-half through it. It is not too terribly long, perhaps just over 100 pages.
In the mid-1970s there was a trend to build musical theatre around film and stage celebrities of the 1930s and 1940s and it was possibly inevitable that Ms. Davis would be asked to participate (she had appeared in theatre, in one case a book musical, "Two's Company", the other a Tennessee Williams drama in the early 1950s and 1960s). As those who are familiar with Ms. Davis' autobiographies, especially "The Lonely Life" which was written before "Miss Moffat". The actress wrote with some detail about her previous post-Hollywood appearances onstage and healthcare issues during that timeframe.
Mr. Dearinger was an observer of the production of "Miss Moffat", a musical adaptation of "The Corn is Green", which transported the setting from Wales to the American south and I believe it closed on the road. This was his first casting in a Broadway musical. One of the stops for the tryout tour was Chicago, and I am sure that I would have gotten a ticket for it had it arrived as planned if possible. Unfortunately it did not.
I have not read any expose-type material yet concerning Ms. Davis nor the director Joshua Logan; the book chiefly deals with the difficulties of getting a musical onstage as planned and anticipated.
Among the many books written about - and by - Ms. Davis, I think it is worth considering as the production of "Miss Moffat" was not extensively written about. It also took place around the same time as videorecording. If I am correct, there are not too many if any recordings of the show available. (Note: there are and they are mentioned in the book,)
Mr. Dearinger is a good writer. I am looking forward to continuing with the book and tracking down others.
Update: In 1978 director Joshua Logan dedicated a chapter of his book "Movie Stars, Real People and Me" to the planning and brief production of "Miss Moffat". I find that book readable but problematic as Mr. Logan went into somewhat too much detail about his subject and frankly, I prefer Mr. Dearinger's account here.
Mr. Dearinger had an extensive career after "Miss Moffat"; check out the credits at the end of the book.
Recommended.
In the mid-1970s there was a trend to build musical theatre around film and stage celebrities of the 1930s and 1940s and it was possibly inevitable that Ms. Davis would be asked to participate (she had appeared in theatre, in one case a book musical, "Two's Company", the other a Tennessee Williams drama in the early 1950s and 1960s). As those who are familiar with Ms. Davis' autobiographies, especially "The Lonely Life" which was written before "Miss Moffat". The actress wrote with some detail about her previous post-Hollywood appearances onstage and healthcare issues during that timeframe.
Mr. Dearinger was an observer of the production of "Miss Moffat", a musical adaptation of "The Corn is Green", which transported the setting from Wales to the American south and I believe it closed on the road. This was his first casting in a Broadway musical. One of the stops for the tryout tour was Chicago, and I am sure that I would have gotten a ticket for it had it arrived as planned if possible. Unfortunately it did not.
I have not read any expose-type material yet concerning Ms. Davis nor the director Joshua Logan; the book chiefly deals with the difficulties of getting a musical onstage as planned and anticipated.
Among the many books written about - and by - Ms. Davis, I think it is worth considering as the production of "Miss Moffat" was not extensively written about. It also took place around the same time as videorecording. If I am correct, there are not too many if any recordings of the show available. (Note: there are and they are mentioned in the book,)
Mr. Dearinger is a good writer. I am looking forward to continuing with the book and tracking down others.
Update: In 1978 director Joshua Logan dedicated a chapter of his book "Movie Stars, Real People and Me" to the planning and brief production of "Miss Moffat". I find that book readable but problematic as Mr. Logan went into somewhat too much detail about his subject and frankly, I prefer Mr. Dearinger's account here.
Mr. Dearinger had an extensive career after "Miss Moffat"; check out the credits at the end of the book.
Recommended.
October 22, 2023
Finished this in one sitting after meeting the author at the Kentucky Book Festival. It’s an engrossing read, told in a very engaging and self-aware manner. It’s really neat to read about a unique time in Broadway history, all backed up by the author’s journal entries and memories. He’s got a wonderful writing style and it’s that authorial voice which makes this such a fun read.
March 10, 2025
A young actor gets his “big break” in a Broadway-bound musical starring a bona fide legend … only the legend was impossible and the show became a notorious flop.
The author is too honest to write a love letter to Bette Davis, but too kind to write a scathing tell-all, so this lands somewhere in the middle. If you’re a fan of theatre, you’ll enjoy it — but if not, there isn’t much here for you.
The author is too honest to write a love letter to Bette Davis, but too kind to write a scathing tell-all, so this lands somewhere in the middle. If you’re a fan of theatre, you’ll enjoy it — but if not, there isn’t much here for you.
August 30, 2022
A brief and niche slice of Broadway and infamy. If you’re one of the few people in the world who know of the musical Miss Moffat, you will want to read this.
October 29, 2023
Utterly gripping. I couldn’t put it down. Fascinating account of a legendary theatrical flop starring a legendary star of the Silver Screen……
Highly, highly recommended……
Highly, highly recommended……
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews