"The Oldest Living Graduate" is a play that was performed for live television...something you just don't see anymore. It stars Henry Fonda and is one of the last projects he worked on before his death in 1982.
The story is almost like a one-man play. Sure, there are other people in the play, but they seem to be there for Fonda to act against and he clearly is THE center of the production. He plays Colonel Kincaid, a well to do and VERY cranky old man who lives with his son (George Grizzard) and daughter-in-law (Cloris Leachman).
While very little is said about it in act 1, there is a ceremony coming where the Colonel will be honored as the oldest living graduate of a local military academy. Mostly in Act 1, the Colonel talks, reminisces AND complains...and talks even more!
Act 2 is specifically about the ceremony. When they are preparing for it, the Colonel acts pretty goofy...as if he's trying convince everyone there that his elevator no longer makes it to the top floor, so to speak! Later, he's rather petulant and rude...with little apparent provocation. So, instead of being on his best behavior, he's far, far from it...and a bit of a loose cannon. What happens next? See the play.
Fonda is enjoyable in this play. However, subtle he ain't! Instead, he chews up the stage and dominates the production from start to finish. Interestingly, although she is overwhelmed just like the rest of the cast by Fonda's character, the one who came off best was Leachman...and she's the only one in the play who can stand up to the old man.
So is it worth seeing? Yes. It's enjoyable and even a less than subtle performance by Fonda is a joy to see. However, although I noticed a lot of laughing from the audience, it really was rarely funny nor was it quite as clever as their reactions seemed to indicate. It was very good and worth seeing.
