Five-time Daytime Emmy-nominee and longtime Days of Our Lives star, Peggy McCay, known to DAYS viewers for having played family matriarch, Caroline Brady, passed away in her sleep from natural causes at age 90 on Oct. 7.
For her work as Caroline, McCay was nominated for a Daytime Emmy an impressive five times, first for Lead Actress in 1986, then as Supporting Actress in 1993, then as Lead Actress again in 2013, and again as Supporting Actress in both 2015 and 2016. Aside from her portrayal on DAYS, McCay’s television appearances included soap operas General Hospital, Love of Life and The Young Marrieds. In addition to more than 100 television roles, McCay’s long career also included theatre and film.
Having never married and having no children, McCay is survived by family and friends, including longtime friend Denise Kiel Smith, who broke the news on Twitter, stating, “To all of Peggy McCay’s dear friend and family I have some sad news…Peggy passed peacefully in her sleep of natural causes Sunday morning at 1:00 am. She always appreciated you, her loyal fans, for all of the love and support that you gave her throughout the years. Peggy enjoyed a lifelong career of acting in television and movies. She loved working at Days of Our Lives nearly to the end. Acting and animal rescue were her passions in life. If you would like to show your support please visit the Kitty Bungalow, Peggy’s favorite charity, at Kitty Bungalow.”
Born November 2, 1927, by her high school years, McCay was already on the new medium of television performing in televised theatrical productions on Omnibus and Playhouse 90. McCay studied at Columbia University‘s Barnard College. After graduating, she landed a role in a Kraft Theater show. Continuing to hone her craft, she also toured as the youngest member of the Margo Jones Repertory Theater and received her training from such greats as Sanford Meisner, Harold Clurman and Lee Strasberg.
In the 50s and 60s enjoyed many appearances on weekly series like The Californians, Ben Casey, Perry Mason, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Gunsmoke. In 1957 she co-starred in a televised adaptation of Chekov‘s Uncle Vanya, a role for which she had won an OBIE for Best Supporting Actress in 1955-1956. Her appearance in a single episode of The Andy Griffith Show, in which she played an old girlfriend of Sheriff Taylor’s with whom he reconnected at a high school reunion, is one of her more famous appearances.
The 70s saw her appear in everything from Barnaby Jones and Medical Story to the TV adaptation of Logan’s Run and the first-ever live action Spider-Man TV series. In the 80s, McCay appeared in dozens of TV shows like Quincy and Lou Grant and on the big screen in films like Bustin Loose, No Man’s Land and Murphy’s Romance, as well as lesser-known turns in films such as Lucie Arnaz’ Second Thoughts.
The 90s saw McCay continue to work in everything from LA Law and The Commish to an Emmy-winning role for a single guest appearance in The Trials of Rosie O’Neill, starring Sharon Gless. In later years, McCay continued to work in TV & film. In 2000 she guessed on TV’s Judging Amy and in 2001, she co-starred opposite James Franco in a bio-pic about James Dean, in which she played Dean’s grandmother, Emma. Her last non-DAYS role came in 2010 when she appeared in an episode of Cold Case. Her final film, 2011’s Let Go, also featured Edward Asner, Garrett Morris, Kevin Hart and others.
McCay made her first appearance as Caroline Brady on February 7, 1983, when DAYS viewers were first introduced to Shawn, Bo and the whole Brady clan. McCay played the Brady matriarch for more than 30 years, with the exception of a brief recasting of the role by two separate actresses from mid-1983-1985 due to McCay having been booked in the aforementioned film roles.
Among her character’s storylines was the revelation that her beloved son, Bo (best remembered as portrayed by Peter Reckell) was, in fact, the product of an affair with one of DAYS‘ most notorious villains, Victor Kiriakis (John Aniston), rather than her beloved husband, Shawn Brady (Frank Parker). In her last storyline on DAYS, McCay turned in a great performance when it was thought Caroline had Alzheimer’s.
She played the clam-chowder-cooking, no-nonsense advice-giving, loving grandma until her final appearance August 24, 2016 in a scene where Caroline visited Maggie in the hospital after she went through surgery.
When McCay’s real-life health and age mandated she step away from the role, it was written into the storyline that she was leaving Salem (DAYS‘ fictional town) to live with daughter Kim and her husband, Shane while recovering from having been given a drug that simulated Alzheimer’s. In February 2017 Caroline was mentioned when Kayla called to check on her at Kim’s.
In an interestingly soap opera-esque turn, it seems only fitting that McCay’s death comes just weeks after the passing of Frank Parker, who, for three decades, played her Caroline’s on-screen husband, Shawn Brady on DAYS.
The set, designed by Bowie and Emily Rourke seems at times a bit compact, especially the Turnblad house, but it’s effective and clever, after all, what better way to emphasize the stature of Edna and her mini-me, Tracy than to present a house that’s literally busting at the seams? If there was once drawback to the production, it would have to be the fact that the actors weren’t wearing mics. As mentioned at the top of this review, this was my first time to attend a show at the Roxy, and it was my own fault for not requesting tix earlier. Perhaps because of this, my seats were near the back of the venue and right in front of a wall-mounted speaker, which may have attributed to my inability to hear certain performers and musical numbers.
Among the talented youth band are: guitarist Mystic Inscho as Zack, bassist Leanne Parks as Katie, drummer Cameron Trueblood as Freddy and keyboardist Theo Michell-Penneron as Lawrence. Among the all-in musical highlights are Act 1’s You’re in the Band, Stick it to the Man and In the End of Time, as well as Act 2’s high-energy eponymous tune, School of Rock.
Speaking of the thirty cast members, Circle’s Newsies features more than a few new faces and a nice mix of tried and true Circle favorites. Cast in the lead role of Jack Kelly, the newsboy who leads the charge for change by calling for the boys to strike and better pay, is Mike Sallee. The epitome of the triple-threat, Sallee is as gifted an actor as he is dancer and singer, and handsome to boot. Playing Jack with equal parts likability and determination, it’s easy to see why the other newsboys look to him for guidance and why rookie reporter Katherine (Melissa Silengo) is smitten.
Earlier I referred to some crutchography. For Newsies newbies, let me explain. One of Jack’s best pals goes by the nickname Crutchie because he walks with the aide of a crutch. Cast as Crutchie is Christian Redden. Having first reviewed Redden in Circle Players’ 13: The Musical back in 2011, I was anxious to see how he’d matured as a performer. Because I too walk with the aide of crutches, I was also interested to see how realistically his physicality was portrayed. No surprise Redden’s charm and talent has only flourished with the passage of time, Kudos to him, director Manning and choreographer Pendergrast for skillfully executing Crutchie with believability and dignity, and that aforementioned crutchography…bravo! (Side Note: during the post show meet and greet while chatting with Redden, I did suggest he not wear his long hair in a top-top sticking out the back of his newsboy cap, but rather tuck it behind his ears and wear it down behind the cap for the remainder of the run, as it was a bit distracting and not period accurate). Just another reason why I love my theatre community. Whether he heeds my advice or not, he received it with grace and kindness.
Dwayne Mitchell and Addison Bowen as brothers Davey and Les also turn in noteworthy performances. Leading the charge on the show-stopping Seize the Day near the end of Act 1, the final notes of the song were drowned out the night I attended by the audiences exuberant and well-deserved applause and cheers. Full Disclosure: My eyes may or may not have began to sweat during this all-in call-to-action scene. Mitchell’s Davey begins timid, but when the occasion (and script) calls for it, he tackles the role head-on turing in a near-perfect performance.
Also watch-worthy are Carter Wright’s Specs, Nick Spencer’s Governor Roosevelt, Sawyer Latham as Morris, Nicholas Page as Mike, Tyler Inabinette as Spot, Austin Jeffrey Smith as Albert and Clay Hillwig in multi-roles of Weizel, Jacobi and the Mayor of NYC.