This was Ms. Hall's first performance I've ever seen, and I agree that she was wonderful in it. The whole cast of The Night of the Iguana was great, but I'm sure she's going to be the one I'll remember the most in the long term.
Animal crackers in my soup
Monkeys and rabbits loop the loop

There's a slew of actresses with raspy, often cigarette soaked voices (or gin soaked as well in the case of the Tallulah Bankhead school of acting), and Grayson and Eileen are in the top ten of my list with Elaine Stritch, Selma Diamond (the comic queen of the bunch), Sylvia Miles and Carrie Nye. Grayson Hall had the more avante garde career, and I recall back in 1983 watching her play the exotically named Euphemia Ralston on "One Life to Live" where she wore a turban (most likely because Grayson had gone through cancer treatments) and schemed against Asa Buchannan (Philip Carey). During that time, I happened to see "The Night of the Iguana" on late night TV and was thrilled to see her because I had loved "Dark Shadows" as a kid, and to get a glimpse twice in one day of her was a treat. I'll never forget when Asa, pretending to be dead, referred to Euphemia as "that bitch in the turban". I'll never forget the sight of a fully dressed Grayson running into the water after Sue Lyon and Richard Burton and screaming, "You beast! You beast!" as she bursts into tears.
Later on, Eileen Heckart came on that show as Allison Perkins' mother, Ruth, and later originated the role of Wilma Bern, the mother of twins Carlo and Mortimer (campy just for the difference in the names), and was replaced by Elaine Stritch. Grayson's last role was in an Off Broadway production of "The Madwoman of Chailot", leaving sometime early in the run because she was too ill to continue, and it co-starred Geraldine Page (in the lead of course), Madeline Sherwood (Reverand Mother, "Flying Nun", "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof's" Sista Woman) and Carrie Nye. There are some youtube clips of Grayson on "OLTL, as well as Eileen in her two stints on the show and Elaine in her brief time (as well as her role on "The Edge of Night"), and the delightfully campy Carrie Nye on "Guiding Light" in both her stints being very, very Tallulah. Sylvia Miles did both "AMC" and "OLTL", and apparently, Selma did a bit of "The Edge of Night" as well. That's when the American theater and the American soap opera were both centered in New York, and many unemployed Broadway and Off Broadway actors could get short-term roles or day parts on a soap opera to help make ends meet.
"Great theater makes you smile. Outstanding theater may make you weep."

Eileen and Grayson really are similar. When I watched Burnt Offerings (which is ironically directed by Dan Curtis), I was thinking I could easily see Grayson playing that role.
I've been waiting for you, Ben.

just caught a bit a lunch and I forgot she played this role. On first sight I thought it was Eileen Heckert.
Grayson is AMAZING. She steals every scene, which is pretty impossible with Burton and Ava.
WOW

After being a Dark Shadows fan for my entire life, I was finally inspired to see Night of the Iguana solely because of the fact that Grayson is in it, and I was not disappointed. She truly is one of the best actresses I have ever had the privilege of watching onscreen.
Come, fly the teeth of the wind. Share my wings.

Since no one has commented in over three and half years - it's time to say AMEN, Grayson Hall was fantastic in "Night of the Iguana" and also of course in "Dark Shadows".
"the best that you can do is fall in love"

She was a terriffic actress-especially loved her on ''Dark Shadows''.

I'm so 16d0glad that Grayson Hall received Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for her performance in IGUANAshe absolutely deserved the recognition. What an extraordinary actress! I wish she had appeared in more films than she did, but she was amazing in the DARK SHADOWS soap opera and the two DS movies.

Or attend the 40th Anniversary Dark Shadows Festival in Brooklyn, NY.
www.darkshadowsonline.
This year there will be a special Remembering Grayson Hall panel.

Dark Shadows is out on dvd. Since you also like Joan Bennett and Kate, then you really need to see it!!!!

i have never seen dark shadows.i cant recall it ever being repeated on tv.it sounds quite intriguing and im a fan of joan bennett and kate jackson as well.

and she was nominated for an academy award for her performance. i wish she would have won! i can't believe you never saw her in dark shadows.