This week I treated myself to a couple of old Grey’s episodes to remind me of just how great the award winning Loretta Devine is. On 10th September 2011 Ms Devine received an Emmy for Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her heartbreaking yet compelling portrayal as Adele Webber during season 7 of Grey’s Anatomy.
Loretta Devine has been guest starring on Grey’s since early season 2 as our Chief’s sassy, rambunctious, passionate on-off wife, Adele. Introduced in 202 Enough is Enough Ms Devine has spent the remaining seasons entertaining us with her inspired, dynamic and brave performances. She has not done this alone. One of the many reasons for the success of her guest role has been the consistency and quality of writing and the at times quite brilliant direction.
Adele Webber is written to be the long suffering, garrulous, stoical wife of the Chief, who has lived through a troubled marriage to come out the other end more in love with Richard than ever before and happy. She is as perceptive and observant, as she is stubborn and opinionated, with a voracious appetite for putting Richard, and anyone else who comes along, in their place.
On paper, this character would be a handful. In reality Ms Devine brings substance, sensitivity and grace. She makes it look easy. Her bright distinguishable eyes and Texan drawl allow her to portray a myriad of expression, whether this be sultry sexiness “I tripped at the pharmacy, I have faulty shoes, I should not be trying to tone my derriere, that flavour of vanity is unbecoming in a woman my age” (716 Not Responsible) or delivering quick witted comedy “I don’t need more money, I have 50% of yours” (414 The Becoming).
Most of the guests that appear on the show are presented with an average amount of dialogue to deliver. What is noticeable is that Adele Webber talks a lot and makes a lot of speeches. Were she to be a principle character her speeches would rival even Arizona’s. In her first appearance Adele returns early from her holiday to care for Richard following surgery. It’s immediately clear to us who wears the trousers in that marriage and she demonstrates her power as she produces a feisty and beautifully directed speech later in the episode. In a brilliant one minute of television Adele introduces herself to us, at the same time both articulating the issues in her marriage and putting Preston Burke in his place.
Her monologue, to a mute and uncharacteristically fearful Burke, is a revelation. It allows us to capture the measure of her character perfectly in one short scene. The scene is set in Richard’s office, where Adele is collecting papers for her husband to work on whilst he recovers from surgery. Burke, acting Chief in Richard’s absence, enters. Whilst it is technically Burke’s temporary office, it’s quite clear that Adele is very at home, marking her territory around the desk.
To Burke:
“If he can’t be here obsessing, he wants stuff to obsess with at home. I’ll be done and out of your way in a moment. It’s always something isn’t it: some emergency surgery; some annoying administrative problem. Being chief is a lot like being an intern, the work never stops. When I found out Richard had a tumour you know what I felt? Relieved. I was hoping he would finally be forced to retire... Ahhh... That has your attention doesn’t it. How we both would like for that to happen. I could finally book a vacation for two. Ha ha. You know, you’re perfect for this job Preston. Unattached, obsessive. This hospital, this job, it’s enough for you isn’t it?”
And then she exits stage left. Burke says nothing. She’s worked him out completely and Loretta Devine carries this off flawlessly. Her stares and softly spoken passive aggressive approach lends the character an authoritative quality, which should be taken as “don’t mess with me”. We quickly observe how very perceptive Adele is. Not only does she pick up on Burkes signals but on her return in 217 As We Know It, Adele picks up signals that others miss. She returns to the hospital to take care of Richard during a stress attack. During this outstanding episode (reminder: bomb disposal red mist) Derek, searching for Meredith, asks “where is she?” repeatedly to Richard. Addison shows up sporting a ‘thank god you’re alive’ face, hugs ensue and the Chief is happy. That is, until Adele sees the look on Derek’s face and whispers “that is NOT the she he was looking for”. Everything in these first two episodes is consistent with the writing for Adele through to season 7.
Although playing the part intermittently from season 2 it is during season 7 that we see a truly beautiful performance from Ms Devine, both deserving of an Emmy and reminding us of how exceptional this show can really be.
The chief’s relationship with his wife has been a troubled one. His deeply passionate affair with Ellis Grey, early on, his alcoholism and his addiction to work have taken their toll on the marriage. Not to mention the trauma of a late miscarriage and the death of Richard’s niece. During seasons 3, 4, 5 and 6 we see Adele delivering ultimatums, almost moving on and then seeing the transformation of Richard, and, deep down, the man she always had. By the time we get to S7 Richard and Adele are happy together at last. But. Happy as they are, there is something wrong. Adele starts to get clumsy, vague and inconsistent, Richard goes into denial and Meredith suspects some form of dementia.
The journey that the character makes through her story arc is one of denial through to acceptance. Dementia in any form, be it Alzheimer’s or not, is a cruel despicable disease. What we recognise with Adele is that as a nurse she knows what it is and what it means. To accept that she has the disease is to accept that the person she is will disappear. So she resists and resists until the cold hard evidence is presented to her unequivocally.
Throughout the four episode arc Loretta Devine produces an exceptional and heartbreakingly accurate performance, not only of the journey to acceptance but also allowing us to recognise just how devastated she was when Richard had the affair with Ellis.
Episode 717 This Is How We Do It, contains what is possibly one of the best ever scenes of Grey’s Anatomy, during which Ms Devine delivers brilliance. The emotional and truthful delivery of her speech transports the viewer into the scene, almost physically, where her devastation is palpable and frightening. She brings us in so much that we feel her utter despair and isolation so completely. We want to turn away for fear she can see our expression, just like she can see Richards, but we can’t because we are captivated and heartbroken. “I’m still me...I’m still here. I’m right here baby”. It’s a very well written and directed scene, but the real beauty of it is the delivery by the actress.
That scene alone warrants the Emmy, but there is more. Fast forward to 719 It’s A Long Way Back and Adele is sitting waiting for Richard to collect her. Meredith, the constant reminder to Adele of Richard’s affair, approaches her to talk and is soon subjected to a haunting portrayal of a woman shattered by a disease that forces her to re-live the devastation of betrayal. Confusion reins as Ms Devine’s Adele delivers yet another powerful speech, as she projects Ellis onto Meredith. Only towards the end do we realise what Adele’s reality is as she begs Meredith “Please, give me back my husband”. The performance is chilling; she is vacant and lost in a moment 30 years earlier. What makes it so unnerving is seeing her contrasting performance some weeks later as herself.
Given Meredith’s actions during the trial, we know that Adele’s story is not complete yet so we must surely look forward to more from Ms Devine. Guaranteed quality in season 8 already. Can’t wait.
Irrelevant note: My favourite comedy line from Adele is to Bailey - “Wife wife to work wife, someone in this hospital is sleeping with our husband” (609 New History)
NB: For those that want to watch the “very best” scene again you’ll find it in 717, about 30 minutes in. I may be a fan of the show but I’m not a fanatic. I’ve only researched all my ‘Adele’ facts this week, with the help of Wiki, IMDB and swiping through recorded episodes. There may be factual errors, for which I apologise. If you spot one please let me know.
Written by: Brouhaha/@pipmaxine
The lovely @continuityfairy proofed for me. But sometimes strange things happen when I upload, so all mistakes are mine.
