2nd preview of BLITHE SPIRIT- Page 2

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 3/1/09 at 11:24am

We can't have a final verdict until Mr and Mrs R see it.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 3/1/09 at 11:30am

We can't have a final verdict until Mr and Mrs R see it.

Will they be seeing it, or has the price of tickets precluded them?

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 3/1/09 at 11:32am

Will they be seeing it, or has the price of tickets precluded them?

You're kidding, right?

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 3/1/09 at 12:14pm

I'm seeing it on the 14th. I was at Sardi's yesterday, both pre- and post-theatre and the word of mouth was fantastic. Because of comments I've read on the board, I was asking people about trouble with hearing Lansbury and the response was, to a man/woman, absolutely not!! And Everett was getting praised all over the place. Can't wait!!!!

Updated On: 3/1/09 at 12:14 PM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 3/1/09 at 12:17pm

You're kidding, right?

Yes, I was. Remember his angry thread about the top ticket price of 9 to 5 the other day? Obviously, my joke didn't go over very well...

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/1/09 at 12:41pm

Angela will undoubtedly get nominated for best supporting, hich would be her 6th nomination--and if she wins, it will be her 5th Tony. Christine Ebersole may also get a nomination.

But I would be delighted if Rupert Everett and Jayne Atkinson got nominated for Best Actor and Actress. They were both revelations for me.

I'd like to see him do My Fair Lady.

[BroadwayBoy2]

Posted: 3/1/09 at 2:27pm

"No, they did not sign. They simply spoke the dialogue without any distracting hand-gestures for deaf people."

LOL!!!!


I was a fan of Jayne from her fantastic role on 24.

[Patash]

Posted: 3/1/09 at 2:29pm

I'm fascinated by the fact that Rupert Everett signs his performance. Does he have deaf family or friends? Why does he sign it? Were there a lot of deaf people in the audience?



(OK, folks I'm kidding -- but such excitement about stage door activity over actual performance activity, does justify the tone of the original post -- "Now that we've gotten through what all the posters here care about, I'll fill you in on the show.")

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/2/09 at 10:20pm

Blithely bumped.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 3/3/09 at 2:19am

I absolutely do NOT think this will happen, but if Angela and Christine both somehow won Tonys for this show (and as such, were clearly not eligible in the same category), that would set some kind of massive Tony record.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 3/3/09 at 6:49am

How so? Just last year, Deana Dunagan and Rondi Reed won in Leading/Supporting categories for August: Osage County. And Cherry Jones and Adriane Lenox did the same for Doubt in 2005.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 3/3/09 at 1:58pm

In total number of Tony Awards won by two winners from the same show. 8! Right?

[jv92]

Posted: 3/3/09 at 9:09pm

Would Angela tie with Julie Harris for most Tony Awards if she wins this year or does Harris have 6?

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/3/09 at 9:15pm

Harris have 4, plus 1 Lifetime Achievement Tony.

[theatreguy]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 12:03am

Harris has 5 Best Actress Tonys:

I Am a Camera (1952)
The Lark (1956)
Forty Carats (1969)
The Last of Mrs. Lincoln (1973)
The Belle of Amherst (1977)

Plus a Lifetime Achievment Tony in 2002, making a total of 6.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 3/4/09 at 2:26pm

I saw Blithe Spirit the other night and really enjoyed it. Great cast! Love the play--always have.

[dlass727]

Posted: 3/6/09 at 9:16am

I saw the show on Wednesday. FABULOUSLY FUNNY! There are still some kinks that have to be worked out (like feedback from the sound system and some misdirected lighting) but really so funny.

I didn't know anything about the play but I am a big fan of Angela Lansbury and Christine Ebersole. Ms. Ebersole and Jayne Atkinson were flawless IMO. Angela Lansbury was really funny especially when she starts to dance! I agree with PalJoey, Angela deserves all of the applause that she gets. She may not be perfect on stage but, she is a legend and at her age, I think she has earned a few mistakes here and there. Also, the woman who played the maid (sorry I can't remember her name) she was hysterically funny as well. I also thought that Rupert Everett did a great job.

I had originally planned to see Guys and Dolls but, with all of the horrible reviews, I opted for Blithe instead. I am very glad that I did.

[WestVillage]

Posted: 3/6/09 at 9:56am

A very different take over on ATC, one which I agree with much more than the gushing happening here. I find it shocking at all the talk of Christine getting a Tony nom. What does she do that is Tony worthy? I thought she was pretty lame in the role, making it seem like its a role any run-of-the-mill actress could play. I found it to be a flat unfunny production, except for the maid.
Blithe Spirit: Not ready for prime time yet

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 3/7/09 at 10:28am

I went to see Blithe Spirit last night, and I absolutely adored it. I essentially only went for the chance to see Angela Lansbury live, but ended up totally loving the show too. She is excellent, but the really great one in this is Rupert Everett. He is astonishingly hilarious.

I went to the stage door after and got autographs from Lansbury, Everett and Christine Ebersole. They were all extremely, extremely friendly and Angela Lansbury was so, so sweet. "Keep coming to the theater," she told me. "I still do!"

Having a chance to see a legend like Lansbury really got me thinking (in a similar way to the first time I saw Patti LuPone live) about the nature of theater and how the best part about it is also the biggest bitch about it. Now Lansbury has been great film actress (3 Oscar nominees) and I can go watch any of those performances any time I want. But I have so much more desire to see something like her Mrs. Lovett in the original cast of Sweeney Todd, or her take on Mamma Rose in the 1974 Gypsy revival. But I'm just not going to be able to. Ever. It's kind of depressing. I mean, the same goes for some of LuPone's other great roles (Reno in Anything Goes, Mrs. Lovett in the 05 Sweeney, and Evita), but the performance I saw (LuPone's Mamma Rose) is going to go down as one of her greats, one of her trademarks. As amazing and hilarious as Lansbury was as Madame Arcati, it's sort of an afterthought to her illustrious career. I'll never be able to see those roles that define her. Like I said, kind of depressing.

I have a really strong desire to go watch some Murder, She Wrote right now. Updated On: 3/7/09 at 10:28 AM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/7/09 at 11:52am

"Keep coming to the theater," she told me. "I still do!"

Now that's class. ;-}

[Dollypop]

Posted: 3/7/09 at 2:25pm

Angela Lansbury's performance in SWEENEY TODD (opposite George Hearn) was taped and is available on VCR. I don't know if it's been transferred to DVD.

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 3/7/09 at 7:06pm

Since my thread hasn't been answered, I'll this here:

I usually prefer musicals over plays, but I'm considering seeing Blithe Spirit because of the cast. I'm a huge fan of Christine Ebersole and I'd love to see Angela Lansbury.

Is it worth seeing just for the cast or should I go for a musical?

[madbrian]

Posted: 3/7/09 at 7:11pm

You should absolutely, positively see Blithe Spirit. I saw the matinee this afternoon, and it was outstanding. Everett, Lansbury, and Ebersole deserve all the recognition they're getting, but I think Jayne Atkinson's performance is not getting its due.

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 3/7/09 at 7:22pm

Thanks for your answer. Updated On: 3/7/09 at 07:22 PM

[James2]

Posted: 3/7/09 at 9:47pm

Based on the emphasis being placed on Ms. Lansbury (being placed first in the Playbill in both the headshots and bios, sharing the last bow with Rupert Everett), do you think the Tony Committee will consider her eligible for Leading Actress in a Play?