Angela Lansbury Has Passed Away- Page 3

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 10/12/22 at 8:37am

ACL2006 said: "Joanna Gleason tells her story of working with Lansbury in A Little Family Business (out of town).

https://twitter.com/TheRealJGleason/status/1579938280648630272



"

A wonderful thread and story

[saxpower]

Posted: 10/12/22 at 10:14am

hearthemsing22 said: "Dollypop said: "Let's re-name the Winter Garden in her honor!"

Seconded"

While this may be appropriate, I think decisions to re-name theatres for a performer who just passed should wait just a little while to make sure the emotions of the moment don't become involved.   I'm not saying she's not worthy of the honor, but several other folks (to name just a few Ethel Merman, Carol Channing, Mary Martin, and Hal Prince) for whom a decent argument for re-naming a theatre can be made.  [I don't want to turn this into an argument about who should have a theatre named aftem, just naming candidates] Waiting perhaps 6 months or so will allow the Shuberts/Nederlanders/Jujamcyn to be a bit more objective in the decision.

That said, if lights are not dimmed for her, something is very wrong. 

[Dollypop]

Posted: 10/12/22 at 12:28pm

Has there been any talk of a NY Memorial Concert?

[ACL2006]

Posted: 10/12/22 at 12:52pm

Dollypop said: "Has there been any talk of a NY Memorial Concert?"

I'm sure something will happen, but she just passed yesterday.

 

Since your name made me think of it, did Lansbury ever play Dolly anywhere?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 10/12/22 at 1:44pm

No. Angela never played Dolly

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 10/12/22 at 2:37pm

How long will it take charlotte st Martin to dim the marquee lights?

[BETTY22]

Posted: 10/12/22 at 2:42pm

Charles Busch post about her passing brought a tear to my eye. 

He wrote:

I get embarrassed jumping onto the mortuary bandwagon, but as one can imagine, it was an honor to spend time in the presence of Angela Lansbury and I can’t resist sharing those memories. In 2007, my friend Barry Kohn, the allergist who was the inspiration for my play “The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife” invited my partner, Eric Myers, and I to his Passover Seder. Barry had recently become friendly with Angela Lansbury since she’d been back in NY appearing in the play “Deuce” with Marian Seldes. I suggested to Barry on the phone, “You should invite Angela and Marian.” I was half-joking, but Barry replied, “That’s a great idea. I will.”

It was a small group: Barry, his wife Brina, Angela, Marian, Eric, Cherry Jones and her partner at the time, future Emmy award winner Sarah Paulson, and me. Angela confessed that this was the first Seder she’d ever attended. We all sat at the table and began reading from the ancient text that told of the Israelites’ escape from slavery in Egypt. Suddenly, it hit me that I was “acting” with Angela Lansbury, Marian Seldes, Cherry Jones, and Sarah Paulson. I felt enormous pressure to give a performance worthy of this estimable company. It was spellbinding hearing them read with their distinctive voices; particularly Angela with her bright anglicized American accent and Marian in her low cathedral-like whisper. You would have thought they were co-narrating a program on the History Channel. When it came around to me, I made every effort to enunciate beautifully and read with emotional expressivity. I thought I was doing very well. When I finished, Eric, hissed in my ear, “I can’t believe you’re reading the Haggadah as Joan Crawford.” I whispered back defensively, “I’m giving it vocal color.” During that time, I was appearing in my play “Die Mommie Die.”

After a performance one night, a gentleman introduced himself to me and said that he was the director of the costume collection of the Museum of the City of New York. They were presenting a retrospective of the great fashion designer, Valentina, who had made gowns for Katharine Hepburn. Lynn Fontanne and Garbo among others. He said that he’d love to give me a private tour on a Monday when the museum was closed.

Reflecting on who would enjoy going on that tour with me, I thought of my new chum Angela Lansbury. I sent a note via the stage door at “Deuce”. Angela emailed me back that she’d love to go. I can only imagine the look on the face of the director of the exhibit when I emailed him and asked if could bring along my friend… Angela Lansbury.

On that day, “Angie’ and I met outside the Museum and once inside we were quickly met by a lovely woman on staff who was so bowled over to meet Angela that she actually curtsied. We had a marvelous time not only having a private tour of the exhibit but then being taken “backstage” and shown drawers full of 18th century French gloves and fashion artifacts. When we left the museum, it was raining and we jumped into a cab. I was going to drop her off at her apartment in the West fifties. Suddenly, I had this madcap notion and said, “We should have the driver drop us at Petrossian and have caviar and blinis.” Angie laughed and said, “Let’s do it!” I felt like Vera to her Mame and I exclaimed “But Mame! Mame!”

I could see that she enjoyed being thrust into that glamorous role again. We had the most divine lunch. I was fascinated by her elegant table manners. She refused to take a bite if I was speaking and naturally, she wouldn’t eat if she was speaking. I couldn’t quite figure out how she ever got any food in her mouth. In the years since, I’ve attempted to emulate her, but can’t figure out how to do it and not let my meal get cold. I wonder if this was a skill she was taught at MGM. How fortunate all of us were by her returning to the theater not once but four more times and then in several one night play readings for the Acting Company.

I treasure the times I was in her presence as a rapturous audience member but also offstage. One last memory. My young twelve-year-old protegee, Nora, and I saw her in “Blithe Spirit” and we went backstage afterwards. It was an anniversary of the opening night of “Mame” and her dresser had surprised her by decorating her dressing room with memorabilia from that legendary production. She was wearing lounging pajamas and had her hair parted on the side and looked amazingly like her younger self. She greeted us at the top of the stairs in a Mame-like pose and exclaimed “It’s today!” Nora and I both nearly passed out.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 10/12/22 at 2:45pm

Call_me_jorge said: "How long will it take charlotte st Martin to dim the marquee lights?"

 

Oh, knock it off.. 

A.  She doesn't get to make that call. 

B.  It's been less than 24 hours -- when were they supposed to coordinate and announce a dimming (which will obviously happen in the next few days).

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 10/12/22 at 2:58pm

That Daily Mail article cited above makes a real mishmash of Lansbury's theater experience pre-MAME:

"She drifted back to New York, got second billing to a neurotic Lee Remick in a play, and was in musicals that quickly closed — in one cursed production, an actor had a heart attack and died on stage and a dancer fell into the orchestra pit on top of the saxophonist, who also had a heart attack."

Somehow he fractured her experience in ANYONE CAN WHISTLE into 3 terrible shows, and ignored her roles in "Hotel Paradiso" and "A Taste of Honey" to boot. Sheesh!

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 10/12/22 at 3:23pm

One more recollection of Angie from Michael Schulman's twitter feed:

"In 1980, Terrence McNally was at Stephen Sondheim's 50th birthday party, so drunk that he spilled a drink on Lauren Bacall. Then someone I hardly knew, Angela Lansbury, waved me over to where she was. She said, 'I just want to say, I don’t know you very well, but every time I see you, you're drunk, and it bothers me.' I was so upset. She was someone I revered, and she said this with such love and concern. I went to an A.A. meeting, and within a year, I had stopped drinking." 

 

[RunnyBabbit]

Posted: 10/12/22 at 9:17pm

JasonC3 said: "Her NYT obit is accompanied by a lengthy video interview done in 2010 that it was agreed would be held until her death."

I hope that they one day post the full interview. It’s wonderful, but only briefly touches on a few moments of her legendary career. I would love to see what else she had to say!

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 10:36am

ACL2006 said: "Since your name made me think of it, did Lansbury ever play Dolly anywhere?"

There is this fun video from a benefit where we get a leading lady swap

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaHVKGSEHLU

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 2:37pm

Broadway's lights will dim for one minute at 7:45 PM this Saturday, October 15, for Dame Angela Lansbury:

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Broadway-Theatres-to-Dim-Lights-in-Memory-of-Angela-Lansbury-20221013

[Cora Hoover Hooper]

Posted: 10/13/22 at 4:18pm

I'm just crushed. I know it sounds silly, but I've been crying ever since I heard it. Commiserating with online fans. Been a fan since Mame and followed her career ever since. Only saw her on stage once (for her Gypsy tour), but am grateful for that. I kept hoping there was one more big role in her future, but Father Time won out. Someone as multi-talented as Angela comes along once in a great while. One of the last great stars of stage and screen. R.I.P. I'll miss you!

[¿Macavity?]

Posted: 10/15/22 at 1:36pm

A bit late, it's been a busy week and I just haven't had time to process.

My introduction to Angela Lansbury was seeing her in the recording of Sweeney Todd. She. Blew. My. Mind. I still marvel at that performance everytime I watch it - truly remarkable.

I'll miss her dearly...

[denali.fire]

Posted: 10/15/22 at 3:09pm

¿Macavity? said: "A bit late, it's been a busy week and I just haven't had time to process.

My introduction to Angela Lansbury was seeing her in the recording of Sweeney Todd. She. Blew. My. Mind. I still marvel at that performance everytime I watch it - truly remarkable.

I'll miss her dearly..."

And so will the whole Dear World.

[JasonC3]

Posted: 10/15/22 at 5:08pm

This is a lovely piece (gift link) from Patrick Healy in the NYT with the perfect kicker:

"There would be no covering-up by Ms. Lansbury, no ghostwritten pieces; if she could do the work, she would, and if she couldn’t — well, then."

 

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 10/17/22 at 3:39am

Was listening to Gypsy and Mame today. How did we never get an Angela Lansbury Hello Dolly?