Angela Lansbury: "I plan to be 97"

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Angela Lansbury: "I plan to be 97"

Posted: 3/14/13 at 3:50pm

What an absolute legend! I'm sure she will make to 97 and beyond.
People make fun of her workout video, but if anything it should be studied and repeated, since whatever Ms. Lansbury is doing to keep herelf in such a great form it's clearely working: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_gRqGkfbbw

Angela Lansbury:

Posted: 3/15/13 at 4:07am

I just don't understand how they aren't taping this performance. I lose sleep over things like this.

"I never had theatre producers run after me. Some people want to make more Broadway shows out of movies. But Elliot and I aren't going to do Batman: The Musical." - Julie Taymor 1999

Angela Lansbury:

Posted: 3/15/13 at 4:14am

Honestly, neither do I emo_geek. I sat in disbelief that I was watching Lansbury in a leading role in a play in my home city. SHOCKED. I don't want to say that we are unworthy but I do feel it is a bit of a waste it is not reaching a wider audience because the performance seems historic to me - they should have a small return engagement in NYC or something. FWIW, a full audio recording exists of her in the show.

Also, I know bootlegs from the house camera of the theatre the show is currently running have emerged on the internet (e.g. a performance of TITANIC). Here's hoping.

Give me claws and a hunch, just away from this bunch.

Updated On: 3/15/13 at 04:14 AM

Angela Lansbury:

Posted: 3/15/13 at 5:57am

I know, right? Seems almost criminal not to preserve it for the rest of the world.
Also, HBO, PBS or Lifetime should totally adapt it as a mini-series or movie starring this magnificent trio. Maybe Ms. Lansbury would finally win an Emmy for it on her 19th try.

Angela Lansbury:

Posted: 3/15/13 at 7:53am

PLEASE let this come to New York. I know the play was recently revived, but how could it not be a sensation with Angela starring in it?

Behind the fake tinsel of Broadway is real tinsel.

Angela Lansbury:

Posted: 3/15/13 at 8:03am

Just watching the video now.

Gosh, it would be wonderful if this would come to Broadway.

CHURCH DOOR TOUCAN GAY MARKETING PUPPIES MUSICAL THEATER STAPLES PERIOD OIL BITCHY SNARK HOLES

Angela Lansbury:

Posted: 3/15/13 at 8:12am

From Angie's mouth to God's ear!

Angela Lansbury:

Posted: 3/15/13 at 8:39am

To be fair the Chalk Garden Revival that is supposed to happen this fall also sounds terribly exciting. Especially if they can get someone like Cate Blanchett or Kristin Scott Thomas to play Miss Madrigal.
Just record the damn thing!

Angela Lansbury:

Posted: 3/15/13 at 9:22am

I can't help but feel its appropriate to the situation... thanks to one of my favourite holiday films.... from the horse's mouth.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1g5BstV4B8

On a seperate note... this would make a wonderful property for a stage adaptation with a truly warm hearted actress as Mrs North...

Updated On: 3/15/13 at 09:22 AM

#10

Angela Lansbury:

Posted: 3/15/13 at 2:07pm

Lillian Gish lived to be 99 and made her final film at 94. Hopefully her longevity was contagious.

Angela Lansbury performs 'That's How Young I Feel' from Mame: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmeQTYQkAbE

Can't believe Ms. Lansbury was 58 when she did it on Broadway 8 time per week.

Updated On: 3/15/13 at 02:07 PM

#11

Angela Lansbury:

Posted: 3/15/13 at 6:17pm

^^^And did it brilliantly! But she did tell me that when she does a demanding role like Mame, Rose or Mrs. Lovett, she does almost nothing else but rest her voice and body. (And she said that 35 years ago!)

Updated On: 3/16/13 at 06:17 PM

#12

Angela Lansbury:

Posted: 3/16/13 at 2:31am

I just saw her today in Driving Miss Daisy. She's astounding in the role, it's really a perfect fit for her even though it's unlike anything she has done before. It's perhaps the most vulnerable and honest I've ever seen her.

http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2013/02/25/3697505.htm

You must listen to this interview also.

Updated On: 3/16/13 at 02:31 AM

#13

Angela Lansbury:

Posted: 3/16/13 at 3:20am

Yes it was. The final scene was heartbreaking. Her smile in the wheelchair when being fed was adorable.

Give me claws and a hunch, just away from this bunch.

Updated On: 3/16/13 at 03:20 AM

#14

Angela Lansbury:

Posted: 3/16/13 at 4:34am

Yes it was. That last scene showed a side of Angela that I don't think we have ever seen on the stage or screen.

Updated On: 3/16/13 at 04:34 AM

#15

Angela Lansbury:

Posted: 3/16/13 at 11:42am

I rememeber a few years ago I was at stage door with my daughter for "Next To Normal". I saw her signing Playbills after her show (forget which one at this time) and thought it was totally amazing she would do it at her age.

#16

Angela Lansbury:

Posted: 3/17/13 at 5:36am

I've also read that she has injured her left knee during the filming of Mrs. Santa Claus and was actually in pain while shooting it. How she was able to do all that dancing I don't know.
She is a true trooper.

#17

Angela Lansbury:

Posted: 3/17/13 at 8:38am

I do hope there is a tape of it somewhere. I'm sort of expecting it to play Broadway, Angela is just too good in the play for it not to; that last scene, wow. I'm desperate to see it again but unfortunately it is playing for a very limited season and tickets are quite expensive in Australia. It didn't sink in for about a day that I had witnessed these greats of the stage, particularly Lansbury, perform in my home city.

Updated On: 3/17/13 at 08:38 AM

#18

Angela Lansbury:

Posted: 3/17/13 at 5:28pm

Loved this interview. Especially enjoyed Angela's comment about being a goodie-goodie when she was younger, but having made up for it since. Ha. Was there a '..Daisy' national tour in the US after the Broadway prod closed? I don't recall there being one. Hmmmm..

#19

Angela Lansbury:

Posted: 3/31/13 at 7:58pm

So I saw the show again yesterday (final performance in Sydney). What I really love about Lansbury in the role (I've never seen anyone else though) is the way her physical health deteriorates throughout the show. It is very skilled - you can see her posture get slightly worse and the walking become a bit more effortful as times goes on. When the cane first arrives it's a little heartberaking. At the end in the wheelchair she is basically catatonic - it's almost uncomfortable. Then she she sees/hears Hoke and her eyes tear up. It really is quite moving.

I also found the scene when she is alzheimery quite moving - I really like how in this scene she wasn't 'angry/irritated' as she often was earlier in the show but so, so distressed and confused - I felt very sorry for her character. And the climax "You're my best friend" well I guess it's good writing too but the line is so effective after she was so distressed.

She was better than I remembered her earlier in the run. I'm not usually that coherent reviewing things, sorry. But this will go down for me as one of the 'great performances' I have seen. Also, I haven't mentioned him but I don't want to take anything away from James Earl Jones - they were a team and his contribution was also invaluable.

Give me claws and a hunch, just away from this bunch.

#20

Angela Lansbury:

Posted: 5/17/13 at 8:35am

Saw it last week and I have to say that it has to be the best theater experience of my life. I’ve seen quite a lot of plays in my life including the ones starring Angela Lansbury, but Driving Miss Daisy was just phenomenal.

It not just a mere acting showcase as one may thing. The staging, the production design, the direction were just incredible. The beauty of it is in how simple it looks and yet it so effective and moving (I’ve got to admit, I cried at the end).

Needless to say, the acting is top-notch. James Earl Jones was great and very funny as Hoke, the chemistry between Boyd Gaines and Angela Lansbury was so good, I actually think now he’s her son and as for Lansbury herself, well, it’s really is her show. She is truly phenomenal as Daisy.

At the beginning she starts as 72 years old and despite being 15 years older in real life you totally believe her to be that age if not even younger. The way she moves and runs those stairs is just incredible. I cannot believe she it’s the same lady, who has fractured her hip only a year ago. I’m telling you the woman should be studied. People make fun of her workout video, but maybe they should learn it instead, ‘case whatever she’s doing to keep herself fit is clearly working.

It’s a great shame that the show hasn’t come to Broadway or West End since it’s one of the greatest roles of Lansbury’s astonishing 70+ year career and I hope that Australians realize and appreciate how lucky they are to get it for 6 months and across 5 cities.

Ms. Lansbury never fails to surprise her audience. Only a couple of years ago she said she doesn’t want to take on big leading roles and now she’s caring a show and in Australia of places, miles and miles away from home.
I wonder if anyone here saw both Lansbury and Vanessa Redgrave in the role and care to share their experience. I imagine it must have been two very different shows even though everything else is the same considering how completely different Lansbury and Redgrave are as actresses.

Interesting, how Daisy is usually played by a British actress (Jessica Tendy, Wendy Hiller, Joan Plowright, Redgrave and now Lansbury), except for the very first actress, Dana Ivey, who originated the role and is actually from Georgia and even though she didn’t get the chance to reprise her role in the film version she did get to play to very nasty characters in both The Color Purple and The Help.

Just for fun:
Highlights from Driving Miss Daisy w/ Vanessa Redgrave: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBJF_FZalTM
Highlights from Driving Miss Daisy w/ Angela Lansbury:
https://www.broadwayworld.com/videoplay.php?colid=463473

Updated On: 5/17/13 at 08:35 AM

#21

Angela Lansbury:

Posted: 5/17/13 at 8:58am

Saw the show three times already, Ms Lansbury is simply outstanding in this. Will42 you are right I hope Australian audiences understand how historic this is. There was a story ( rumour ) going around that she has been asked to come back to star in a co production between STC and MTC next year, but I would take that with a grain of salt at this stage.

On a side note, The Addams Family posted there closing notice in Sydney today!

Well I didn't want to get into it, but he's a Satanist. Every full moon he sacrifices 4 puppies to the Dark Lord and smears their blood on his paino. This should help you understand the score for Wicked a little bit more. Tazber's: Reply to Is Stephen Schwartz a Practicing Christian

#22

Angela Lansbury:

Posted: 5/17/13 at 9:01am

Interesting, how Daisy is usually played by a British actress (Jessica Tendy, Wendy Hiller, Joan Plowright, Redgrave and now Lansbury), except for the very first actress, Dana Ivey, who originated the role and is actually from Georgia

Don't forget Frances Sternhagen, who played Daisy for a good portion of the original Off-Broadway production.

"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe." -John Guare, Landscape of the Body

#23

Angela Lansbury:

Posted: 5/17/13 at 9:14am

I know that she is doing The Chalk Garden on Broadway in a couple of months, but yet another stage production in Australia? My God, why can’t she come to UK instead? It’s so much closer to where I live.
Of course it’s fantastic that we still can witness her genius on stage, but I would love to see her in a movie or TV show sometime soon. Unlike other great Brits like Maggie Smith, Judi Dench or already mentioned Vannessa Redgrave, Lansbury is doing films or TV very rarely those days. Just to do Driving Miss Daisy she turned down 2 roles already. One in Wes Anderson’s next film The Grand Budapest Hotel and another one is a recurring role in Bryan Fuller’s series Hannibal. In both cases she was replaced with much younger actresses (Tilda Swinton and Gillian Anderson).

By the way, Driving Miss Daisy with the current cast would make a wonderful TV movie on HBO or even Lifetime.

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