Dame Angela Lansbury: Merman really couldn't act her way out of a paper bag. But boy, could she sing

[Will42]

Posted: 12/6/14 at 3:27pm

Ahead of her Blithe Spirit tour Dame Angela recalls her early career, musical fame and plans for the future: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-ca-angela-lansbury-20141207-column.html#page=2

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/6/14 at 3:32pm

If Merman were alive, she would probably go up to Lansbury & hauled off and belted her square in the chops. She would have walked away singing "I'll Be Swell I Am Great" etc

[ShakinBaconGirl]

Posted: 12/6/14 at 3:33pm

I love listening to Angela Lansbury tell stories. Thanks!

[LarryD2]

Posted: 12/6/14 at 4:24pm

Well, she's not wrong.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/6/14 at 4:34pm

What a wonderful interview. Thanks for sharing.

[The D]

Posted: 12/6/14 at 5:16pm

Angela did both act and sing

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 12/6/14 at 5:31pm

Did? Does.

(P.S. Welcome back, Spil.Berg!)

Updated On: 12/6/14 at 05:31 PM

[HorseTears]

Posted: 12/7/14 at 5:57am

Great interview and lovely pictures of Dame Angela. I love how unpretentious and direct she is. Oh, and this quote is ****ing amazing:

"I may be even going back to London to do some Restoration comedy. I think Restoration comedy is great because it's so dirty and slutty, and I think at my age I should do that."

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/7/14 at 6:12am

Did I miss a meltdown where Spil.berg LEFT? Because that would be lovely. (Not to mention whoever else he has been.)

[Will42]

Posted: 12/7/14 at 9:48am

That's my favorite quote as well.
Gotta love her sense of humor!

[Smaxie]

Posted: 12/7/14 at 10:29am

In the audio that exists of Merman's final Gypsy performance, I think she's pretty much perfect. She lands laughs in places I never knew had laughs, and is like a lost, confused child in the Minsky's dressing room scene. The part is written to play to all of Merman's strengths. Her style might not be for everyone, but this myth that has arisen that she couldn't act seems ill-conceived.

[NoName3]

Posted: 12/7/14 at 11:45am

There's an apocryphal story about Merman delivering the "Ephraim, let me go" speech in Dolly with a tear running down her cheek. She came offstage and announced "See, I told ya I could act!"

Updated On: 12/7/14 at 11:45 AM

[AngusN]

Posted: 12/7/14 at 12:05pm

Personally, while I believe Angela to be a fantastic actress, I've never thought of her as a singer that I'd like to listen to. Just my preference.

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/7/14 at 12:38pm

Merman could act. Watch her films. She also had a very strong, specific personality. I disagree with Ms. Lansbury completely.

[SmokeyLady]

Posted: 12/7/14 at 1:21pm

Many had the opinion that Merman couldn't act. I saw her in Gypsy and she was definitely not giving it anything at the time.

[beaemma]

Posted: 12/7/14 at 1:48pm

I'd say it depends on what you mean by acting. I saw Ethel Merman on stage in the ANNIE GET YOUR GUN revival and in HELLO DOLLY and saw Angela Lansbury in most of her theatre work since MAME in 1966. I'm a major fan of both ladies. Merman could certainly achieve an emotional effect on stage, but she didn't delve into text and subtext to characterize the way Lansbury does. Merman's acting effects were more on the surface, while Lansbury's come from a deeper place rooted in the character she and the writer have created.

[Charley Kringas Inc]

Posted: 12/7/14 at 2:18pm

Ethel Merman was very good at playing Ethel Merman.

[HorseTears]

Posted: 12/7/14 at 3:17pm

I've really enjoyed some of The Merm's film performances, but her appeal as a musical theatre actress and vocalist is lost on me. I mean, I know she could project and I know she could hold a note, but every time I listen to her or see one of her concert or live appearance clips posted on here I see zero subtext.


I think it's probably a generational thing. Then again, I was born well after Dame Angela's glory days in the musical theatre, and I have no trouble appreciating everything she did.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/7/14 at 3:30pm

So SmokeyLady is something like 70 years old? That seems unlikely.

[emo_geek]

Posted: 12/8/14 at 12:14pm

Great interview! Even MORE excited to see the show on Thursday. What a funny quote, as I recall Debbie Reynolds saying that Merman was a bad actress because she OVER acted.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/8/14 at 1:04pm

And Debbie was a good one?

[Will42]

Posted: 12/8/14 at 4:07pm

Bette Davis she ain't, but Debbie Reynolds is a wonderful performer.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/8/14 at 5:11pm

She was Broadways version of John Wayne acting wise

[buddy 11432]

Posted: 12/8/14 at 8:49pm

I saw Merman twice in "Gypsy," once from the front row. It's true that Merman was a better singer than actress. But, her "Everything's Coming Up Roses" at the end of act one was thrilling. The same for "Rose's Turn." She should have won the Tony Award that year, rather than Mary Martn, whom I also saw in "The Sound of Music."

Someone should remind Lansbury that Merman received excellent reviews for her acting in "Gypsy." Her acting on TV in "Annie Get Yout Gun" in 1967 was pretty bad. So I can only comment on "Gypsy"--the only time I saw Merman on stage.

[HorseTears]

Posted: 12/8/14 at 9:46pm

I don't think anyone needs to remind Angela Lansbury about anything.