Dame Maggie Smith

Probably depends on how the London run goes. She's only doing 4-6 performances a week for a little more than a month at the Bridge Theatre (Nick Hytner's new company). I think she'd have to do more performances per week and a longer run to make it work on Broadway or in a more traditional West End setting. If not Broadway, then maybe someplace like BAM or the Lincoln Center festival if she really wanted to return to the NY stage?

Nobody expected Angela Lansbury, Glenda Jackson, or Elaine May to return to Broadway at 80+ after long hiatuses, yet they did...so who knows!

Updated On: 2/27/19 at 11:24 AM

Well I’m not taking any chances. I woke up at 5am yesterday and bought one of the £15 tickets right when they went on sale, then bought a plane tickets to spend that week in London. I’ll be seeing other shows on the trip, plus I’ve been looking for an excuse to return to that lovely city. But Dame Maggie is my primary reason for going. I wouldn’t be surprised if they film this for broadcast, but I don’t expect to have another chance to see her live, so I’m taking it.

I’m still pissed that this is starting just a couple days after I leave London.

JBroadway said: "Well I’m not taking any chances. I woke up at 5am yesterday and bought one of the £15 tickets right when they went on sale, then bought a plane tickets to spend that week in London. I’ll be seeing other shows on the trip, plus I’ve been looking for an excuse to return to that lovely city. But Dame Maggie is my primary reason for going. I wouldn’t be surprised if they film this for broadcast, but I don’t expect to have another chance to see her live, so I’m taking it."

That is AWESOME!!! Yes please report! I was still hoping My Fair Lady would get Julie Andrews, Maggie Smith, or Judi Dench, etc. to come back on Broadway as Mrs Higgins.

I loved Maggie Smith in Private Lives and Night and Day in NYC, loved her in The Importance of Being Ernest, The Lady from Dubuque, A Delicate Balance and The Lady in the Van in London (the benefit of working for a huge international firm).

But, most of all, I recall  the pure joy of watching her with Margaret Tyzack in Lettice and Lovage, twice at the Barrymore.  Her performance in that was arguably the greatest comedy performance I have seen on the stage.  She may be the only person who really could entertain you by reading a phone book.  Imagine all the withering glances, the vocal games she would play, etc.  

I guess that we can keeper fingers crossed.

It's really tough to tell - I was very pleasantly surprised when the Bridge run was announced because I'd never even considered being able to see Maggie Smith on stage, and I'm sure it's the same for plenty of people across the pond too. 

If nothing else, there's probably people very interested in having the conversation with her, but we'll see. I'll keep my fingers crossed for everyone who can't get over here to see it!