Margaret Hamilton/A Little Night Music

I've just got the cast recording for A Little Night Music (love it!) and one I remebered a fact I read: That Margaret Hamilton (The Wicked Witch of the West) played Mme. Armfeldt in the show.

Did anyone see her? How was her performance?

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I've heard a recording of her "Liaisons"...and while she is NOT a singer, she handles the piece well. I have a photo of her in the role, i just don't know how to include pics.

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For whatever reason, it turns sideways...but here it is!
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Updated On: 6/28/07 at 10:47 PM

That's fantastic husk! Thanks for the picture.

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I would have loved to see her play Eller.

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I saw her in NIGHT MUSIC at the Kennedy Center Opera House, circa Spring of 1974 I believe (or 75?) She was most effective, in an understated way, and clearly having the time of her life. She was small of stature, but not frail, and I remember her singing the part successfully. The show was not terribly at home in the cavernous opera house -- the Eisenhower would've been better for the designs and performances. (I don't like it at City Opera either -- it's a very intimate show.) I think it was likely Hamilton's last big thing -- no?

The productions was sound, with George Lee Andrews, non-speaking Frid on b'way, playing Frederick, probably in his early to mid-30s. He was too young, and it made the Anne/Frederick dilemma a bit odd. Jean Simmons was fine, but I recall missing the comedic brio of Glynis, whom I'd seen the previous summer in NY. After Simmons played the role, Desiree fell into similar hands. I saw Virginia McKenna in London -- sophisticated but dull. I still think Glynis and Liz Taylor are the best casting, though Taylor couldn't exactly shine in the poor film.

Hamilton seemed to be having the time of her life.

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Remember her as Cora? Spokesperson for Maxwell House? I'd forgotten all about that.

I've heard that soundboard recording of her that is floating around. She is delightful.

My problem with Hamiliton as well as Gingold is does anyone believe that -even in their youth - Barrons and noblemen would have PAID to have sex with them?

A young Glynis Johns yes. But a young Hermione Gingold or a young Margaret Hamiliton? Doubtful.

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I was fortunate enough to see her in Night Music. She was excellent.

I also saw her in Come Summer and UTBU. She didn't have a very good role in the former. She was very funny in UTBU, a black comedy by James Kirkwood with a marvelous cast, which I found to be hilarious.

I also saw her in Chicago and for what it's worth (I was very young and very stagestruck) I remember her, Jean Simmons and George Lee Andrews all being wonderful.

After being dumped in Boston, Margaret Hamilton sent the cast (including Gingold) and crew of the national tour the loveliest opening night telegram. I thought that was so classy!

I didn't see Hamilton in NIGHT MUSIC. However, THE WIZARD OF OZ was very much a beloved classic by the mid-70s. I'm sure audiences knew who she was and that she was hired, in part, for her name.

But I don't recall huge entrance applause for Jean Simmons or Hermoine Gingold. The way the show opened with basically two overtures, both with actors on stage and the entire company performing the "Night Waltz", didn't really encourage entrance applause because viewers tended to "discover" the leads at different times. There was some clapping, of course, but unless I've forgotten, nobody had a big-applause entrance.

Despite the use of stars as Desiree and Armfeldt, Prince treated the show as an ensemble piece.