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Flashback: Celebrate Lansbury's Birthday with BLITHE SPIRIT
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Oct 30, 2022
It's time to celebrate because today is the birthday of legendary stage and screen actress Angela Lansbury! In honor of the occasion, we're looking back at the opening night of her Tony-winning performance in Blithe Spirit on Broadway! Check out the video to see Lansbury alongside her co-stars Christine Ebersole, Rupert Everett, and more on this special night!
View Video Transcript
0:00
Hello, I'm Richard Ridge. Noel Coward is back on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre with his classic comedy
0:06
Blythe Spirit, at the Shubert Theatre. Under the direction of Tony Award winner Michael Blakemore
0:11
the stellar cast includes Rupert Everett, Christine Ebersole, Jane Atkinson, and the legendary Miss Angela Lansbury
0:18
Someday I'll find you, moonlight behind you, true to the dream I am dreaming
0:27
As I draw near you, you smile a little smile For a little while, we shall stand hand in hand
0:39
Well, it's been great fun. It's an old-fashioned play. It's built in a way that plays aren't done anymore
0:45
and you have to find the right style to do it in. Fortunately, I've got a group of actors who are very sympathetic to that style
0:52
It needs a very quick mind and a very quick and precise delivery of text
0:59
And it needs patience on the part of both the audience and the actors
1:03
until the plot is laid in and the farce can work. But fortunately with this cast, that hasn't proved a problem
1:10
So I'm very pleased with it. I'm afraid I'm rather late, but I had a sudden presentiment
1:15
that I was going to have a puncture. So I went back to pick up my pump
1:19
And then of course I didn't have a puncture at all. Well, perhaps you will on the way ahead
1:26
It's so witty, it's so advanced, it's so what we all wish we were
1:32
We all wish we had our friends over for dinner and we were witty and had stunning repartee I mean when Rupert says when she said i forgot my pump so of course i had an accident and rupert said well maybe you
1:44
will on the way home i mean they just pile up on top of each other rolls and rolls of laughter
1:49
i want to explain to you clearly without emotion that beyond any shadow of a doubt the ghost or
1:55
shade or whatever you like to call it of my first wife elvira is in this room now yes i know you
2:00
You don't believe me, you're trying valuably to humor me, but I intend to prove it. Well, why don't you lie down and have a little rest
2:05
and then you can prove whatever you want to later on? No, no, no, no, no, she might not be here later on
2:09
Don't worry, she will. Don't worry. Oh, hush, Charles. Ruth, do you see that bowl of flowers on the piano
2:14
Yes, sir, I did it myself this morning. Very untidily, if I may say so
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You may not. Very well, I never will again, I promise. Elvira will now take that bowl of flowers to the mantelpiece and back again
2:27
I don't see why I should you be nothing but unsettled with me ever since I materialized. Please
2:33
All right. I'll do it just this once. Now watch carefully, Ruth
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Yes, my dear. Go on, Elvira, to the man for peace, and back again
2:54
It's absolutely, I mean, it's a dream come true. It's actually surpassed any dreams I've ever had
3:00
Why do you think audiences fall in love with this play? Because it's funny
3:04
And it's just, you know, and it's about relationships and love. And everybody you know everybody can relate to it Try to see my point a little I been married to Ruth for five years You been dead for seven Not dead Charles Passed over It considered vulgar to say dead where I come from Well passed over then
3:23
Well, anyhow, now that I'm here, the least you can do is make a pretense of being amiable about it
3:28
Oh, of course, my dear, I'm delighted in one way. I don't think you love me anymore
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I shall always love the memory of you. You mustn't think me unreasonable, but I am a bit hurt
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You called me back and at great inconvenience I came in you but nothing but churros ever since I arrived
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Believe me, Elvira, I most emphatically did not call you back. That's been a mistake
3:48
Well, working with Andrew is great. I've always been a huge fan of hers and it's a great honour to be working with her here now
3:54
and I think she's fantastic in the play and the whole cast is a great cast, actually
4:00
Jane, Christine, Susan, Simon, Deborah, everyone. It's very, very nice. It's been great
4:06
Do you feel funny when you go off into a trance? Funny
4:13
Oh, I don't think Mrs. Bradman meant funny in its comic implication
4:16
I think she means odd or strange. Oh, well, the word was an unfortunate choice
4:21
I'm sure I'm very sorry. It feels amazing. It feels so exciting to, first of all, be with this company of actors
4:28
to be doing Noel Coward's play, which he wrote to remind people to laugh
4:33
and to know that life is funny, and to be able to be on Broadway and be funny
4:40
is really extraordinary for me. I've played a lot of different roles, and I think I finally hit one that gets to show my funny bone
4:48
And I with a cast of wonderful people I know it sounds idiotic but the other night during that seance something happened I knew it You know that my husband was married before
5:01
Yes, yes, I had heard it mentioned. His first wife, Elvira, died comparatively young
5:06
Where? Here, in this house, in this very room. Ha, ha, ha, ha
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I'm beginning to see the daylight. Yes, well, she was convalescing after pneumonia
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And one evening she began to laugh helplessly at a BBC musical program and died of a heart attack
5:29
Well, it's rather like stepping back in time for me because, of course, when I was a kid, you know, Coward was the man
5:37
And now suddenly he is again. And I'm thoroughly aware of his wonderful humour and wit
5:44
And it's marvellous to get to perform it for, you know, a 209 audience
5:49
I'm getting a big kick out of it, I really am Well this is a role that many actresses of my years
5:57
Always want to play, Madame Arcati And I never thought I would, I'd never have the chance
6:03
So when this came up I thought, why not? I'll leave you never, love you forever
6:10
All our past sorrows redeeming Make it all come true Make me love you too
6:21
Someday I'll find you again
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