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| The film of Alan Bennett’s “The Lady in the Van” with Maggie Smith is on WNET tonight (Saturday). | |
| Posted by: kieran 01:30 am EDT 07/15/23 | |
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| It was reported in 2001 that the play would be coming from London to Broadway the following year, with Smith and Bennett in the cast. Didn’t happen. | |
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| Alan Bennett as Alan Bennett. | |
| Posted by: portenopete 10:30 am EDT 07/15/23 | |
| In reply to: The film of Alan Bennett’s “The Lady in the Van” with Maggie Smith is on WNET tonight (Saturday). - kieran 01:30 am EDT 07/15/23 | |
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| It may be apocryphal but I seem to remember a story that Maggie Smith wasn't particularly keen on committing to a six-month run (or whatever was being proposed) in New York away from home. Her husband Beverly Cross had recently passed away (the year before the London production) and I can imagine she might have wanted to be close to her sons at that time. Apparently she said she would do it if Alan Bennett would agree to play himself (not sure which iteration) but he was equally uninterested in returning to the stage. (I guess his last performance was at the NT 50th Anniversary where he joined the original cast in a scene from The History Boys, replacing the late Richard Griffiths as Hector, a role in which he would likely have starred had the play been written 10 or 20 years earlier.) She never really seemed to have much interest in making a career for herself in the States. I guess during the period where she was a major leading film star after winning the Oscar in 1969 she did Beaux' Stratagem, Three Sisters, Design for Living and Private Lives in Los Angeles, but only the latter played Broadway, which was her first appearance in NYC since New Faces of '56. If Wikipedia is complete, she has only appeared four times on Broadway: New Faces, Private Lives, Night and Day and Lettice and Lovage. I'm sad I was too young to see the incredible lineup of great roles she did at Stratford (Ontario) from 1976-1980: Millamant, Cleopatra, Masha, The Actress (in The Guardsman), Queen Elizabeth (in Richard III), Rosalind, Judith Bliss, The Scottish Queen, Amanda Prynne, Beatrice, Arkadina and Virginia Woolf in Edna O'Brien's play. I think she considers that period the pinnacle of her stage career, especially the productions she did with Robin Phillips. I first saw her in Lettice and Lovage on Broadway and was lucky to see her in Three Tall Women, The Lady in the Van, The Breath of Life and A German Life. Her performance as A in Three Tall Women was breathtaking. It's tempting to want to link her to someone from an earlier age, but was there quite anyone like Maggie Smith before Maggie Smith? I only know the people I've seen in movies. There were very funny actresses like Edith Evans and Margaret Rutherford and very beautiful actresses, but she was such a delicious combination of the two. Joan Greenwood was delectable but never became an iconic star (at least not stateside). Anyway: it's a great thing that the film of Lady in the Van was made and that it is so good. I hope the film of A German Life gets done because she was extraordinary in it on stage. |
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| Boy, I wish there were a film of Peter Shaffer's 'Lettice and Lovage,' starring Maggie Smith | |
| Last Edit: WaymanWong 03:52 am EDT 07/15/23 | |
| Posted by: WaymanWong 03:41 am EDT 07/15/23 | |
| In reply to: The film of Alan Bennett’s “The Lady in the Van” with Maggie Smith is on WNET tonight (Saturday). - kieran 01:30 am EDT 07/15/23 | |
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| Smith and Margaret Tyzack, both Tony winners for their priceless performances in this, performed a scene on the 1990 Tony Awards. It still makes me laugh. And it's proof, to me, that the right scene from a PLAY, with stellar performers, CAN work on the Tony telecast.) |
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| Link | 1990 Tony Awards: 'Lettice and Lovage' with Maggie Smith and Margaret Tyzack |
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| re: Boy, I wish there were a film of Peter Shaffer's 'Lettice and Lovage,' starring Maggie Smith | |
| Posted by: bobjohnny 04:28 am EDT 07/16/23 | |
| In reply to: Boy, I wish there were a film of Peter Shaffer's 'Lettice and Lovage,' starring Maggie Smith - WaymanWong 03:41 am EDT 07/15/23 | |
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| I saw it with Smith. Not a good play. Wish I had my money and two hours back. | |
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| re: Boy, I wish there were a film of Peter Shaffer's 'Lettice and Lovage,' starring Maggie Smith | |
| Posted by: singleticket 11:14 am EDT 07/16/23 | |
| In reply to: re: Boy, I wish there were a film of Peter Shaffer's 'Lettice and Lovage,' starring Maggie Smith - bobjohnny 04:28 am EDT 07/16/23 | |
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| I saw it as well and enjoyed it. What I really miss are the weather patterns from 1990. | |
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| re: Boy, I wish there were a film of Peter Shaffer's 'Lettice and Lovage,' starring Maggie Smith | |
| Posted by: Charlie_Baker 03:48 pm EDT 07/15/23 | |
| In reply to: Boy, I wish there were a film of Peter Shaffer's 'Lettice and Lovage,' starring Maggie Smith - WaymanWong 03:41 am EDT 07/15/23 | |
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| Absolutely right, Wayman. The other memorable example was James Earl Jones and Courtney B. Vamce from Fences. | |
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| plays performing on the Tonys - yes PLEASE | |
| Posted by: Chazwaza 03:38 pm EDT 07/15/23 | |
| In reply to: Boy, I wish there were a film of Peter Shaffer's 'Lettice and Lovage,' starring Maggie Smith - WaymanWong 03:41 am EDT 07/15/23 | |
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| The scenes performed on the Tonys in the 90s when I watched as a lad are still burning in my brain, and made me very very excited to be doing theater, and wanting to go to nyc and see these plays, and others too. Let's be real, MANY musical performances do not work on the Tonys. Every year I can say that. They still do them. Sometimes they concoct a medley or montage of sorts and it doesn't work and they should have done 1 song straight, and sometimes it's amazing. Sometimes they pick 1 song and it's just not the best song for selling the show. They still do them. I also think just for the audience at home, mannnnnnny of whom haven't seen ANY of these shows or actors... it behooves the Tonys and Broadway producers to give the audience as much info as they can get to be invested in the shows of the season, root for certain shows or performances, and get a sense of what the nominated shows and performances are. Every show on Broadway films press reels... why can't they all get 2 minutes to air a trailer of what the show is? A live performance and/or a filmed trailer. And for actors there should be legit clips of their performance. For writer and directors too, they should get to pick a clip or edit from the reel footage 30 seconds or something that showcase their work. Not just for the artists but really for the home audience. |
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| re: Boy, I wish there were a film of Peter Shaffer's 'Lettice and Lovage,' starring Maggie Smith | |
| Posted by: gobohobo 10:22 am EDT 07/15/23 | |
| In reply to: Boy, I wish there were a film of Peter Shaffer's 'Lettice and Lovage,' starring Maggie Smith - WaymanWong 03:41 am EDT 07/15/23 | |
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| There is a video of the Broadway production available to view on site at the NYPL of The Performing Arts in their TOFT collection. It isn't a film but at least it is a recording of their performances for posterity. | |
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| re: Boy, I wish there were a film of Peter Shaffer's 'Lettice and Lovage,' starring Maggie Smith | |
| Posted by: WaymanWong 02:15 pm EDT 07/15/23 | |
| In reply to: re: Boy, I wish there were a film of Peter Shaffer's 'Lettice and Lovage,' starring Maggie Smith - gobohobo 10:22 am EDT 07/15/23 | |
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| Yes, I've been to TOFT many times. But I meant a movie that might be available on DVD, shown on TCM, etc. | |
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| re: Boy, I wish there were a film of Peter Shaffer's 'Lettice and Lovage,' starring Maggie Smith | |
| Posted by: champagnesalesman 08:23 am EDT 07/15/23 | |
| In reply to: Boy, I wish there were a film of Peter Shaffer's 'Lettice and Lovage,' starring Maggie Smith - WaymanWong 03:41 am EDT 07/15/23 | |
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| Such a terrific play It was slated to be a film at one point with Smith and Whoopi in the Tyzack role.. Such juicy roles.. Smith's latest film THE MIRACLE CLUB arrived in cinemas yesterday |
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| re: Boy, I wish there were a film of Peter Shaffer's 'Lettice and Lovage,' starring Maggie Smith | |
| Posted by: portenopete 10:37 am EDT 07/15/23 | |
| In reply to: re: Boy, I wish there were a film of Peter Shaffer's 'Lettice and Lovage,' starring Maggie Smith - champagnesalesman 08:23 am EDT 07/15/23 | |
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| I can't really see Whoopi Goldberg as the ironically-named Lottie Schön. "Dull and drab" are not really her strength, are they? She's usually an agent of chaos. (I'd rather see her Lettice Douffet, to be honest.) There have been so many great actresses who played Lettice after Smith: I remember Julie Harris doing it (on tour?)! |
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| re: Boy, I wish there were a film of Peter Shaffer's 'Lettice and Lovage,' starring Maggie Smith | |
| Posted by: CCentero 03:31 pm EDT 07/15/23 | |
| In reply to: re: Boy, I wish there were a film of Peter Shaffer's 'Lettice and Lovage,' starring Maggie Smith - portenopete 10:37 am EDT 07/15/23 | |
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| At one point, Hallmark (which was trying to do something beyond their standard Hall of Fame stuff) had it optioned and considered Americanizing it. They threw out that idea (luckily) but never did anything with the property. Don't know anything about Maggie/Whoopi, but Whoopi is a good actress and it would be a good change of pace for her. | |
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| re: Boy, I wish there were a film of Peter Shaffer's 'Lettice and Lovage,' starring Maggie Smith | |
| Posted by: kieran 03:47 pm EDT 07/15/23 | |
| In reply to: re: Boy, I wish there were a film of Peter Shaffer's 'Lettice and Lovage,' starring Maggie Smith - CCentero 03:31 pm EDT 07/15/23 | |
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| And of course they appeared together in the two “Sister Act” films. | |
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| re: Boy, I wish there were a film of Peter Shaffer's 'Lettice and Lovage,' starring Maggie Smith | |
| Posted by: portenopete 05:17 pm EDT 07/15/23 | |
| In reply to: re: Boy, I wish there were a film of Peter Shaffer's 'Lettice and Lovage,' starring Maggie Smith - kieran 03:47 pm EDT 07/15/23 | |
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| Yes, it would have been a nice reunion (although I'm not sure how much time was between the first Sister Act and Lettice and Lovage). There's lots of good British actresses to do revivals in London and around the UK. |
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