My tribute to Angela Lansbury is long overdue. I could have smushed a hurried version into the line-up during our fall pledge drive. Or tossed the Halloween playlist out entirely. But I didn't. I'm sort of plan-ful and deliberate and non-spon-taneous when it comes to producing a 2 On The Aisle, hence the tardiness. But I wanted to do it right, and give Dame Angie full focus. Shoveling her shows into fundraising or "scarey Broadway" (with the exception of some Sweeney!) wouldn't have worked for me.
So NOW. Now we bring on the Mame and the Mama Rose. The Bedknobs, Balloons, Beauties and Beasts. The Nellie Lovett (who knew she had a first name?). All the goodies. Comedic, coy, grandiose, gut-wrenching...all Angela.
First "professional gig": At the Samovar Club in Montreal, age 16, doing an act with her mom.
First movie: Gaslight, age 19. (Nominated for an Academy Award) Second movie, National Velvet. Third, The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Strangest "mom" role?: The Manchurian Candidate. She was only 3 years older than Laurence Harvey, who played her "son". (Nominated for an Academy Award)...but don't forget Blue Hawaii (playing Elvis Presley's mom). That's pretty strange too. Insert Angela quote here: Hollywood only wanted her to play "bitches on wheels and people's mothers."
First Tony: Mame, 1966....(Second Tony, Dear World. Third, Gypsy. Fourth, Sweeney. Fifth, Blithe Spirit. Sixth, Lifetime Achievement. I'll stop now.)
Number of Emmy Nominations for "Murder, She Wrote": 18. No Wins. NONE!?!?!
Number of Times I Saw Her Onstage: About 8. 7 of these in Sweeney. The 8th, in Blithe Spirit, with Christine Ebersole and Rupert Everett. She was 83 when she took on that Broadway production, supposedly wearing an ear piece to help her with cues and lines. Whatever. She was marvelous...
Otherwise, you've probably read all the obits and read of her triumphs/also-rans/family life, so I won't bore you with words. I'll wait til Sunday and overwhelm you with songs, how's that? Two hours of Angela awaits!
Open A New Window (Angela Lansbury, Mame)
The Worst Pies In London (Angela Lansbury, Sweeney Todd)
Wait (Angela Lansbury, Len Cariou, Sweeney Todd)
By The Sea (Angela Lansbury, Len Cariou, Sweeney Todd)
Goodbye, Little Yellow Bird (Angela Lansbury, The Picture Of Dorian Grey)
How'd You Like To Spoon With Me? (Angela Lansbury, Til The Clouds Roll By)
A Step In The Right Direction (Angela Lansbury, Bedknobs And Broomsticks)
That's How Young I Feel (Angela Lansbury, Mame)
Bosom Buddies (Angela Lansbury, Mame)
Me And My Town (Angela Lansbury, Anyone Can Whistle)
I've Got You To Lean On (Angela Lansbury, Anyone Can Whistle)
Beauty And The Beast (Angela Lansbury, Beauty And The Beast)
Age Of Not Believing (Angela Lansbury, Bedknobs And Broomsticks)
Be Our Guest (Jerry Orbach, Angela Lansbury, Beauty And The Beast)
Some People (Angela Lansbury, Gypsy)
Mr. Goldstone, I Love You (Angela Lansbury, Gypsy)
Together, Wherever We Go (Angela Lansbury, Barrie Ingham, Zan Charisse, Gypsy)
It's Today (Angela Lansbury, Mame)
A Little Priest (Angela Lansbury, Len Cariou, Sweeney Todd)
Parlor Songs (Roland Rusinek, Angela Lansbury, Ken Jennings, Sweeney Todd)
You'll Never Get Away From Me (Angela Lansbury, Barrie Ingham, Gypsy)
If He Walked Into My Life (Angela Lansbury, Mame)
Nowhere To Go But Up (Angela Lansbury, Ben Whishaw, Company, Mary Poppins Returns)
Rose's Turn (Angela Lansbury, Gypsy)
We Need A Little Christmas (Angela Lansbury, Mame)
Liasons (Angela Lansbury, A Little Night Music)
Each Tomorrow Morning(Angela Lansbury, Dear World)
Finale (Angela Lansbury, Company, Mame)
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