re: Angela Lansbury As Anna Leonowens?

[Dollypop]

Yup, the geritatric set has seen some pretty magnificent theater. What have the youngin's seen. Oh, that's right! WICKED.

[roquat]

Lansbury said later that she didn't especially like playing Anna and didn't thik she was right for it, because it was a "restrained" role. She only got raves, though.

[Jay94]

I'm old enough to have seen Ethel Merman in Anything Goes and Annie Get Your Gun. Oh yeah and Celeste Holm in Oklahoma!

[explorer]

Angela was wonderful as always.

[Gaveston2]

Excuse me, but I saw Lansbury in the role and I'm not quite ready for the graveyard, Theaterguy2!

I saw it, too, and I'm practically camped at the cemetery gates.

But I agree with Dollypop that Lansbury was wonderful in THE KING AND I.

Having worked on the tour with Brynner the year before, I thought it was interesting how the emphasis changed when a different role became the star part. I'm not sure I agree with Dolly that Kermoyan was a strong enough foil as the King.

I found myself fantasizing about how the show would play with both Brynner and Lansbury. Unfortunately, by that time, he was playing everything out front a la Ethel Merman and it's hard to imagine Lansbury wanting to deal with that. And equally hard to imagine Brynner letting another big name on "his" stage.

[Dollypop]

Remember the hairdo Kermoyan wore as The King? It was something Lady GaGa would come up with these days!

[explorer]

That's funny Dollypop because I do remember that hairdo!!

[sanfrankid1]

Yes I was there and glad to know others remember her beautiful performance!

[Gaveston2]

I haven't thought of the hairdo in decades, but now that you mention it, Dolly, it was indeed remarkable!

[rosscoe(au)]

There is also a bootleg of this ( Audio ) floating around as well, Ms Lansbury sounds wonderful.

[rosscoe(au)]

There is also a bootleg of this ( Audio ) floating around as well, Ms Lansbury sounds wonderful.

[BwayBoundJoe]

I'm 22 and I am jealous that you all got to see her performances. I would have KILLED to have been alive and of age enough to see her in Dear World and Gypsy.

[Gaveston2]

As I've said elsewhere, Angela Lansbury in MAME, GYPSY and SWEENEY TODD are three of the greatest performances I've ever seen. Actually, 60 of the greatest performances I've seen since that's about how many times I saw her in those three shows alone.

And she was very good in THE KING AND I, as well, but I know exactly what the poster above means about the role of Anna L. being "more restrained".