Angela Lansbury's the 'Best Man'
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PAGE b8 THE STATE JOURNAL Ap RiL 2, 2012 Monday ALMANAC 50 YEARS AGO Angela Lansbury’s the ‘Best Man’ The Frankfort Recreation Department considered put- ting a summer playground near the General Shoe Com- Five-time Tony winner is lighting up the stage in political drama pany factory on Myrtle Ave- nue, according to City Recre- ation Director Charles Figg. By Daniel BuBBeo to rely on me as a character. Figg said the playground NewsdAy So I had to become anoth- would take the place of one operated at the Little Elk- NEW YORK – Anytime er character to be success- horn School on Rolling Acres Angela Lansbury appears in ful, so that’s what I did and Drive. The site of the Little a political drama, the results that’s what I’ve done to this Elkhorn playground was sold are anything but conven- day. The only time I think I by the County Board of Edu- tional. played fairly close to myself cation to a business firm. As a ruthless newspaper was in “Murder, She Wrote,” Figg was also studying magnate backing presiden- which turned out to be the a playground for the West tial candidate Spencer Tra- most successful thing I’ve Frankfort area. The site pro- cy, she stole scenes from him done. (Laughs.) posed was near the Franklin and Katharine Hepburn in County Elementary School “State of the Union.” Then Q. How was she most like on Collins Lane. she earned an Oscar nomi- you? A. I didn’t try to be some nation for her chilling turn 25 YEARS AGO as Laurence Harvey’s sadis- other person. I just was An- gela playing Jessica Fletch- The Western Hills’ Boys tic mother who used her as- Basketball team held its sassin son for her own White er, but she was a woman on a level emotionally and awards banquet at the high House agenda in “The Man- school. Those receiving churian Candidate.” Now mentally with me, although she’s a lot smarter and cat- awards were Pat Seltsam, the five-time Tony winner best field goal percentage; is lighting up the stage as a tier and more interested in crime than I am. Lapsley Cardwell, 110 Percent grand dame of Washington Award; Phillip Ward, top re- politics in “Gore Vidal’s The bounder and Most Valuable Best Man,” which opens Sun- Q. I’m so glad when you brought up the character Player; Todd Rose, coach’s day at the Gerald Schoenfeld award; Tommy Barnes, best Theatre and boasts a starry you thought was closest to you, you didn’t say the free-throw percentage; Brad cast that also includes James Mefford, top scorer; and Mike Earl Jones, Candice Bergen mother from “The Man- churian Candidate.” Sullivan, scholarship award and Eric McCormack. and coach’s award. During a recent phone mct A. (Laughs.) Oh, are you chat, Lansbury, 86, talked Angela Lansbury accepts a Special Lifetime Achievement Award during “that’s Entertainment,” kidding? That was a char- the Actors Fund of America Gala in New York city in 2004. acter that I had years to HAPPY BIRTHDAY about her nearly seven-de- Annabelle Murphy live down, but I managed cade career, including her March 30, 2006 morous at times. whole point. She just at- acterize, to become some- to, since I went and did days as a contract player Annabelle is the daughter tracted crime, murder and body other than myself. And “Mame” right afterward, at MGM, her 12-year run of Brian as mystery writer Jessica Q. Do you miss doing a regu- mayhem. But it was all very I was working with the best so there you are. lar television series? lightly done with a light – Ingrid Bergman, Charles and Jen- Fletcher on TV’s “Murder, nifer Mur- A. No, I do not. I had brush. There was nothing Boyer, Joseph Cotten, Dame Q. You still do films oc- She Wrote” and her love af- phy of Ow- enough in that 12-year particularly gory or nasty May Whitty – here I was sur- casionally, but most of fair with the theater. ensboro. stretch. It was a very long, about it, especially when rounded by such nice, warm, your work has been on enjoyable but hugely time- you see what’s going on to- encouraging, helpful actors She loves Q. What attracted you to Broadway. Is that because to draw, consuming period. Twelve day on television. We were and a great director, George “The Best Man” and the the theater provides a bet- paint and years is a great deal of time very mild. You established Cukor. character of Sue Ellen? ter variety of interesting read to to snatch out of a life of the the crime and then proceed A. She’s a hoot. She em- roles? her baby theater to do television. It to show how she solved it, Q. Did it seem like MGM bodies so many of the things A. Oh, unquestionably. brothers. we are seeing at the present deprives one of so much. You which was the interesting didn’t really know what to Unquestionably. You must time, the place that the wives go into this world of televi- part of the equation. do you with you since they understand, I’m 86, I’m today In history sion, which is literally a 24- never gave you the star of the candidates take in the still working full blast in By The AssociATed Press election. You do see them try- hour job. There’s no time off, Q. You were only 18 when buildup? the theater. You can’t say ing to help their husbands, unlike the theater. you came to MGM in 1944 A. They didn’t know what I would ever be given that Today is Monday, April 2, hanging very close and look- and made “Gaslight.” Was to do with me. I defied being opportunity in movies, the 93rd day of 2012. There ing longingly at their spous- Q. One thing with “Murder, Hollywood pretty much slotted as a performer for my would I? What parts? There are 273 days left in the year. es while they’re talking. This She Wrote” – did it ever what you expected? entire career. I was able to do aren’t any that I would On April 2, 1912, the just- woman that I play certainly strike you as funny that A. Not really. I was for- too many different things. At want to play. The theater completed RMS Titanic left encourages this and says it’s you would never want to tunate enough to start in a the base of it was that I was a is a wonderful, wonder- Belfast to begin its sea trials terribly important, and that go anywhere with Jessica very important movie. It was young character actress from ful platform for actors of eight days before the start of the women are the power be- Fletcher, because there was a stunning lesson in how to a very young age. I didn’t all ages. So there’s no limit its ill-fated maiden voyage. hind the men and must be always a chance of ending work in the movie medium want to play myself. I didn’t to how long I can continue In 1513, Spanish explorer represented in all things po- up murdered? for a young actress who was really know who I was at that acting if I work in the the- Juan Ponce de Leon landed litical. It’s true but a little hu- A. (Laughs.) That’s the trained to be able to char- point, I was much too young ater. in present-day Florida. In 1800, Ludwig van Beethoven premiered his Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21, in Vienna. ON TV TONIGHT Brought To You By www.fpb.cc 352-4372 In 1917, President Wood- row Wilson asked Congress to MONDAY EVENING APRIL 2, 2012 TUESDAYdeclare war EVENING against Germa- APRIL 3, 2012 6:00 6:30 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 ny, saying,6:00 “The world 6:30 must 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 Wave 3 News at NBC Nightly News WAVE 3 News at WAVE 3 News The Voice “Live Performance, Week 1” Vocalists from two teams compete. 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