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AL: “I think I’m not really a
singer; I make singing sounds,
but I am an actress who sings. I’m
more interested in the lyric, and
the scene that I am playing in the
song, than I am in the noises my
voice is making. I do try to make
it as pleasant as possible, though.
Learning the music took weeks of
the most concentrated work, and
then we did seven shows a week.
It’s interesting how one’s vocal
equipment can take a beating,
providing you look after it and
lead a boring existence. You
become like an athlete, and as No one ever seemed to drop
long as you don’t catch a cold “Jessica Fletcher” from their
you’re all right.” invitation list, even though
murders kept coming her way
DBJ: “What is it that attracts you every week in Murder, She As the voice of “Mrs. Potts” (a teapot, of
Lansbury onstage with her to a role?” Wrote, from 1984-1996. course) in Disney’s animated Beauty and the
Sweeney Todd co-star Len Cariou. Beast (1991), Angela introduced the title song
AL: “I and added a younger generation to her legion
look for a real character, on the paper. It has of fans. Her character was immortalized in
to be written; if it isn’t there, it’s hard to pump numerous collectibles, including as the
narrator for a Little Golden Book
life into it. I look for a good story, and a plot retelling of the “tale as old as time.”
that is interesting, characters that make sense.”

DBJ: “Tell me about Murder, She Wrote.” Madame Rosa in London, and if the
show is a success, then I may play the
AL: “It’s an original theme developed by the leading role in New York. Of course,
writers of “Columbo,” and produced by Peter that depends on the TV series.”
Fischer, who’s had a tremendous success with [NOTE: Sunset Boulevard eventually
TV series. I feel that I’m in wonderful hands. did make it to Broadway, but with music
The main character is a lady of my age who by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Glenn
writes best-selling mysteries, and she has a Close in the lead. And, as “Murder, She
natural bent for murder! I’m very excited Wrote” became a long-running hit,
about it!” Madame Rosa remained an unrealized
dream.]
DBJ: “Do you have any Broadway shows
coming up? How about the proposed musical DBJ: “One other question: have there
version of Sunset Boulevard?” ever been roles that you really wanted
and missed out on?”
AL: “Sunset Boulevard has been put on a very
back burner, because nobody has been able to AL: “I think there were a few in
figure a way to do it. Steve Sondheim, who movies, and I can’t even remember
was going to write the music and lyrics, said ‘I what they were, but I know that I
can only see this as an opera,’ and Hal Prince, longed to play the woman who got to
having lost his composer, didn’t really know wear the lovely clothes, and I never got
in which direction to go. So, we decided that to for years and years. But I can’t put my
it was such a wonderful announcement in the finger on any particularly spectacular
first place, that we could never top it. There is job that I missed out on. I don’t have
a possibility that Hal will direct a musical too many regrets.”
version of the Simone Signoret movie
A prized souvenir of an And with that, our interview regretfully
unforgettable interview with came to its conclusion. I’d brought along
Angela Lansbury: an autographed a window card from the Gypsy revival
Gypsy window card. Angela had starred in on Broadway, and
asked her if she’d sign it. Angela graciously
did so, and asked if I’d enjoyed the show
(you can imagine my answer!). With a brisk handshake, and an “I’ve had
a perfectly marvelous time,” Angela Lansbury was on her way … to even
greater acclaim as the 12-season star of Murder, She Wrote.
______________________________________________________

Photo Associate: Hank Kuhlmann
Donald-Brian Johnson is the co-author of numerous books on design and
collectibles, including Postwar Pop, a collection of his columns. He’s had
the wonderful opportunity to interview many stars of stage and screen.
You could even solve “murders” on your own, with the Please address inquiries to: donaldbrian@msn.com
at-home board game version of Murder, She Wrote.

36 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles