I don’t know who you are .. but I LOVE you! I have been looking for video evidence of this tour d’force performance since I first witnessed it on Broadway. It was the GREATEST nights I EVER spent in the theatre! A MASTER CLASS in acting. For THIS and all your generosity- THANK YOU
Hear Hear! I saw it on Bdwy too. Twice in fact. Unfortunately the second time was a Wednesday matinee when Ms. Smith was out. Her replacement was a thoroughly decent carbon copy, but the whole experience was a lesson in witnessing the difference between a "decent carbon copy" and a powerhouse. Margaret Tyzak, however, was there and made up for it.
I saw this show from the last row of the theater, and it was like sitting in the first row. Same as A Chorus Line. Will never forget the experience, she was simply amazing.
My late husband and I made a number of trips to London over the years and always tried to catch 'Maggie' in a show. This was without a doubt our favorite...made all the more so because, as an 'I, Claudius' fan adding Margaret Tyzak to the mix and I was in fan heaven! Thanks for this wonderful memory
I love Margaret Tyzack, too. She was amazing as Winifred in The Foryste Saga and as Cousin Bette. It was thrilling to see her onstage with Maggie Smith!
I saw Dame Maggie perform this role back in the 80s at the Globe Theatre in London. What a fantastic comical performance it was! Love, love, LOVE her ... what a great loss to the world. RIP Dame Maggie and thank you for the laughs and tears.
Dame Maggie earned that Tony Award, she had a wonderfully natural comic timing, that would take most actors decades to learn to keep fresh and her passing makes it almost bittersweet but a lovely tribute none the less.
I was fortunate to see this brilliant play on Broadway. The laughs were almost continuous, and it remains one of my most memorable nights at the theatre. Thank you for sharing.
My two favourite actresses were Margaret Tyzack and Maggie Smith. At least we are left some glimpses of them both for they are irreplaceable, national and international treasures both.
Thank you for posting. I have always wished there to be an opportunity to see Dame Maggie’s hilarious turn in this in full. One of my great regrets that I did not get to see it in person. Bravo!
Saw this play as an usher in high school and was absolutely captivated. I dreamed what it would be like to see Dame Maggie perform in it. Thank you for this footage, you can’t know how thrilled I was to get this notification
I recall saying and thinking at the time that the second act was “toss away” - that first act was so brilliant and her performance STELLAR that the second act couldn’t sustain the level. I remember every moment of the first act, but nary a bit of the second (cat, protest, roommates!?) Would LOVE to find the whole performance, this is such a GIFT and joy!
This is wonderful to see again. Saw the play in London......hysterically funny and the great Maggie Smith was just brilliant. Thank you for uploading this clip......I loved it.
thank you for reminding us how marvelous Dame Maggie was on stage and nice to see a different clip than the one on the Tony awards which was also priceless. I would love to see this whole play.
Like others lucky enough to have since the show live, I'm astounded and delighted to find that a record of the tour-de-force first scene exists, and how close it is to my memory of Dame Maggie's wonderful performance. Thank you so much for uploading it!
Thank you soooo much ! In fact, I never saw the play at the Globe ( I was a student then, in France, and I had never heard of Maggie in my country) but I saw Dame Maggie doing that monologue in 2017, at the NT in London. There was a special event honouring the late Peter Shaffer, and many great actors attended, doing some small bits of roles they had got in PS's plays. It was a VIP event, with a cocktail, but the NT didn't use the Gallery for these guests and they decided to open it to the public : you just had to send an email... I did, and got a ticket for free. I wondered if Maggie would attend and would do something (she hadn't returned to the stage since 2007). She did. And it was this monologue... It was marvellous and so moving. In 2017, she still had the energy, the gestures, the body of a much younger actress (things certainly changed in 2023, or 2022, as she apparently got very ill then) and had us in stitches... It was nice to see her, 2 years later, in "A German Life", but I would have loved to see her in a comedy again... Thank you very much for that video, I will treasure it.
I was fortunate to see this in 1990 on Broadway. This is without a doubt the best performance by a leading actress of all of the many shows I've attended. Bravo, Dame Maggie. You are missed!
I saw Dame Maggie playing this in London. Divinely funny, as she veered from the defiant to the fearful. I remember standing at the bar during the first interval, still laughing.
But she played it differently..."Judged?! Hailed to judgement?! " Bristling like Mary Queen of Scots at her trial...and then, crumpling completely in fear, to herself ... "Oh dear..."
Had to return to see the show the times, as Maggie Smith was off ill and Geraldine McEwan played her part in her absence. She was back on by the third attempt, but I was very glad I got to see them both, as they were very two different performances.
Oh, how I wish I could have seen this! The 2 great Maggies, Smith and Tyzack. I did, gratefully, get to see Maggie Smith on Broadway in Tom Stoppard's "Night and Day," in which she did a 'nude scene'--sort of. Not really. But they had us going for a moment. I vividly remember the stupefied hush that fell over the audience.
As you must know from many decades ago the NYC library keeps a copy of all Broadway shows. The problem is that they are not available for everybody: You must ask for permission wo watch it and they only green light it for some specific reasons (writing an autobiography, producers making a film version and checking the original material, a new Broadway production so they can compare now and then, etc) I think they are shot with a single camera. I don´t know if there is a matter of rights too
Actually, I believe you can now watch videos at Theater on Film and Tape just by having a library card. And the vast majority of their videos are multi-camera shoots. But you do have to come to NY and the library at Lincoln Center to view them.
If I remember well, there was a revival a few years ago, with F. Kendal...Don't know if it was successful, but I read that Schaffer wrote the part FOR Maggie
I had the luck to see the show in New York. I was even in the first row, so I got to know Maggie Smith's shoes very well. It was supposed to tour with Vanessa Redgrave, but they couldn't guarantee her safety because of her political views; actually, if it couldn't have been Maggie Smith, Gwen Verdon would have been better.
Thank heaven's someone captured this!!!
I don’t know who you are .. but I LOVE you! I have been looking for video evidence of this tour d’force performance since I first witnessed it on Broadway. It was the GREATEST nights I EVER spent in the theatre! A MASTER CLASS in acting. For THIS and all your generosity- THANK YOU
Hear Hear! I saw it on Bdwy too. Twice in fact. Unfortunately the second time was a Wednesday matinee when Ms. Smith was out. Her replacement was a thoroughly decent carbon copy, but the whole experience was a lesson in witnessing the difference between a "decent carbon copy" and a powerhouse. Margaret Tyzak, however, was there and made up for it.
I saw this show from the last row of the theater, and it was like sitting in the first row. Same as A Chorus Line.
Will never forget the experience, she was simply amazing.
My late husband and I made a number of trips to London over the years and always tried to catch 'Maggie' in a show. This was without a doubt our favorite...made all the more so because, as an 'I, Claudius' fan adding Margaret Tyzak to the mix and I was in fan heaven! Thanks for this wonderful memory
I love Margaret Tyzack, too. She was amazing as Winifred in The Foryste Saga and as Cousin Bette. It was thrilling to see her onstage with Maggie Smith!
I have never seen this. A masterclass in timing. The greatest actor of her generation.
I saw Dame Maggie perform this role back in the 80s at the Globe Theatre in London. What a fantastic comical performance it was! Love, love, LOVE her ... what a great loss to the world. RIP Dame Maggie and thank you for the laughs and tears.
Never knew there was a video of this, and I am so glad to see even a bit of it. A brilliantly funny actress, and a wonderful woman. Rip.
ua-cam.com/video/C7V3-EIAt-s/v-deo.html
I've been waiting 34 years to hear this again. THANK YOU
Dame Maggie earned that Tony Award, she had a wonderfully natural comic timing, that would take most actors decades to learn to keep fresh and her passing makes it almost bittersweet but a lovely tribute none the less.
I was fortunate to see this brilliant play on Broadway. The laughs were almost continuous, and it remains one of my most memorable nights at the theatre. Thank you for sharing.
My two favourite actresses were Margaret Tyzack and Maggie Smith. At least we are left some glimpses of them both for they are irreplaceable, national and international treasures both.
I worked with Margaret Tyzack's sister Marion in the mid 80's.
Saw this in 1990. Thank you for this memory.
I'm so grateful to have seen this great lady in action on Broadway What a treat RIP
Thank you for posting. I have always wished there to be an opportunity to see Dame Maggie’s hilarious turn in this in full. One of my great regrets that I did not get to see it in person. Bravo!
Saw this play as an usher in high school and was absolutely captivated. I dreamed what it would be like to see Dame Maggie perform in it. Thank you for this footage, you can’t know how thrilled I was to get this notification
Such a lovely performance to watch now that she is gone, thank you, Aurora, the best as always!
This opening scene was so chaotic I can only imagine what the rest of the play was like. Brilliant!
I recall saying and thinking at the time that the second act was “toss away” - that first act was so brilliant and her performance STELLAR that the second act couldn’t sustain the level. I remember every moment of the first act, but nary a bit of the second (cat, protest, roommates!?) Would LOVE to find the whole performance, this is such a GIFT and joy!
This is wonderful to see again. Saw the play in London......hysterically funny and the great Maggie Smith was just brilliant. Thank you for uploading this clip......I loved it.
Her comic timing and wit was some of the most unrivaled stuff I've seen, ever. Thank you for everything, Dame Maggie.
thank you for reminding us how marvelous Dame Maggie was on stage and nice to see a different clip than the one on the Tony awards which was also priceless. I would love to see this whole play.
Like others lucky enough to have since the show live, I'm astounded and delighted to find that a record of the tour-de-force first scene exists, and how close it is to my memory of Dame Maggie's wonderful performance.
Thank you so much for uploading it!
Thank you for all the Wonderful Memories Dame Maggie Smith.
We'll all Miss you...
Brings back wonderful memories. Thank you, auroraspiderwoman!
The world is poorer without Dame Maggie.
Thank you soooo much ! In fact, I never saw the play at the Globe ( I was a student then, in France, and I had never heard of Maggie in my country) but I saw Dame Maggie doing that monologue in 2017, at the NT in London. There was a special event honouring the late Peter Shaffer, and many great actors attended, doing some small bits of roles they had got in PS's plays. It was a VIP event, with a cocktail, but the NT didn't use the Gallery for these guests and they decided to open it to the public : you just had to send an email... I did, and got a ticket for free. I wondered if Maggie would attend and would do something (she hadn't returned to the stage since 2007). She did. And it was this monologue... It was marvellous and so moving. In 2017, she still had the energy, the gestures, the body of a much younger actress (things certainly changed in 2023, or 2022, as she apparently got very ill then) and had us in stitches... It was nice to see her, 2 years later, in "A German Life", but I would have loved to see her in a comedy again... Thank you very much for that video, I will treasure it.
I was fortunate to see this in 1990 on Broadway. This is without a doubt the best performance by a leading actress of all of the many shows I've attended. Bravo, Dame Maggie. You are missed!
How WONDERFUL so see this captured!
I saw Dame Maggie playing this in London. Divinely funny, as she veered from the defiant to the fearful. I remember standing at the bar during the first interval, still laughing.
But she played it differently..."Judged?! Hailed to judgement?! " Bristling like Mary Queen of Scots at her trial...and then, crumpling completely in fear, to herself ... "Oh dear..."
You are the best, Aurora!
Thank you so much for the share, you are always such a kind person.
I saw this. Im 81 I remember it well!
One of my favourite nights at the theatre!
Had to return to see the show the times, as Maggie Smith was off ill and Geraldine McEwan played her part in her absence. She was back on by the third attempt, but I was very glad I got to see them both, as they were very two different performances.
Thank you so very much for this
Best thing she ever did! A tour de force!!
Thank you for this.
Oh, how I wish I could have seen this! The 2 great Maggies, Smith and Tyzack. I did, gratefully, get to see Maggie Smith on Broadway in Tom Stoppard's "Night and Day," in which she did a 'nude scene'--sort of. Not really. But they had us going for a moment. I vividly remember the stupefied hush that fell over the audience.
This is priceless. I’d often wondered what Jean Brodie might have done after leaving Marcia Blaine. This gives me some idea…
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you, very much.
Anyone who saw Lettice and Lovage has to remember, "Pam-tititi-pam!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was so hoping you would post something from this when I heard the news. Thank you!
Kenneth Williams is going to be welcoming her in comedy heaven ❤❤🎭RIP DMS
Thank you so much for posting this.
🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻💜
Every line delivery of her’s is perfect, but there’s something about that “by a fall, I rise”, that makes it impossible for me to stifle a laugh!
Thank you thank you thank you, please is there more from the show, love to see it.
She had the best comic timing.
As you must know from many decades ago the NYC library keeps a copy of all Broadway shows. The problem is that they are not available for everybody: You must ask for permission wo watch it and they only green light it for some specific reasons (writing an autobiography, producers making a film version and checking the original material, a new Broadway production so they can compare now and then, etc) I think they are shot with a single camera.
I don´t know if there is a matter of rights too
Actually, I believe you can now watch videos at Theater on Film and Tape just by having a library card. And the vast majority of their videos are multi-camera shoots. But you do have to come to NY and the library at Lincoln Center to view them.
An oddly underperformed wonderful play. I would love to see Imelda Staunton in the role, or Penelope Wilton.
If I remember well, there was a revival a few years ago, with F. Kendal...Don't know if it was successful, but I read that Schaffer wrote the part FOR Maggie
@@carof7529 He did. It wasn't the first part he wrote for her.
@@jonsampiro Yes, : Black Comedy !
This exists??!!
I had the luck to see the show in New York. I was even in the first row, so I got to know Maggie Smith's shoes very well. It was supposed to tour with Vanessa Redgrave, but they couldn't guarantee her safety because of her political views; actually, if it couldn't have been Maggie Smith, Gwen Verdon would have been better.
I can see Gwen Verdon playing this, but I can’t think of anything she did that wasn’t a musical. Did she do non-musicals?