How wonderful it is to have this performance by the great Sian Phillips so beautifully recorded on film! What a truly beautiful Madame Armfelt. As you watch her so senselessly taking off her gloves, you certainly understand why that duke deeded her that duchy.
In January of 1996, seated first row centre, in one of the the NT theatres, my partner and l saw Ms Phillips and Dame Judi Dench in the play. Dench, of course, was as always, fine, though not as good as Jean Simmons had been 20-odd years earlier in the West End transfer of the original production. But Phillips...she was sublime. First of all in person she is a great beauty. Secondly, her take on the role, though different from what l had seen Gingold and Margaret Hamilton and Lila Kedrova (l have seen now six productions, l love the show) was the only one, before or since, where Mme Armfeldt was truly sexy! A few years later we saw her almost-one woman show of Pam Gems' "Marlene" in which she was brilliant and unforgettable. A truly great performer. No wonder Peter O'Toole called her the love if his life.
i saw that particular production, a somewhat idiosyncratic staging designed and directed by isaac mizrahi that set the whole thing in a quasi midsummer night's dream woodland. still, phillips was very fine in it.
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How wonderful it is to have this performance by the great Sian Phillips so beautifully recorded on film! What a truly beautiful Madame Armfelt. As you watch her so senselessly taking off her gloves, you certainly understand why that duke deeded her that duchy.
In January of 1996, seated first row centre, in one of the the NT theatres, my partner and l saw Ms Phillips and Dame Judi Dench in the play. Dench, of course, was as always, fine, though not as good as Jean Simmons had been 20-odd years earlier in the West End transfer of the original production. But Phillips...she was sublime. First of all in person she is a great beauty. Secondly, her take on the role, though different from what l had seen Gingold and Margaret Hamilton and Lila Kedrova (l have seen now six productions, l love the show) was the only one, before or since, where Mme Armfeldt was truly sexy!
A few years later we saw her almost-one woman show of Pam Gems' "Marlene" in which she
was brilliant and unforgettable.
A truly great performer. No wonder Peter O'Toole called her the love if his life.
Her singing voice is strong!! And up until this moment I had not even known that Sian Phillips did musical theatre. Thanks for posting!! 🙂
The NT production was breath-taking from beginning to end!
She is a quite an elegant lady - and was amazing in I Claudius. I think she has both sung Desiree and Madame Armfeldt.
the best of em all !!!! I salute u madame….
she played this role in st. louis OTSL a ffew years ago. i found out the next year. i was heartbroken.
i saw that particular production, a somewhat idiosyncratic staging designed and directed by isaac mizrahi that set the whole thing in a quasi midsummer night's dream woodland. still, phillips was very fine in it.
she is loved !!!! legendary !!!!
Too many Benson & Hedges