I, as surely many of you, highly appreciate Frank Langella's acting. On a relatively recent Tavis Smiley show he mentioned that he would be playing a woman in an off-broadway play and that to play such a role will be the ultimate challenge for him. I have provided the relevant segment of the interview for you all as well as access to the entire interview for those who are interested. _____________________________________________________ Tavis Smiley Show: April, 2014 about playing a woman:
Langella: It starred a great actress of her time named Jill Van Fleet, and Im going to play her role. Im going to play a woman, because Ive always wanted to. Tavis: Youre going to play a woman? Langella: Yeah. We read it yesterday in New York quite successfully. Tavis: What do you mean when you say youve always wanted to? Langella: Ive always wanted to play a female, always. Tavis: Why? Langella: I cant explain it. Particularly this female in this play. I dont know, I just want its my job. Im an actor. So why shouldnt I investigate how I would present myself as a female, how Id move if I had breasts and that particular shape of hips and long hair. This particular woman is a powerful, strong, monster, really. Its not camp at all. Im not going to do a camp version. I want to inhabit that sensibility. Tavis: Obviously you think you can pull this off, having never done it before. Langella: Of course. (Laughter) Tavis: Of course. I only asked because you talked earlier about the challenge of Lear. This sounds to me like it might rival Lear in terms of challenge. Langella: Well yesterday we did a reading of the play in New York, and I said to the gathered investors and producers that I got together to see if they wanted to put money in it, I dont want your imaginations to be too challenged, so I put on a pearl necklace and earrings and painted my lips red. Even just that alone gave me such feeling of excitement and adventure where can I take this woman? Tavis: So - Langella: As opposed to Can I take this woman. (Laughter) Tavis: I will be in New York to see that. Langella: Good. Tavis: Yeah, I will not miss that. Langella: If we get the money. - - - - - - - - - - - - - Hope they obtained the funding--entire transcript and interview below: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/tavissmiley/interviews/frank-langella/ We are all so looking forward to seeing your portrayal of a woman on one of your psychfiles--and how it influenced your psyche and self-perception. Joan jwarm...@oakton.edu For a little more fun about men, high heels, and such, here's Gene > Weingarten (I'm a huge fan...he's funny and clever) from *Washington Post > Magazine*: > > http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/gene-weingarten-heel-boy/2014/12/04/655fe2de-74dd-11e4-bd1b-03009bd3e984_story.html > > Beth Benoit > Plymouth State University > Plymouth NH >> > >> > On Jan 1, 2015, at 6:14 PM, Michael Britt <mich...@thepsychfiles.com> >> > wrote: >> > >> >> I am going to play the lead in the musical La Cage Aux Folles this >> >> spring, which means Iâll be wearing high heals, wigs, dresses, fake >> >> boobs and lots of makeup. I expect I'll be gaining a new empathy and >> >> respect for what women go through on a daily basis. I mean, do you >> know >> >> how hard it is to do housework in high heels? I didn't know until >> >> recently... >> >> >> >> Any research on cross-dressing come to anyone's mind? I might as >> well >> >> make this a learning experience. What is it about women's clothing >> that >> >> some men find so appealing? >> >> >> >> >> >> Michael A. Britt, Ph.D. >> > >> > >> > --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: arch...@mail-archive.com. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=41388 or send a blank email to leave-41388-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
