Who’s ready for a curtain call?
Stranger Things actor David Harbour is the latest American star to wow British theatre audiences. MARION McMULLEN looks at other US performers who have shone on our shores
“I wasn’t born a fool. It took work to get this way,” Danny Kaye once joked.
The American entertainer was already a Hollywood star when he headed to Britain to appear at the London Palladium in 1948.
The royal family were among the audience and they enjoyed his performance so much they abandoned the theatre’s royal box to watch the show from the front row of the orchestra.
The future star of films like White Christmas, Hans Christian Andersen and The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty was promptly invited back to appear at the Royal Variety Performance later that same year and ended up appearing on the bill with the Crazy Gang, comedians Ted Ray and Arthur Askey and a 13-year-old singer called Julie Andrews.
Danny halted work on his movie The Inspector General to attend the royal show and over the years he became a firm favourite with British theatre audiences.
Stranger Things actor David Harbour is currently enjoying success on the London stage with Bill Pullman in new drama Mad House by Theresa Rebeck. They are the latest in a long line of American actors who have found themselves heading to British shores to stretch their acting muscles.
In 1958, film stars Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas had fun when they teamed up for a song and dance double act when they took part in the Palladium’s Night Of 100 Stars in aid of the Actors’ Orphanage.
Wizard Of Oz actress Judy Garland also shared the London stage with her daughter Liza Minnelli in 1964 for a repeat performance of their gala special Judy And Liza At The Palladium. The show was so popular it was filmed for television.
Liza, who went on to find fame in films like Cabaret and Arthur, later said: “It was no great tragedy being Judy Garland’s daughter. I had tremendously interesting childhood years – except they had little to do with being a child.”
Barbra Streisand arrived in London in 1966 bringing her Broadway hit Funny Girl to the West End about real life comedy star Fanny Brice.
Barbra, who later appeared in the film version of the show, said during her stay: “I love Lon
don. I’ve always wanted to have tea and cakes. I’ve had jellied eels and last Sunday I went to the East End for fish and chips.”
Flamboyant American pianist Liberace was mobbed when he appeared at the London Palladium in 1968 for a special one day performance.
“I don’t give concerts, I put on a show,” he once explained.
Oscar winner Jack Lemmon made his West End debut in 1986 with writer Eugene O’Neill’s award-winning drama Long Day’s Journey Into Night about a dysfunctional American family.
Jonathan Miller directed the London production, which ran at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket. It was also recorded for television and broadcast the following year.
Jack said of his acting: “If you really do want to be an actor who can satisfy himself and his audience, you need to be vulnerable.
“You must reach the emotional and intellectual level of ability where you can go out stark naked, emotionally, in front of an audience.”
American supermodel Jerry Hall made her West End debut in 1990 by following in Marilyn Monroe’s footsteps and appearing in a production of Bus
Stop at the Lyric Theatre.
Kill Bill and Blade Runner star Daryl Hannah also took on a Marilyn Monroe role when she appeared in The Seven Year Itch at the Queen’s Theatre in London, 22 years ago. The Chicago-born actress played the role of ‘The Girl’ – the character Marilyn played in the 1955 movie.
Meanwhile, American funnyman George Burns always vowed he would perform at the London Palladium when he was 100. He even said he had booked the famous theaDouble tre in advance – although Caesars Palace in Las Vegas also said he had a contract with them for his 100th birthday special.
George did indeed reach his centenary, but ill-health prevented him celebrating his milestone by performing on stage and he sadly passed away a couple of months after his birthday.
The star of The Sunshine Boys and the Oh, God comedy films never stopped loving appearing before an audience though and once advised: “Fall in love with what you do for a living. I don’t care what it is. It works.”