‘Diana’ star Judy Kaye talks Broadway shutdown, Queen Elizabeth

April 27, 2020


Actors know the show must go on. But how about when the show mustn’t go on.

Previewing in Broadway’s Longacre was “Diana.” The musical glorifying the late Princess of Wales — the first Mrs. HRH Charles the future King of England, mother of Princes William and Harry, coulda woulda been mother-in-law of me-me-me-Meghan.

The opening March 31 wasn’t. Instead CV shut life upon the wicked stage. In a pandemic coup Jeanna de Waal as Diana in 38 costumes, Roe Hartrampf playing a semi-naked Charles, the whole cast plus all of Broadway were closed out.

Uneasy lies the head that wears a tiara. The Shuberts just reopened backstage quick-time with security so cast and crew could retrieve personal belongings. Alone, de Waal, quarantined with her parents in New Jersey, could not go.

Two-time Tony winner Judy Kaye playing the queen: “Grabbing what we could, our company of 16 was sent home abruptly with nothing in which to carry anything. We’d had performances that night. No time to collect even our tchotchkes. My dressing room fridge had yogurt, cheese, the unsweetened red cherry juice I’d drink daily to help inflammation.

“Also there was champagne, four cartons of opening night mugs with the Queen of England crest and, of course, my 10 changes and wig. I’d studied Queen Elizabeth’s posh plummy royal dialect, watched Olivia Colman and newsreels. I’d learned she loved Diana. It was two years prepping, testing in La Jolla, had eight new songs and standing ovations. Look, I’d even left my script behind.

“Some say it’ll be removing seats, doubling prices, using magnetometers, reopening June 7. Others say not until fall. We’re trying to keep our juices together and staying in touch via texting and Zoom.

“I’ve got a husband, Ulster County home and pensions. I’m OK. But kids who’ve saved their pennies, were trying to make it and this was their debut — I feel sorry for them.”

Louie’s mall

Fashion: Bergdorf’s, the shopper’s Statue of Liberty, owned by Neiman Marcus, could go splat. Rumor’s a buyer could be cashier Bernard Arnault whose Paris-based LVMH stands for Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy. It already owns Vuitton, Dior, Fendi, Sephora, Givenchy, Tiffany and almost every biggie glittery candy store this side of Canal Street.

And around the world: India. Government’s dispensing money and food. All’s closed until May 3. CV’s not in small villages. It’s in big cities like Mumbai where people can’t go out but cows still amble down the streets.

Once a king, always a king

TV: Angus Macfadyen played Robert the Bruce in Mel Gibson’s “Braveheart” 25 years ago. he’s back with more of that 14th century same-name outlaw-king battling England, failing, running, hiding, rescuing, struggling for Scotland.

Locations for this “Robert the Bruce” were the Highlands, Glencoe, Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle, but Scotland was filmed mostly in Montana. Producer: Angus Macfadyen. Screenplay: Angus Macfadyen. Star: Angus Macfadyen.

He’d like a nice quote from Mel Gibson. Yeah, right. Does Mel Gibson give nice quotes?

Good luck. Macfadyen’s film is streaming now.

Booking it

And now “beach read” novels come in May like Barbara Delinsky’s “A Week at the Shore” (19th), Nora Roberts’ “Hideaway” (26th) and Mary Kay Andrews’ “Hello, Summer” (5th). No traditional bookstore tour, but she’s doing a weekly Facebook Live hour. A “virtual author events” series hosted by online bookstores.


From a good old sport: I remember those old days when we had the Brooklyn Dodgers, and they then were losing their games three hours earlier.”

Only muttered in New York, kids, only in New York.

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