Collins / Evans "Legends" - anyone ever see this?

[David10086]

I recall twelve years ago former "Dynasty" stars Linda Evans and Joan Collins reunited for an ill-fated run of "Legends" (originally staged in the mid-80s with Carol Channing and Mary Martin). The tour was to start in 2006 and make it's way to Broadway in the 2007-08 season, which it never did.

I know Collins kept a diary which was eventually posted on-line in which she said she would never work with Evans again - they didn't get along off-stage or on-stage and blamed Evans for most of everything which went wrong on the tour and why it got bad reviews.

My question: Did anyone here ever see the show on tour, and what were your thoughts?

My question #2: Did anyone see the original with Channing and Martin? 

My question #3: Is it good enough (or bad enough) to ever be revived, and with who in the leads? Does it need to be a 'star name' vehicle to survive? 

[markypoo]

I saw both.
The two experiences combined amazingly enough failed to kill me off.

[David10086]

markypoo said: "I saw both.
The two experiences combined amazingly enough failed to kill me off."

Uh-oh! 

[Tag]

I saw it, but honestly couldn't tell you much about it.  The novelty of seeing Collins and Evans, was for most, good enough, regardless of whether the show was.

I vaguely recall (but could be wrong!) that most of the staged fighting happened upstage on a balcony and out of sight, which was a letdown.

Interestingly, Joe Farrell was in the cast, and at the time he was (somewhat) known as the host of the Trading Spaces Family version.  Which was a hot property at the time.

[David10086]

One of Collins major complaints was the physical fighting between the two - Evans didn't know how to 'stage fight'. Instead, she really fought tooth and nail - injuring Collins a number of times. Wish I saw this when it was on tour. I wonder if Collins will ever do Broadway again? 

[Dollypop]

Saw the Channing/Martin version. It was dreadful.

Read both versions of the script. They were dreadful.

Just let this bad idea die!

[bdboston]

I saw "Legends" when it played the Shubert Theater in Boston. We didn't go in expecting much, and ended up really having fun. It was fluff, but somewhat of an event given the two stars. I always enjoyed Joan Collins, but it was a treat seeing her live on stage. You could instantly tell she was the stronger of the two and had the theatrical chops: great comedic timing, natural stage presence, etc. (I would have loved to have seen her in the Carol Burnett role in London's re-working of 'Moon Over Buffalo' ). Linda Evans seemed more comfortable in a filmed setting. Joan was clearly having fun; Linda was clearly working at it. The maid, "Aretha," was a riot during the stripper scene (as was Joan). Sure, the cat-fight/pillow-fight was a bit of a let-down (it was almost as if they were doing it in slow motion) and the dialogue a bit cheesy, but the audience ate it up; I recall the show sold very well here. Glad I saw it.

[muscle23ftl]

It was a treat, I had to see it twice. Both stars were glamorous, wearing great gowns, the physical fight was hilarious, the whole play flew by and it was funny and witty and bitchy. The interview they both did on Larry King Live was legendary also. Linda is such a sweet woman, Joan also was great in this...both women looked amazing in it and I feel that both were great stage actresses.

[GavestonPS]

Let us not forget playwright James Kirkwood's delicious non-fiction account of the original production: Diary of a Mad Playwright: Perilous Adventures on the Road with Mary Martin and Carol Channing.

The play has always sounded to my ear like dinner theater, but I love Jimmy's account of the disaster that ensued. Kirkwood (also co-librettist of A Chorus Line) was a lovely man; his play may not have deserved better, but he certainly did.

[David10086]

I've ordered his book via the library where I work. I am looking forward to reading this. 

[kevinr]

I saw the show in Toronto and enjoyed it mainly because I was a fan of "Dynasty".  The fighting happened basically centre stage as much as I recall of it.  I met both actresses at the stage door.  Linda Evans literally was out the door 5 minutes after the curtain call. Joan Collins came out with her husband and assistant.  I was able to get a photo with both and my program signed.  If anyone is interested, I do have a couple of extra playbills of the show that I can send you for $6.....to include the envelope and mailing from Canada.

[Rypm25]

I saw this when it came through Hartford here at the Bushnell. Agreeing with many of the comments above. It was fluff, but fun to see the two on stage. When it was bitchy it was awesome, but a lot of the jokes were lame. The fight mostly happened offstage on a balcony. Joan Collins was hands down the stronger of the two on stage. I remember enjoying the second act more, and the scene with the pot brownies was quite funny. The audience also ate the show up.

[ArtMan]

kevinr said: "I saw the show in Toronto and enjoyed it mainly because I was a fan of "Dynasty". The fighting happened basically centre stage as much as I recall of it. I met both actresses at the stage door. Linda Evans literally was out the door 5 minutes after the curtain call. Joan Collins came out with her husband and assistant. I was able to get a photo with both and my program signed. If anyone is interested, I do have a couple of extra playbills of the show that I can send you for $6.....to include the envelope and mailing from Canada."

kevinr, As a huge Dynasty fan, I am so jealous.  I never had an opportunity with Linda and was about 15 feet away from Joan at the Golden Globes (no picture though).

[ArtMan]

double post

[kevinr]

When Linda Evans came out the stage door she was alone (there were only 4 or 5 people waiting). She was nice, chatted,  signed for everyone, and took the photo with me (no one else asked).   When Joan Collins came out the door she was with her husband and assistant.  The assistant was holding an umbrella over her head as there were a few drops of rain (nothing major).  She signed for everyone.  I asked for the photo with her and she said yes.  I asked her husband to take the photo but Joan said no, "My husband doesn't take photos".  Then I asked the assistant but Joan said, "No, she needs to hold the umbrella so I don't get any drops on me."  Anyway - one of the other people standing there took it (as I was by myself) and it turned out great.  A bit of an ordeal compared to Linda Evans, but nevertheless, she did agree to the photo and could easily have just  said no.  That's the story!

[ArtMan]

Great story.  I can just imagine her saying those comments to you.

[ChgoTheatreGuy]

I saw the show when it played in Chicago, also being a huge "Dynasty" fan, I really wanted to see Linda Evans and Joan Collins.  I remember being very excited that we were sitting very close to the stage and then regretting soon after the play began.  Joan Collins came out on stage and looked amazing, then Linda Evans came out and looked like her very older sister.  The play itself was not anything to write home about.  Parts of the play were funny, parts very contrived, but I can understand while this never hit the Great White Way.  At least I can say that I saw them both live in person.

[David10086]

Thank you all for sharing your memories. I wish I had the chance to see the show - but I was busy watching other Broadway shows at the time...

I do recall being in NY when Collins did her very short run in "Private Lives" back in 1992. I went by the theater after she did a matinee, and there was a small crowd outside the stage door with mostly women holding 'Dynasty' memorabilia in their hands (those big coffee table books that were popular then). I guess she came out just when I was nearing the theater (though I didn't see her) because this crowd suddenly started chanting "Alexis Colby!' and started applauding. I remember that like it was yesterday - and I also remember it was very cold out that day. 

[VernonGersch]

Fairly certain I saw the first preview of the show, ever, up in Toronto.

The show was a horrid mess - terribly written, camp without a knowing wink and horribly directed.  It was so much fun watching this hot mess of a play.

The theater was filled with their alta kaka subscription base who I don't think appreciated the sheer awfulness of the entire thing

Pretty certain there were times we were the only people laughing at the theater.

[ABitOnTheSide]

Being a huge Dynasty fan, I had to see this show twice in Philadelphia. I really don't remember anything about it except for being enamored with Joan Collins. I got to meet Linda and Joan after the show, get their autographs, and get a picture with me and Joan! What a memorable night - the parts after the show I meant.

I've never been a big Linda Evans fan and never understood how she got famous. I couldn't help but wonder if Legends would have been a bigger hit with Miss Dominique Devereaux herself, Diahann Carroll, opposite Joan Collins. Now THAT I'd see.

[newintown]

I saw it toward the end of its (abbreviated) run. Collins seemed more of an actress, in that she brought a semblance of life to her performance, but she was just playing "Joan Collins," who has little in common with the character. She was also rather ought of shape. Evans looked great, but the way a scarecrow in a great wig and beautiful clothes would look great. And she didn't even try to act. I couldn't imagine anyone thinking the play was remotely funny; the actor in the Gary Beach role got not a single laugh, and the maid and stripper characters were racist stereotypes.

We heard that Collins and Evans would not a) travel together, b) stay in the same hotel, or c) do press together.

This was one that was intermittently "so bad it was fun," but only intermittently.

[David10086]

ABitOnTheSide said: " I couldn't help but wonder if Legends would have been a bigger hit with Miss Dominique Devereaux herself, Diahann Carroll, opposite Joan Collins. Now THAT I'd see."

THAT would have been wonderful, though I doubt Collins would have shared the stage with Carroll, as Carroll was indeed a theater actress, and would have stolen the play from Collins.

It's a wonder why Collins and Carroll never did more projects on Broadway. I think they were 'marquee names' which could have brought in a tourist crowd. (Although, IIRC, Collins was one of the 'names' on the long list of celebrities ALW considered for 'Sunset Boulevard' after Buckley). 

[CarlosAlberto]

I would have payed top dolllar to see Joan Collins massacre the score of “Sunset Boulevard”. That would have been sheer heaven!

[David10086]

She would have looked the part, but her singing? Yikes! ALW was desperate to keep this floating at the time - Collins was a name, 

[Steve C.]

Well, this sure looks like it is/was a camp fest; this is a 10 minute clip from Boston. (About 3 minutes of audio are edited out I guess due to music rights) It's pretty easy to see that Joan is definitely the "professional actor" on stage...

https://youtu.be/0xqzor2jnuQ

I think Joan Collins is still infinitely watchable in about almost anything. She can go from stage, tv, movies; whether it's the fluffy campy things like this, or the Carrie Fisher "Old Broads" or the nifty cameos like Potiphar in "Joseph/Dreamcoat". She did some nice work at 20th/Fox; she makes "The Girl In The Red Velvet Swing" playing Evelyn Nesbitt quite mesmerizing and sensuous, driving Ray Milland girl crazy, and the score for that movie is so very sexy too. In "Sea Wife" with Richard Burton...another great role.

And she remains a great Dame and humanitarian. It will be interesting to see her in the new American Horror Story: Apocalypse ; Jessica Lange, Billy Porter and the RM regulars. The trailer for that is typically gross...

https://youtu.be/YqRKkUqrN6E