NEW YORK POST ..TUESDAY 29TH OCTOBER 2013..

Joan Collins dishes on London and lucky charms

By David Kaufman

October 29, 2013 | 8:25am

 

Joan Collins at a signing for her new book 'Passion For Life' in London Oct., 26, 2013

Photo: Getty Images

Over the course of her more than 60 years in show business, Joan Collins has practically done it all, seen it all and been everywhere. Now the London-born actress — best known as the devilish Alexis Carrington from “Dynasty” — is coming to New York, where she’ll headline the one-woman show “One Night With Joan” on Nov. 5 at Midtown’s B.B. King Blues Club & Grill (bbkingblues.com). The show — which Collins debuted in London — mixes dishy details about her celebrated career along with insidery anecdotes, vintage television and film footage and even an unusually personal question-and-answer session. Equally candid and humorous, Collins will reveal stories about her five marriages, her on-set tussles with the likes of Bette Davis and how she lost out on playing Cleopatra to sapphire-eyed Elizabeth Taylor. As she geared up to wow Gothamites, Collins spoke about her favorite hotels, her love of London parks and how Gregory Peck inspired her upcoming show.

I have a home in Los Angeles, but I still love the Beverly Hills Hotel, where I’ve gone since arriving in Hollywood as a young starlet (dorchestercollection.com). My sister (novelist Jackie Collins) and I love the Fountain Coffee Room, which is great for bacon and eggs in the morning. We also love The Polo Lounge.

In London, I just adore Claridge’s — which is one of the most elegant and beautifully run hotels in the world (claridges.co.uk). Fashion illustrator David Downton drew my portrait in the hotel’s Royal Suite back in 2011. It’s now part of Claridge’s permanent archives.

I live between four places — London, New York, Los Angeles and the south of France — so I seem to spend most of my time on a plane.

One of my favorite holiday spots has to be the south of France. I’ve been in love with this area since I first visited as a teenager — there is something very magical about the sky, the air and the food. The area around St. Tropez is wonderful, though I prefer the late spring or autumn once the crowds are gone.

When I fly, I am never without my wonderful charm necklace — which is long and crafted from gold and filled with 40-odd charms given to me by friends and family. I’ve had it for years and it has charms ranging from a horseshoe to the Eiffel Tower.

My secret London spot for rest and relaxation has to be St. James Park — which I think is divine. It’s close to Buckingham Palace and has the most wonderful flower-beds all year long (royalparks.org.uk).

It’s difficult to select one New York restaurant as my favorite, but I was just at Cipriani on Fifth Avenue and 59th Street the other day and really adore it (cipriani.com). Their baked tagliatelle is great and I love how I always see friends there. It feels almost like a club.

It was Gregory Peck who told me to do my stage show. About 15 years ago we were speaking about how roles dry up for women over 40, and he suggested I create my own show. I’m excited about doing it in New York — New York audiences just really seem to get it.

If Alexis Carrington was around today, I think you’d find her living between London and Paris. She probably would commute by Eurostar to avoid that ghastly experience known as commercial air travel (eurostar.com). Sadly, I’m not sure she could still afford a private plane, but one could only hope.

ONE NIGHT WITH JOAN ... AFRIDIZIAK THEATRE NEWS .. APRIL 18TH 2013...

I have never been a girl to make a huge effort with my appearance. For me pulling out the stops involves whacking on some mascara and hoping for the best. But tonight I board the Piccadilly line with my hair straightened, my eyes carefully lined and I have even gone to the extreme lengths of donning a dress. The reason? I have a date at Leicester Square Theatre. A glamorous evening of indulgence; One Night with Joan Collins and one does want to look one’s best.

As a showreel of Dynasty clips commences with an American voice over introducing ‘Superbitch Alexis Carrington’ it seems the evening will be a rather formulaic showcase of Collins’ best known role. That is until the immaculately groomed star totters onto the stage in impossibly high sliver stilettos declaring “Stop! There was so much before that!” to raucous applause. As a woman who appeared on the cover of playboy at the age of 50, Joan has never been one to stick to formula.

As a woman who appeared on the cover of playboy at the age of 50, Joan has never been one to stick to formula”

Dressed in black sequined trousers and a sheer black evening top Joan begins at the beginning. Giving us a glimpse into her earliest memories as part of the showbiz Collins family, Joan treats the audience to family photographs of herself as a tot at the seaside. Receiving her first review at three ‘Joan Collins makes the fairest fairy’ the road to stardom was already paved. Long before the shoulder pads of Dynasty or the famous swing scene in The Stud a fresh faced 17-year-old Collins signed a contract with J. Arthur Rank. But it was with 20th Century Fox that she shot to international fame starring in The Girl on the Red Velvet Swing. Labelled as ‘England’s answer to Ava Gardener’ Collin’s describes the glamorous party lifestyle of Hollywood’s golden age which came at a price.

As part of her contract Collin’s had to shoot various scantily clad ‘Turn ’em on poses’ and was instructed to lose eight pounds from her already slimline frame. Later on Joan describes the inherent ageism in Hollywood and her refusal to let her advancing years stop her playing the role of the desirable female. Joan’s incredible story is narrated by various stills and video clips which are meticulously composed by production designer Oliver Sones. We even steal a glance at Collin’s screen test for Cleopatra; a role she never played due to her refusal to ‘be nice’ to the producers. Joan’s phenomenal success without resorting to the casting couch is part of what makes her such a formidable and inspiring figure. Not one for bitterness, Joan cites several occasions where she was told candidly that she would never make it in ‘this town’ which she repeats with a knowing smile and subtle shrug of the shoulders.

The show is truly a one off and impossible to replicate. My night with Joan is one I will never forget.

Collins relives the most notable events in her life with good humour and a no nonsense finiteness. Currently on husband number five, each unsuccessful marriage is summarised with an offhand ‘and that was divorce number... ’ As Joan describes being a mother, moving from London to LA and accepting roles which ‘would stretch her as an actress’ (cue clip from Empire of the Ants) her upbeat self reliance and willingness to poke fun at herself shines through. There is plenty of name dropping, this is a woman who has worked with Richard Burton, was snubbed by Joan Crawford and lusted after by Gene Kelly. Her account of meeting ‘a rather nondescript blonde girl’ who turned out to be Marilyn Monroe resulted in some very sage advice. The evening feels strangely intimate and though scripted and neatly directed by husband Percy Gibson there is a genuine warmth from Collins as she delivers countless personal anecdotes and quotes from the biggest names in Hollywood history.

The evening was simply wonderful, an honest yet highly theatrical insight into the fascinating life of a woman who never played by anyone’s rules but her own. The show is truly a one off and impossible to replicate. My night with Joan is one I will never forget.

PINK WIRE .. APRIL 16TH 2013.. ONE NIGHT WITH JOAN REVIEW!

One Night With Joan - Theatre Review

Joan Collins is back and currently wowing critics and audience alike with her one woman show “One Night With Joan”, on for a very limited run at the Leicester Square Theatre.

In a two hour show that passed too quickly, this living legend regaled tales from her life, reminding us that whilst Alexis Carrington was the role she is mostly remembered for, she actually studied at RADA before being snapped up by and shipped off to Hollywood. But that was just the tip of the iceberg. This woman showed just why she has lasted so long in show-business.
She is not to be messed with – even the paps who were going overboard with their cameras met her stern side. “Click, click, click! Do you ever stop?” The paparazzi were quickly removed, much to the audience’s delight, who whooped and cheered her off-book rant. Don’t cross the woman who was “The Bitch” – she means business.

Giving a faultless and captivating performance, Joan’s personality shone through from the moment she ran on stage shouting at the stage-hand that it wasn’t the right time to be playing “that clip”, which happened to be the opening credits to Dynasty, to the end where she answered questions from the audience. She is so matter-of-fact and honest, you cannot help but be mesmerized by this woman who took on a chauvinistic, male dominated world in court in the 1980s – and won.

With countless quotes you wished you had thought of, such as “an Emmy nomination is like haemorrhoids – eventually every arsehole gets one”, this absolutely charming evening had the audience laughing so hard, tears rolled. Joan exudes personality, warmth and pep, and she has a natural gift for storytelling, something that was perfectly combined with a backdrop of pictures and clips from her past, family and career. And she is exquisitely beautiful, with skin as flawless as her performance. For someone who has been there, done that and wrote the book on it (several books actually), she has certainly perfected the secret of eternal beauty.

The audience were on their feet with not one, but two standing ovations, both entirely justified, and Joan’s wit, effervescence and ability to not take herself too seriously was as refreshing as a glass of Cinzano, as long as you didn’t end up wearing it, ala Ms Collins. Catch her while you can. I cannot recommend this highly enough.

Totally unmissable and utterly delightful.

“One Night with Joan” is on at the Leicester Square Theatre on Friday 26th-Sunday

DAILY EXPRESS ... APRIL 15TH 2013..

     

The stars come out to celebrate style queen Joan Collins

THE eternally glamorous Joan Collins showed that she’s still the queen of style and sophistication while posing back stage for photos following the opening night of her one woman show, One Night With Joan, in London’s West End.  Joan Collins poses back stage following the opening night of her show One Night With Joan

The remarkabe Joan Collins was able to call upon some friends in high places as Dempsey And Makepeace husband and wife stars Glynis Barber and Michael Brandon joined her and her husband Percy Gibson for a post-performance celebration...      

The show which documents the actress’s lengthy career is on again at the Leicester Square Theatre from April 26 to 28.

WEST END FRAME REVIEW : ONE NIGHT WITH JOAN .. APRIL 14TH 2013..

 

Review: One Night With Joan at the Leicester Square Theatre

                                                                       One Night With Joan

Leicester Square Theatre

Reviewed on Friday 12th April 2013 (Press Night)

Legendary Hollywood star Joan Collins has returned to London with her one woman show. One Night With Joan is a night like no other.

Perhaps Joan is most famous for starring in Dynasty (or as she calls it: Battle of the Shoulder Pads) but she doesn't speak about the show in much detail until the second act. She begins at the very beginning, talking about her happy upbringing. What I admired most about the show was Joan's honesty. She tell stories truthfully, not dressing things up too much. Joan is not afraid to laugh at herself which adds a great deal of fun to proceedings.

Not only does Joan talk about the good times but she also talks about the bad. After her career in Hollywood ended she struggled to find work and then later on in her career she had an awful time when her book publishers attempted to sue her. She talks mainly about her career although she does mention her personal life on several occasions, the balance is perfect.

The script has been carefully written to coincide with lots of pictures, short clips and montages. This keeps the show fast-paced and intriguing, there is plenty to see. I particularly enjoyed two montages, one showing all the legendary cat-fights from Dynasty and the other features a number of out-takes from Dynasty, showing Joan's fun side. Also some of the commercials she has taken part in over the years are absolutely hilarious!

My favourite part of the evening was the Question and Answer session at the end. Joan introduces her husband, Percy Gibson, who asks Joan a number of questions on behalf of audience members. It was fascinating to finally see Joan more relaxed and at ease, she has great chemistry with her husband and seemed generally happy and content with life. I just wish this section was longer!

Performing a one woman show must be exhausting but for Joan it seems like a walk in the park. Joan proves what a superstar she is as not once did she forget a line and she rarely even stumbled. If you have followed Joan's career you will absolutely love this show. It is interesting and funny but most importantly intimate, providing far more than you could ever get from reading an autobiography.

Reviewed by Andrew Tomlins (Editor)

andrew@westendframe.com

One Night With Joan runs at the Leicester Square Theatre on 14th, 26th, 27th and 28th April 2013. Please visit www.leicesterquaretheatre.com for further information and to book tickets.

Tour Dates

Tuesday 16th April, G Live, Guildford

Wednesday 17th April, Orchard Theatre, Dartford

Friday 19th April, The Anvil, Basingstoke

Saturday 20th April, Town Hall, Birmingham

Sunday 21th April, The Lowry, Salford

Tuesday 23th April, The Arena, St Albans

Wednesday 24th April, The Pavilion, Bournemouth