An Evening with Larry Hagman
April 14-18, 2010, Texas
Larry Hagman's one mane show about his life "An Evening with Larry Hagman" came to Lufkin, Texas. He drew a good crowd, filling the theater. He was, as usual, funny and entertaining - just wonderful! Larry, handsome in a gray suit, blue shirt and red tie, sat on a tall chair, hat resting on a table next to him, with a vase of beautiful yellow roses in front of the table. The show is a multimedia presentation combined with Larry's live narration and storytelling.
Larry told of his childhood in Weatherford Texas, his mother, Broadway star Mary Martin, his early years as an actor, and meeting his wife of 55 years, Maj, in London. He commented on many actors he worked with at the beginning of his career including George C. Scott, June Havoc, Henry Fonda and Candice Bergen. Larry then showed scenes from I Dream of Jeannie. He followed that up with a clip of Barbara Eden saying "I enjoyed acting with Larry more than anyone I've ever worked with," jokingly claiming he paid her to say that! He said she still looks the same and showed a photo of the two of them from the TV Land Awards a few years back. Larry showed clips from Dallas as well as hilarious bloopers from the show. He told of the crazy times after J.R. was shot and the renegotiation of his contract. His 1995 liver transplant was covered, with Larry eager to show a photo of his scars! He wrapped it up by showing a video of his Ojai home, Heaven.
After the presentation, Larry expertly fielded questions from the audience. He even managed to inoffensively answered a question from a woman pushing her religious agenda. Larry was asked if he was ever tempted by his leading ladies. He talked about Barbara Eden not being able to show her navel on I Dream of Jeannie and the answer to the three most common questions he gets about the show: "Barbara is as beautiful off screen as on, she does have a navel, and no, we never did." Larry then commented that Linda Gray is like a sister to him, so it would have been a little inscestuous!
A woman from East Germany described the impact of Dallas on her country. Larry also got to talk about the way Dallas helped lighten the image of it's namesake city, so long under a cloud due to the Kennedy assassination. A standard question came up when Larry was asked how his marriage lasts so long. Two Bathrooms! It wouldn't be the same if someone didn't ask that one! Larry was asked about the Actors Studio by a theater student. He said he was there at the time Marlon Brando was involved in it, but he hated it. Larry likes to work from the outside (put on a hat and become a character) rather than the inside. Larry was asked who he liked the most among the people he worked with and he said Linda Gray, who he sees every few weeks, and Patrick Duffy, describing them as his finest (still living) friends and referring to the group as "The Three Musketeers." At the conclusion of the question and answer session, Larry received a standing ovation from the clearly pleased audiance!
After the show, Larry signed his autobiography, "Hello Darlin'" as well as photos and theater programs.
