GLENN CLOSE: ‘What I Love About the Tonys’

After being on the brink of extinction the past several years, Broadway is booming this season. One of the biggest hits is the London import “Death and the Maiden.” Written by Ariel Dorfman and directed by Mike Nichols, “Death and the Maiden” boasts a powerhouse cast: Glenn Close, Gene Hackman and Richard Dreyfuss.

Close, nominated for a Tony for the 1980 musical “Barnum,” won the coveted award in 1984 for Tom Stoppard’s “The Real Thing.” She is a nominee again this year for her role in “Death,” as a South American woman who seeks revenge on the man who raped and tortured her 15 years earlier. The busy 45-year-old actress also is host of the Tony Awards ceremony, airing Sunday on CBS.

Since making her film debut a decade ago in “The World According to Garp,” Close has become a major box-office draw, receiving Oscar nominations for her work in “Garp,” “The Big Chill,” “The Natural,” “Fatal Attraction” and “Dangerous Liaisons.” She received an Emmy nomination last year for her work in Hallmark Hall of Fame’s acclaimed “Sarah, Plain and Tall,” which she also co-produced.

Close answered questions about “Death and the Maiden,” the Tonys and Broadway over the phone from her New York home with Times Staff Writer Susan King.

Before we talk about the Tony Awards, isn’t it true you and your co-stars pulled an April Fool’s joke on the audience?

Yeah, we did (laughs). It worked really well, too. We had the stage manager announce that none of us would be in the show. This huge groan started (in the audience) and was building and finally all three of us gathered around the microphone and said, “April Fool’s!” I loved it.

“Death and the Maiden” is the first play you’ve done on Broadway since “Benefactors” in 1986. Is it a thrill to be back?

Yes. It is also incredibly hard work. I have a 4-year-old little girl (Annie), so I am at this level of exhaustion all the time.

What prompted your decision to do the play?

It was a combination of things, as things usually are. I didn’t really want to do theater because of Annie’s age. I know that it meant for six months I wouldn’t put my child to bed. I had chosen not to do theater for that reason. Then I read this play and I thought it was something very special and very relevant. Then the combination of Mike and Gene and Richard, you just don’t turn down opportunities like that. I went against my maternal instincts and I am paying for it.

“Death and the Maiden” is doing excellent business at the box office, but weren’t the majority of the critics far from kind, comparing it unfavorably to the London production?

I think we had a lot going against us from the critical community because for some reason, I think, some of them didn’t want us to succeed.

That has been hard because I felt for some reason we had an extra something to prove, but I don’t think we have anything to prove. They picked us out to pick on and it is very sad. I believe in criticism; I believe in constructive criticism. I don’t believe in destructive criticism.

This is the first season Broadway has experienced a renaissance. I would think the critics would want to support the effort of people like us (movie stars) who come back. That is why I am proud I got a Tony nomination. It is a little bittersweet for me because I think my two fellow actors deserve them, too, and I think the play deserves it and I think Mike Nichols deserves it.

Besides being up for a Tony, you are hosting the show. Is this the first time you have ever played Master of Ceremonies?

The first time alone. I am more excited than nervous. I am most worried about my energy because again it is going to be a marathon week. I am going to have three rehearsals on top of doing the show eight times that week. I will have done the show twice on Saturday, then have a Sunday matinee and then have to do the Tony show. So it is going to be rough. I will have to be very disciplined and get my rest.

The Tony Awards show is usually the classiest awards on TV. What makes the show so special?

What I love about the Tonys is you can’t fool a live audience. Everybody who participates and everybody who has been nominated does eight shows a week.

It is hard work in making that connection (with the audience) every night and it is humbling. ... I think there is a kind of a no-bull quality about the show.

Do you remember how you felt when you won the Tony for “The Real Thing”?

I was stunned. I really didn’t think I was going to win. I made a terrible acceptance speech. That is the thing that makes me most nervous now, because I have been up for Oscars and various other things and I am always so impressed by the speeches of the people who have won.

I always think every single time I never could have said something as wonderful as that. So I kind of think I am in competition with all of these ghosts of past speeches.

What are you plans after finishing “Death”?

I need to go back and do movies. I don’t know if I will be able to, but I am planning a pack trip in the mountains of Wyoming. My daughter is too young to go, but she will be with my parents who have a place in Wyoming. My mom has wonderful Icelandic ponies, so Annie will be very happy.

“The Tony Awards” air Sunday at 9 p.m. on CBS.