T

And live from New York, welcome: Michael Ball.

M

Helloooo

T

Well say something Michael, we wanna hear, if you have gotten an American accent. 

M

How are you Terry? How´s it going?

T

No, no same old English accent.

M

No, they haven´t changed me at all.

T

How did it go last night?

M

It was an incredible evening, Terry, unbelievable. They stood up, they cheered. They´ve been a wonderful audience all together. It´s, it´s great. I had about two hours sleep and I´ve got to go now and do the show again, so...

T

Good luck. Probably slightly hungover after all the celebration.

M

You bet your life. I danced with Liza Minelli, can you believe that?

T

Who hadn´t?

M

Actually she told me, she told me.

T

Not everything I hope. Tell me there you are, another Broadway, the Broadway triumph behind you. Tell me about, it´s an old cliché question, but nonetheless it´s the first time for you. An American audience, a Broadway audience entirely different from a West End audience?

M

I think they are, yes. They sort of chat during the show. They think it´s like watching a TV show I think. They sort of laugh more, they chat, when they want to go to loo they go out to loo, they don´t give a damn really. They just enjoy themselves. It´s I think the tradition´s different in Broadway than it is in the West End. West End tends to be more serious.

T

Now after the show the tradition is that you all go off to Sardi´s somewhere, don´t you? And sit and get drunk and wait for the reviews. Was it like that?

M

In our case it was the Rockefeller Centre. The top of this amazing building. With views all over New York. they had bands playing, and amazing food, it was quite an evening, unbelievable and there we waited for the reviews (starting to laugh).

T

(also laughing) See  the audience don´t know, but you and I know.

M

We know, don´t we Terry?

T

Yeah, will we bother to tell them?

M

Mr. Frank Rich, are we going to tell them? 

T

Frank Rich.

M

Frank Rich, he´s the guy who writes for the New York Times and has never yet written anything nice about Andrew Lloyd Webber and this hasn´t been an exception, bless him. 

Laughter in the audience

T

Bless him as you say, bless him. 

M

Bless his heart. I mean nearly all the others have been raves, but he sharpened his knife and he stuck it in (laughing).

T

He´s a rascal isn´t old Frank.

M

Can´t wait to meet him Terry.

Both laugh

T

Clive Barnes is another.

M

Clive Barnes. I´m framing his review on my wall. His was fantastic. He can come for tea, I like it.

T

Were Andrew and Trevor, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Trevor Nunn, were they pleased?

M

Oh yes they were delighted. You see it works differently here. We  have three critic nights before the Opening Night. So it´s not like everybody coming on the Opening Night and judging on one performance. It´s a different set up. It´s a lot easier in a way. The Opening Night I mean it´s just for friends. I´ve got my whole family flew in. They are all sitting in the room next door. It´s an easier evening.

T

How are you settling into life in old New York. I mean: Do you like it?

M

I live here (pointing on a skyskraper on the skyline of New York that is displayed behind him). Nice, cozy.

laughter all around

T

That´s very nice, yes.

M

I like New York, I miss the green bits. Ahm, here´s a lot going on. 

T

Where, what green bits?

M

Well we got Regent´s Park, we got Hyde Park you know and all that. Here you got Central Park which is sort of a different shade of grey and brown from the rest of New York.

T

But I think Central Park is a lovely place to go for a stroll at night. 

M

Lovely, lovely. I suggested that to Frank Rich he should try it (laughter).

T

Well, where do you, apart from that big building which you obviously bought with your proceeds, where are you living? You´re living in brownstone somewhere?

M

I live in a place called Greenwich Village which bears as much resemblance to a village as Twickenham you know? IT`S NOT: It´s a lovely area. It´s a bit more like London than any other part of New York and it´s quite fun.

T

What are you missing? What are you missing apart from HP sauce and English mustard. What are you missing?

M

And the classic that no one here, no one here can make tea. Lipton tea bags they dunk in water. It´s vile. I think I miss all my family and friends. You know a lot of them are here now, but a lot of them who aren´t I am saying hello to. I miss the English people. You know it´s not the same here, not like us, Terry.

T

No, no they aren´t. Did you get plenty of good-luck-cards from over here, from all your friends?

M

Unbelievable. I want to thank everyone in England who sent us cards and presents. And you should see my dressing-room, it looks like a hospital room. It´s wonderful.

T

Yeah, yeah, you always try to get people in your dressing-room. I noticed that about you. How long are you there? How long is the run guaranteed?

M

Well it´s sold out till December. I think I ´ll should be here probably till September/October, six months.

T

Well obviously, when you´re there, you´re going to get a lot of professional offers and a...

First Michael, then Terry and then the audience break out into big laughter.

M

Well, thank you Terry!

T

I mean

M

I shall try not to go around Central Park.

T

That´s why I call them professional offers not amateur offers. Are you going to, I mean, if the  chance to make a movie or carry on on  another show on Broadway or anything came off would you take it?

M

I´d hate to make a movie as you can imagine. It would be awful, wouldn´t it? I don´t know, I mean, I don´t know. I mean: Nothing has happened yet. We´ll wait and see. I mean, I´m certainly be coming back to England as soon as possible.

T

Yeah, well I´ve just to give the whole thing a sort of live flavour. What time is it in New York now, Michael?

M

In New York?

T

Yes!

M

It is ten past ten.

T

Is it?

M

Yeah thats 10 past 7 there, yeah?

T

You have a brain like a razor. 

M

Unbelievable.

T

It´s extraordinary. So what are you going to do, between now and starting? You´ll go off and stick pins in the old model of Frank Rich?

M

Absolutly, absolutly. I think I´ve got other pressing engagements, you know how it is.

T

Oh please, please.

M

You know Liza is bound to be on the phone again.

T

Michael, congratulations we wish you well for a highly succesful run. We´ll see you when you get back. Thanks Michael.

M

See you soon.