This week, US film- and theater- circuit icons Kaye Ballard, Donna McKechnie and Liliane Montevecchi are in town practicing for their upcoming performance of From Broadway with Love to benefit Animal Protection of New Mexico . Following SFR's coverage of the event in this week's SFR Picks, we had the chance to sit down for a chat with Ballard and Montevecchi in the lobby of the Eldorado Hotel.---
SFR: How is the climate treating you?
Kaye Ballard: I love the place. We both love it but, boy, from the moment we got off the plane, I can't remember that kind of cold. I live in Palm Springs—that should answer it for you.
Liliane Montevecchi: From the desert to the mountain. It is not bad today; today was fun.
KB: Did you ever see [director Richard Jay-Anderson's] first film, The Golden Age of Broadway ? It was brilliant.
SFR: It was very interesting talking to him on the phone. How has it been working with him.
KB: We like him. A funny thing happened to us when we got off the plane: All three of us got sick, but the guys didn't, just the girls.
SFR: Was it altitude sickness?
LM: No, it's not that. It's something that started in the throat and, after we went all kaput—I don't know. It's a very strange thing. Maybe God is telling us something. Maybe the Indian god or the Mexican.
SFR: Tell me about the show. What are some of the individual experiences you're bringing?
KB: We're bringing three real professionals together, doing things they've done for years. Today is yesterday. It's why we love show business.
LM: We're all here because of Kaye, because Kaye decided to have two of her pals with her. Because it was for Kaye alone, and Kaye said, 'Well, I have two friends I'd like to have with me, and here we are because of Kaye.'
KB: But let me tell you, I wanted [Montevecchi] here especially because I wanted her filmed. That's why I asked Rick [Jay-Anderson] to do the show because she's the last of a kind.
LM: [Laughs]
KB: I can't think of anybody else, no one who comes near.
SFR: When did you meet?
LM: We've known each other 30 years at least.
KB: Donna I've worked with before, and I think she's really talented, but [Montevecchi] is something really special.
LM: Well, I'm French. I bring something French…But, you know, we're all the same. We don't want to talk about ourselves because we're all great.
KB: No, I think we're all experienced.
LM: Experienced and very different, which means if the public doesn't like one, at least they can like the others. We have three chances.
SFR: How did you get involved with Animal Protection of New Mexico?
KB: Because we love animals. I did The Doris Day Show—that should tell you something. I have four dogs.
SFR: What breeds?
KB: I have two shih tzus and two rescue dogs—one Lhasa and one poodle.
LM: And one is named Lilianne, so it shows you how much she loves me.
SFR: Where else would you like to take the show?
KB: London and New York.
LM: There's nothing smaller with Kaye Ballard. There's just London and New York.
KB: Two of my favorite places. This is my third now, and where I live…This is a fascinating place. I hope you come to see the show because you'll see an era that's gone…Oh, [New York] is one of the most exciting places in the world. Don't you think?
LM: Oh, yes.
KB: And that's why I said this would go in New York. People that remember.
SFR: Thank you for your time.
