Interview with actress Delphi Harrington, star of Mallory's Ghost

We meet Delphi Harrington and thank her for her availability.  Delphi Harrington may be best known to television audiences for her roles in soap operas such as The Guiding Light, would say my best known roles on TV were as “Lettie Jean” in All My Children, and “Christine Cameron” in Where the  Heart is! But Broadway theatergoers know her for her roles in plays such as I starred in Chapter 11 on Broadway! As Romeo and Juliet, in which she played Lady Capulet. What is it like to play a character in front of an audience on Broadway? How does it change from the lens of a movie camera? Is there any different preparation?

The role an audience plays is critical. It is thrilling to act in front of an audience. It is a dialogue— particularly in a comedy. I did David Lindsay Abaire’s play, Good People at the Jupiter Maltz Theater in Fl. recently and I could feel the audience partnership in the sheer mirth of it. Neil Simon taught me everything I know about Comedy.

The camera in a well developed role becomes an intimate friend. Not so, with smaller roles which are enormously difficult. You have to establish character in a very short time and be mindful at all times of how your character moves the plot forward. 

Off Broadway, you starred in After the Fall, based on Arthur Miller's play of the same name about his relationship with Marilyn Monroe. It was a controversial play. Do you remember an anecdote about the performance of the play that you could share with the fans?

Many of us thought that Dianne Wiest was woefully miscast as Marilyn. Well, she fell ill for a short time and her understudy, a voluptuous Blonde went on.  Oh Boy!  She thought getting drunk was “method acting” because Marilyn was drunk in the play. We watched in horror as the play dragged on and on, losing every ounce of humor and pathos that Dianne brought to the play! Fortunately,  Diane recovered rapidly to our vast relief. We had a real play again!!!

From theater to film to numerous television series. From Blue Bloods, Bull, The Blacklist and House of Cards to the current Daredevil: Born Again. What do you think makes audiences so passionate about TV shows?

I did Smile 2, and Kaleidoscope as well.  As for “Daredevil”, The script was overhauled during the strike and my scenes were cut, along with a big chunk of the script. 

The odd thing is, because I loved working on it, I watched the show and was overwhelmed by the quality of the performances. Because it was based on Comic books, it should in no way be relegated to people who love “action movies”.

The same applies to Smile 2, a “horror” which had indelible performances in it. Categorizing these genres undermines their Art.  

These performances therefore do not get the recognition they deserve.  I was honored to be cast in these.

Among the many roles you have played, between theater, film and television series, is there one that has stayed close to your heart that you would like to develop further?

“Madame Arcati” in Blythe Spirit!  I loved her.  The play was set in wartime. She IS the Blythe spirit. I adore Noel Coward. I would like to “graduate” to the Mother in A little Night Music, having played “Desiree”

You will soon be joining the cast of Mallory's Ghost, can you tell us what this play is about?

We have finished filming. It is now being edited. It is the story of the coming of age and development of of two Artists. I , a vastly successful playwright, am the “ midwife”, Catalyst, and inspiration to these two. They come to me and stay to begin to realize their goals. She encourages them to go to the deepest part of themselves to create art that has value. 

You have five grandchildren. How do you think the younger generation can approach theater? Do you ever talk to them about Shakespeare? 

All the time. I was adamant about the twins ( my second son’s boy and girl) attending a good liberal arts college. They are both going to Williams. 

I have insisted that they become cultivated people. There are 2 girls in that family. Both are accomplished dancers and singers. 

Going to concerts, Opera, Ballet, Museums is non negotiable for an Artist. I am against conservatories except on a Graduate level. We don’t need “technicians”. We need Artists!

As for Shakespeare, having done so much of it, it’s necessary to read ALL the plays. I have, in fact, run a Salon in which we did this, and will probably start again. 

I am doing “Hecate” the Greek Goddess of witchcraft in Macbeth  at Woodshill Shakespeare this summer!

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