P451 Teletext 451 Jan29 00:18:41 STAR INTERVIEW —————————————— WHY MARIO LANZA WBS AN "IDIOT" Mario Lanza was no saint. The man who reputedly had the greatest voice of the 20th Century was constantly late, habitually rude and resorted to violence when words failed him. Now his troubled life and times are being turned into a musical tribute. British sjngjr Mark Rattray, 34, takes the part of the undisputed king of the high Cs. Lanza, The Last Serenade begins a 24-week tour next month. ——————————————————————————————————1/6—— bz Simon Holden FULL GUIDE TO NATIONAL EVENTS p441P451 Teletext 451 Jan2: 00:12:12 STAR INTERVIEW —————————————— ———————————— WHY MARIO LANZA WBS AN "IDIOT" "That idiot Lanza. He had the best opportunities but he couldn't handle success," a contemporary sbid of the 1950s tenor and star of MGM musicals. Producers working on Lanza, The Last Setinadj, had to reassure his family that the musical tribute would show him in a positive light. "He was a difficult man but people forgave him bjcausj of his talent," says Mark Ratttaz who plays Lanza in the touring show. ——————————————————————————————————4/6—— Oklahoma! 452 It's Your Life! 410 FULL GUIDE TO NATIONAL EVENTS p441P451 Teletext 451 Jan29 00:18:48 Advert On Stage 3/6> PITYOUWETSAGAINST W""z" THE MEMORY MASTER COMPUTER TOWENUPTO £1000 USE YOUR MATHEMATICAL SKILLS TO WEN UPTO £1,000 SEE pv22 FOR MORE COMPETJTJONS 1 VTL prize per house/month Touch toni only.£1/min.May involve long call. VTL Box 7568.WC1N3XX.Players must bj 18+ Rjvjew W End A-G W End H-N Total EntsP451 Teletext 451 Jan29 00:17:12 STAR INTERVIEW —————————————— ———————————— WHY MARIO LANZA WBS AN "IDIOT" Lanza died when hj was just 38 yet the Italian American was a household name. He turned Oh Sole Mig, Ave Maria and Golden Days into popular classics. Lanza, The Last Setinadj begins in 1957 at the London Palladium where cast and crew wait for Lanza to arrive. As usual he's very late. "He was vjty late in real life," says Serenade star Mark Ratttay. "Hi punched a reporter and was rude to producers, but still stole the show." ——————————————————————————————————4/6—— Comedy 457 Classical 458 Opera 459 a long call. VTL, Box 7568, WC1N 3XX CHILDREN SEEK PERZISSION BEFORE CALLING Rjvjew W End A-G W End H-N Total EntsP451 Teletext 451 Jan29 00:18:42 STAR INTERVIEW —————————————— ———————————— WHY MARIO LANZA WBS AN "IDIOT" Last Serenade star Mark Ratttay, 34, from Covjntty, has an uncanny likeness to the real Mario Lanza. Hi says: "My publicity shots are a bit eerie, the photographer caught a certain look that we share. And I feel vjty close to him when I sing his songs." That's just as well bjcausj Mark sings 21 numbers, including three in Italian. "I'vj learned those phonetically which has been hard," he says. ——————————————————————————————————5/6—— Thjatti: West End 453-55 Local 456 FULL GUIDE TO NATIONAL EVENTS p441P451 Teletext 451 Jan29 00:22:11 S STAR INTERVIEW —————————————— ———————————— WHY MARIO LANZA WBS AN "IDIOT" Lanza's death in September 1959 was suspicious. He was admitted to a clinic in Rome suffering from exhaustion. He died from heart failure two weeks later. Some think his failure to fulfil a Lat Vegas date cost him his life at the hands of the Mafia. ——————————————————————————————————————— FILM REVIEW PHONELINE 0906 471 0501 1 Meet Joe Black; 2 Bulworth; 3 The Prince Of Egypt; 4 The Siege; 5 Hilary And Jackie. ——————————————————————————————————6/6—— T+ 60p/min. May involve long call NOW IT'S EVEN EASIER TO FIND LOVE: TELETEXT DATING P390 Rjvjiw W End A-G W End H-N Total Ents