Nathan Lane's new play!

[themysteriousgrowl]

Yes, everyone please forget it.

[Jordan Catalano]

He was nice to someone at the stage door? What day was that on?

[Jane2]

[GavestonPS]

Um, guys, I brought up the subject of Lane's character and shared my experience.

Jane has every right to share her experience in return.

I stage managed a show Joey did before he was famous and later worked beside him at the Harris Poll, our "day" jobs. He could be a handful for a stage manager because he got bored easily, but there was no malice in his behavior, he didn't hurt the show and most of the time I was doubled over with laughter. (For example, most nights I had to collect him at half hour from a bar across the street. He wasn't drinking; he was entertaining the patrons with jokes and impersonations!)

No doubt he faces very different pressures these days and perhaps he has changed. Jane's experience is more recent than mine.

***

As for breaking character in FORUM, doesn't everyone? Milton Berle did a half-hour stand-up routine when he played Pseudolus. Probably not what Shevelove intended, but it was actually pretty funny.

THE FROGS seems equally suitable for ad libs and Mel Brooks is rather the king of that sort of thing.

[Jane2]

And.....gone!

thanks for changing the subject, Namo.

[FindingNamo]

I'm really interested in the fairy/nancy era in stage entertainment, mostly because of the way it was described by George Chauncey in Gay New York. I would be interested in seeing it for the subject matter, Nathan seems perfect for the role. I hope to be able to see it.

[GavestonPS]

I agree. I love Chauncey's book and it's a very interesting period that has been mostly obscured by the decades of enforced silence that followed. Should be ripe for dramatization.

(Sorry, Jane. I thought I was on your side here, even if we've had different experiences.)

[Patash]

I'm surprised by the number of people who "don't get" the hatred for Lane. Perhaps those people are new to the world of theatre.
Nathan Lane has had a hugely successful theatre record. His salary for The Producers reached a new high. He has snatched up some of the best roles in the theatre. Of COURSE some theatre people resent and hate him.

Meanwhile, I have a question regarding The Nance. Is it really a full fledged musical or more of a play with some music?

[Jane2]

It is a play with some music, Patash.

[newintown]

" In my experience Joey (as Lane used to be called) was also a really nice guy, if a little shy, and as funny off stage as on."

He's an hilarious actor, always (to me) a delight to watch.

But there are tons of stories about his vicious side; admittedly they come from periods when he was drinking.

There's no reason the many facets of his character, beautiful and less so, can't all be acknowledged.

And I'm greatly looking forward to this play and his performance; it sounds tailor-made.

[darquegk]

I just always assumed he could go from nice to not nice at the drop of a hat. It's not a cliche to say that the funniest clowns are the most vicious- history has proved it perpetually. Especially funny fat clowns. There's a reason that the idea of "the fat comedian is a dangerous, self-loathing monster at his worst" has permeated our society so deeply, because it's so often true.

[FindingNamo]

"the fat comedian is a dangerous, self-loathing monster at his worst" has permeated our society so deeply

It HAS?

[newintown]

I'd say there's precedent - Fatty Arbuckle, Lou Costello, John Belushi, Chris Farley...

[SondheimFan5]

Like any star of Lane's stature, there are going to be varying stories. We've heard both bad and great things about LuPone, Betty Buckley, Elaine Paige, Bernadette Peters, Lauren Bacall, Chita Rivera, and other legends of the entertainment industry.

[newintown]

Who is the most evil celebrity of all?

Or is that a question for another thread?

[Playbilly]

It's the "Tailor-made" part that scares me the most.

[Gothampc]

Nathan Lane in The Nance? Physically, he's more of a Sluggo.

[FindingNamo]

Ha!

[Jane2]

"I agree. I love Chauncey's book and it's a very interesting period that has been mostly obscured by the decades of enforced silence that followed. Should be ripe for dramatization.

(Sorry, Jane. I thought I was on your side here, even if we've had different experiences.)"

I'm not sure what this was about, way back in Oct, but of course we're on the same side!Always!
xox

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

I'm kind of getting intrigued about "The Nance". I just might wind up getting a ticket to see that show. There are so many good shows to choose from. from R C i n A u s t i n T e x a s