I hope that Mr Lane is a happier person than he was in the past. When he was miserable, he could be very unpleasant, onstage and off. I have heard (and I hope it is true) that he is a much happier man these days.
He's a very talented and intelligent man, and without question, has been a big boon to Broadway. Happy birthday.
Just curious, but how was he unpleasant onstage? I know he could be dour in real life, but are you saying he carried it over into his performances too?
Happy Birthday, Nathan! (What's your screen-name?)
One example: shortly before he left The Producers for the first time, he tried a bit onstage that almost always got a laugh. He pulled out all the stops, and he got nothing. He turned to the audience and said "Yeah? You wait til this British guy gets here and see how fvcking funny he is!".
Perhaps you had to be there. He was clearly very angry at the audience and lashed out at someone who hadn't even had a chance to take the stage yet. It was most unpleasant and cast a pall over the rest of the show.
Breaking the fourth wall wasn't the issue. He broke the fourth wall frequently, usually with hysterical results, like the first time instead of saying this:
Leo Bloom: "Actors are not animals! They're human beings!" Max Bialystock: "They are? Have you ever eaten with one?"
He answered this:
Leo Bloom: "Actors are not animals! They're human beings!" Max Bialystock: "Oh yeah? What about Old Yeller?"
I said it before and I'll say it again. Nathan Lane is hands-down the best performer I have ever seen at ad libbing onstage. Unfortunately he has been known to use it in really unpleasant ways.
I find it hilarious and sad that on a Happy Birthday thread people need to attack and psychoanalyze Mr. Lane. The story you recounted is just not true. He did say something along the lines of "Don't worry, things will get better when the new guy arrives." I know, I was in the show. This sounds like a bad game of Telephone, where people who obviously have an agenda keep changing a story to make it sound worse. No, Nathan does not suffer fools gladly, but he is one of the most generous performers I know.
Why would I have an agenda? Reread my first post. Everything else I have said was in direct response to a question. Perhaps I should have answered it via PM. I've got nothing against the man, admire him greatly, and wish him well.
I was there, too. That IS what he said, almost verbatim, not "something along the lines of...". It was shocking.
I haven't attacked him in any way. I have only reported (when asked) what I have heard and seen. I could offer other examples, but as this is a birthday thread, I'll refrain.
In previous threads, I have read something that he doesn't involve himself with the stage door at all...or just sometimes. I remember after I saw "Addams Family." Bebe was there signing things...with Nathan nowhere to be found. OH well. from RC in Austin, Texas
All a performer owes his audience is a performance. To his credit, Mr Lane often signs dozens of playbills and has them handed out at the stage door. Some actors are just not good at the stage door, and shouldn't force themselves.
Thanks for answering - it's harmless enough, and I certainly don't judge him for it too harshly - we're all human! It hasn't really ruined the profound sanctity of this happy birthday thread, at least not for me.
It's been a real treat to watch Nathan on The Good Wife this season. His performances have been delightful and have given me even a greater appreciation for his talents, both his range and his subtlety as a performer.
I have seen Nathan at stage door during The Odd Couple signing playbills as well as after November. It's so unfair to criticize an actor who may have somewhere he needs to be, perhaps having a bad day or a family issue that may affect his willingless to sign at stage door. As another post indicated, the actor only owes a good performance to the fans. Anything extra is a bonus.
This is really hysterical. I used to frequent BWW boards a lot but grew tired of the sniping and rude behavior and the fact that, as the years went by, rather than participating in intelligent discourse, the average person posting seemed more interested in assassinating reputations or telling others on the board what idiots they were.
I was elsewhere on the internet today and followed a link to BWW to see what was happening only to find that (sadly) not much has changed. Take a cruise through the 18 or so posts on this thread that purports to wish Mr. Lane a Happy Birthday. 90% of it is about what a horrible person he is or was (depending on whose opinion you choose to believe).
Remember when your mama used to tell you that if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all? Really? Is it necessary to pull out old stories that were based on a bare minimum of truth over 10 years ago and really don't give insight into anything today. Whether you find his humor or his interactive skills appealing or appalling...you are entitled to your opinion. If you don't want to wish the guy a good day...at least don't stab him in the back on his birthday. Common courtesy and all that...
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joined:5/27/10
Posted: 2/3/13 at 08:05am