LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSION! - Who saw it?

[rlbgbc]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 1:57pm

[I originally put this on the other board, but thought my queries might get more traffic over here.]

I just saw this film on the tube this weekend, and it raised questions that I hope some of you brethren can answer.

I never saw it on the stage. I understand that the original cast was used for the film, save for Nathan Lane -- Jason Alexander stepped in there.

What are the differences between the stage version and the film version? I know they opened it up for the film as usual. Is it a one-set show? How was the twin thing handled -- were they ever onstage together, i.e. using a double with his back to the audience or something lame like that? Is there nudity in the stage version -- I mean, the most of the nudity in the film centered around the lake, which would be highly improbable on stage.

Any wisdom out there?

[orion59]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 2:08pm

I saw it on Broadway after Nathan left and Mario Cantone took over the role. The lake scenes were done on stage and were pretty effect. A raised platform was used as a raft and lighting created the water effect.

I don't recall the twins ever being onstage at the same time. I may be wrong about thata s it was a while ago that I saw the show. John Glover did an amazing job playing the dual role.
I also don't remember there being any variation in the script when I watched the movie. The only difference was visual.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 2:10pm

The main difference is that Nathan Lane was much funnier than Jason Alexander. There's a point in the movie where Alexander realizes that it's ok for the character to camp it up and then he takes off. Lane camped it up from the second he set foot onstage and hit every conceivable laugh in the script.

"Is it a one-set show?"

It was a bare stage and a lot was left up to the imagination.They slid things on for indoor scenes (chairs, etc), they used a trap door for a canoe, they used a special lighting for hiding in the closet, etc.

"How was the twin thing handled -- were they ever onstage together, i.e. using a double with his back to the audience or something lame like that?"

Mostly it was handled through costume changes, but they were onstage together one time when the mean twin confronts the good twin. In that moment, the actor was basically talking to an empty wing-back chair. The chair was facing upstage with its back to the audience.

"Is there nudity in the stage version"

The only reason it sold so many tickets and ran as long as it did on Broadway was because at some point every actor was nude.

[Jon]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 2:21pm

The twin confrontation was done brilliantly. As stated above there was a large wing chair facing upstage. One twin delivered a monologue addressed to the other twin who was supposedly sitting in the chair. The actor (John Glover) then sat in the chair, did his "costume change", (which was basically putting on glasses) and the chair revolved to face the audience. He then did the "answering" monologue.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 2:29pm

Without Nathan, there was no reason to see the film.

I have a real problem with "good twin/bad twin" shows. After twin Betty Huttons in HERE COME THE WAVES and twin Martha Rayes in KEEP 'EM FLYING, everything else pales by comarison.

Even twin John Glovers.

Updated On: 2/7/05 at 02:29 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 2:58pm

the movie was a bit of a let down for me. it left too much to the imagination. I don't want to hear that Randy Becker and Justin Kirk went at it I wanted to see it!!! all we got were a few kiss scenes. pish. I wanted more in that respect.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 4:57pm

Saw it with both Nathan and Mario-both excellent; so different.

[CurtainUp2]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 5:29pm

Loved the play. Loved the movie. Yes, I would have preferred Nathan in the movie as opposed to Jason. Afterall, McNally wrote the part with him in mind. But, while I'm not a huge fan of Jason Alexander's, I thought he did an admirable job. Better that the movie was made with him, then not to have been made at all. It's one of my favorite gay themed movies. There's a poetic beauty to it. I especially love the ending when they all go skinny dipping in the lake. It actually translates quite well from stage to screen. A close friend of mine actually prefers the movie to the stage play. He feels that it offers a more emotionally personal experience. I can understand where he's coming from. While I may have laughed more at the play, I think I was more moved by the film.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 6:17pm

We saw it with Mario & loved it

My wife loves John Glover who has been M.I.A. from Broadway & movies for quite sometime

[Jon]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 6:24pm

John Glover is busy doing SMALLVILLE on TV, which pays a lot better than stage.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 12:14pm

Actually, Lane destroyed his partnership with Terence McNally when he agreed to do THE BIRDCAGE instead of L,V,C. It was his choice, not the filmmakers.
McNally basically made Lane's career, so...

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 12:15pm

Borstal! Good to see you, man.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 12:20pm

"Actually, Lane destroyed his partnership with Terence McNally when he agreed to do THE BIRDCAGE instead of L,V,C."

That's too bad, but I think Lane made the right decision. Who could turn down a chance to work with Robin Williams?

[robbiej]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 12:26pm

Actually, I don't believe that that was the choice Nathan made. I saw The Birdcage in college, when I also saw L!V!C! The movie was done before the Broadway run even concluded. I believe the choice for Lane was between L!V!C! the movie and the telefilm, The Boys Next Door. Nathan has gone on record saying that he 'needed the money' that the telefilm was offering, so he passed on L!V!C!

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 12:45pm

robbiej is exactly right. "The Boys Next Door" offered far more money and Nathan could not afford to turn it down. I believe there was a scheduling conflict with the film of L!V!C! that could not be avoided.

Nathan & Terrence have long mended fences over the matter. Their friendship is solid.

Updated On: 2/8/05 at 12:45 PM

[CurtainUp2]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 1:52pm

The filming of the movie took place directly after the end of the show's Broadway run. And I suspect that Lane's decision not to reprise his role in the movie had less to do with money and scheduling conflicts than it did with his not wanting to take on two big screen gay roles back-to-back (he had just finished filming The Birdcage) for fear of being stereotyped by Hollywood. Whether they've since made nice, or not, turning down the movie was still a slap in the face to McNally.

Updated On: 2/8/05 at 01:52 PM