Anyone seeing LEND ME A TENOR tonight?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 3/12/10 at 4:37pm

Tonights the first preview, right? I'll be there next Thursday. Let us know how it is! Excited for this one!!

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 3/12/10 at 4:44pm

Yup, can't wait.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/12/10 at 5:29pm

I'll be there tomorrow afternoon.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/12/10 at 5:49pm

I'll be there too, and I'm looking forward to it.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/12/10 at 5:58pm

I'll be there tonight...really looking forward to seeing Anthony LaPaglia on stage! As my BWW screen name indicates, Without A Trace was one of my favorite shows on TV.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 3/12/10 at 6:01pm

Seeing it tomorrow afternoon & Mr & Mrs Fitch @ night. Would rather not do in during a monsoon but nothing we can do.

Updated On: 3/13/10 at 06:01 PM

[gcontini2]

Posted: 3/12/10 at 7:15pm

Yes, I am seeing it tonight! Should be fun.

[modnar]

Posted: 3/12/10 at 11:52pm

I saw the show tonight and was impressed. The entire cast did great, especially Shalhoub and LaPaglia. The audience reacted well with lots of applause and laughter throughout and a standing ovation at the end.

[Blockhead24]

Posted: 3/13/10 at 1:08am

I was there too and thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm a big fan of LaPaglia's and he didn't disappoint.

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 3/13/10 at 1:33am

I absolutely loved it. I thought all the performances were spot on and fantastic for a first preview. Everything worke really well - the direction and the sets. And how freaking cool was that post curtain call thing?

[gcontini2]

Posted: 3/13/10 at 1:43am

Wow! totally surpassed all expectations...Justin Bartha and Tony Shalhoub were absolute MASTERS of comedy and had audience eating out of the palm of their hands....Even though this was the first paid performance, the audience was roaring with laughter..Again, I don't know what I expected, but this was one unique and hilarious night at the theater. Having seen everything on Bway, this one was quite the pleasant surprise for me. Will be interesting to see how the cast improves now that they have an audience to play to...

[wicked_beast4]

Posted: 3/13/10 at 1:54am

I was there as well. I'll post more in the morning after getting some sleep, but wow, what a great production! Each and every person was perfectly cast, with Justin Bartha doing surprisingly amazing! A joy to watch, you'll be laughing the whole time. The eventual tightening up that comes with previews will make this show a hit!

Also, everyone came out afterwords to sign, including Stanley Tucci! Tony Shaloub was a complete doll and would even take pictures with anyone who asked, and the rest of the cast were kind as well.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/13/10 at 3:41am

Wow! Such great comments for a first preview! I have to admit I've been a bit of a worry wart on this one. LMAT is my favorite farce, I was lucky enough to see the orginal production of this....waaay back when.

That being said: I can't wait to get in the city next month. I've had my tix for this for weeks!

Thanks to all for checking in!

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/13/10 at 8:08am

Last night was really fun, and I can't imagine how wonderful this will be as it tightens here and there over previews. As everyone has already stated the men are great, but it's Jan Maxwell who mops the floor with all of them.

Every moment she's on stage I could look at no one else. She was a total triumph and every single line she delivered received a roar of laughter, and often applause.

This is going to a major crowd-pleaser, and once word of mouth starts to spread this could be the comedy to see this spring/summer. I hope it has a run similiar to Boeing-Boeing actually, as it absolutely deserves it.

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 3/13/10 at 2:43pm

This sounds like another great revival! Can't wait!

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/13/10 at 2:55pm

I was there last night as well and LOVED it. Actors were great all around and Act 2 was just so hilarious. I hope word of mouth spreads quickly and that this is a huge hit.

Seeing it again in the end of April.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 3/13/10 at 5:01pm

Saw the 2nd preview today. For a 2nd preview, they are in GREAT shape. A few flubbed lines, mainly from Brooke Adams (who was still hilarious), and Act 1 needs to be tightened, but overall VERY good. The design is great, with some really beautiful costumes. Everyone is also perfectly cast, literally not a weak link to be found. Tony Shalhoub and Jan Maxwell steal the show. Bartha starts off a little bland but comes into his own about half way through Act 1. It's a very good revival, and with some tightening in Act 1, it will be a fantastic one.

I sound like such a shill, but this really was magical. It's so rare to see a show in such great shape so early. Hopefully it'll be a big hit and have a healthy run.

[gcontini2]

Posted: 3/14/10 at 5:10pm

Wickedfan - couldn't agree more about the shape this production is in so early on.
One thing that occurred to me after seeing Friday is how this cast is full of "guy's guys", meaning that this is going to be a draw for men/husbands who might normally just be dragged by their wives to see something. Because of who the cast is, and because Tucci has them doing such outrageous physical comedy, this one really could really pull in the Spamalot demographic, even though it is more sophisticated on many levels.

[fflagg]

Posted: 3/14/10 at 6:11pm

After the nasty things the playwright said about Carol Burnett I will not give him one cent of my money with this or any other play he mounts. He is a hack.

[Gink]

Posted: 3/14/10 at 11:06pm

I took a 15, 14, and 11 year old to see the Saturday 2:00 show--we all LOVED it. A lot went over the 11 year old's head in the second act, but the teens were howling. This is only the second time we've seen a show in previews (Birdie was the first--and we were hoping they'd make some BIG changes) but I thought it was fantastic as is and the audience was lol throughout. I can only imagine it will get better, but it was great--highly recommend!

[newintown]

Posted: 3/15/10 at 11:27am

Does anyone else find it odd that, although Bartha is playing the lead in this show, all the marketing and press is focusing on Shaloub and LaPaglia? Granted, they are more famous, but they're playing supporting characters. The play is about Max (Bartha). Unless the audience loves him most, isn't something missing? I still think fondly of how beautifully hilarious and adorable Garber was in the original production.

[DryMartini]

Posted: 3/15/10 at 11:47am

Is Jan Maxwell's role considered a supporting role? If so, could she get nominated for both best supporting actress for this and best actress for "The Royal Family"?

I think she is beyond a genius and really want her to get a Tony Award already!

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/15/10 at 12:02pm

I do think there's a very good chance Jan Maxwell could vs. Jan Maxwell.

[gcontini2]

Posted: 3/15/10 at 12:17pm

"Does anyone else find it odd that, although Bartha is playing the lead in this show, all the marketing and press is focusing on Shaloub and LaPaglia? Granted, they are more famous, but they're playing supporting characters. The play is about Max (Bartha)"...

Not odd at all... Bartha is making his Broadway debut and though quite talented, is still up-and-coming and hardly as well known as Shalhoub and LaPaglia, each of whom have earned multiple awards in their long stage, tv, and film careers (Emmys, Golden Globes,etc). They are just better known to a wider theater audience at this time and marketing is about selling tickets so that your show can stay open.

By the way, I'm not sure I agree that LMAT is "Max's play", but even if it were that doesn't ever automatically mean top billing for young Bartha. There are many examples of this in show business. No one would argue, for example, that Angela Lansbury's part is the main character in A Little Night Music (it isn't), but she is a star and her name will always sell more tickets than Alexander Hansons's, who as Fredrik Egerman has a bigger role.
Updated On: 3/15/10 at 12:17 PM

[newintown]

Posted: 3/15/10 at 12:29pm

All very true, Contini, but I sometimes wonder if that approach can undermine the show a bit.

I mean, the audience members who aren't familiar with Tenor or Night Music come in, focusing on the stars, thinking that the show is going to be about them. And perhaps it takes time for them to change gears when they realize "Oh, this is about Frederick and Desiree, not Angela Lansbury," or "Oh, this is about that young guy, Max, learning how to stand up for himself." But there's still a lingering disconnect between what they expected and what they're seeing. I think that this was one reason for the failure of "Moon Over Buffalo." Audiences expected a farce starring carol Burnett, but the play was really about Phillip Bosco's character.

I'm not sure how it can be argued that Max is not the center of tenor, though - the play really is all about his journey from nebbish to hero.