Dedications or Stuff of Dreams (Nathan Lane)

I'm going tonight. I'll post my thoughts tomorrow.

Not to take anything away from Nathan, but what's so impressive? Two roles in a year is impressive? Heck, there are people out there who do two shows AT THE SAME TIME. There are thousands of actors in rep companies around the country and the world who do a dozen or more different roles a year. Most of my actor friends in NYC, do 5 or 6+ off and/or off-off plays every year (plus readings and workshops and commercial work). And let's not talk about people in soap operas and weekly hour long series on tv who have dozens of pages of new dialogue to learn every day.

Sorry, doing two shows in an entire year (and having PLENTY of rehearsal time prior to each) is hardly a big deal. Most decent actors do more than that.

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Well, I'm impressed by anyone who can remember lines even in a single show (I'm not an actor). At a Q&A after a play with Patrick Stewart, I remember one question and answer. He was asked what was his least favorite part of doing a play, and he said - learning the lines. He wished there was a computer chip you could stick in your head for each play so you didn't have to memorize the lines.

I don't see how people do it, I can't remember what I just had for lunch!

No one's debating whether Lane works hard, but in my opinion, he doesn't work any harder than most decent actors out there -- few of whom make even a fraction of the $100,000/week he got paid for The Producers or the $50,000/week he'll get for the Odd Couple. I don't begrudge him the money -- he's earned it. But, if I were going to give an award for the hardest working stage actor around, he wouldn't make my top 1000. It would go to one of my friends (or their colleagues) who go from play to play to play (usually for a salary that barely amounts to cab fare) in the city and around the country, to audition after audition, non paying workshops and showcases and readings, and waiting tables or bartending for hours on end to keep a roof over their heads. THEY deserve an award for hard work, not Lane.

Putting all that aside, I did see the show last week and found it enjoyable for the most part. It was a surprisingly heartfelt, bittersweet, sentimental work from McNally, celebrating the importance and the healing power of the theatre. Lane was in a much more somber, low-energy mode that usual, but was nonetheless, more or less effective. Seldes is Seldes, giving her usual master class in the art of acting with each glance and movement. R.E. Rodgers was at his scene-stealing best as the chauffer and Michael Countryman was solid.

Alison Fraser struck me as a bit strident and uncertain as Lane's partner. Miriam Shor and Darren Pettie do what they can with the underwritten, stock characters they've been given, but McNally really hasn't given them anything to play (also perhaps part of the problem with Fraser's performance).

The direction by Michael Morris plods in places and lacks energy. He relies too much on Lane and Seldes to carry the evening -- which they more or less do -- but gives them little support. Seldes is gifted enough to give a great perfomance in a vacuum (which she sometimes has to do here) and Lane is always watchable, but his performance is so subdued and unengaged that at times he appears drowsy and overmedicated (I half expected him to start yawning and lay down on the stage and take a nap a few times).

But, it's always a pleasure to see Seldes and Lane on stage, even in a production and play that's as unfocused and torpid as this one. McNally has created an occasionally evocative, melancholy mood piece with some occasionally funny zingers for his two leads and some charming things to say about life, death, hope, art and inspiration. A pity that the overall production fails to be imbued with the kind of theatrical magic it attempts to celebrate.

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Margo, as I said in my first post, I DON'T disagree with you. There ARE plenty of hardworking actors out there. I don't want to vote on who works harder than someone else. I think the statement here was just that Lane works hard and is dedicated to his craft, not that he worked harder than all other actors in the business.

Both Seldes and Lane are constantly working and that's great. When people get to a certain point in their career, it is tempting to lay back and just take certain projects or to live on the money you are making and not work for months at a time. Really dedicated artists don't do that.

As for the salaries you quote, I'm surprised to see this come up again after Lane AND Broderick have denied the salaries and said that the press was exaggerating. Whether you believe them or not, no one has ever confirmed these salaries, and thereby shot down what NL and MB said...so whatever they are making...they are making...working hard is still working hard and I would say that they have brought some interest back to the theater on the part of those tourists and audience members who were previously wandering away, which is also worth something.

As for your review of the show, I do agree that the piece needs work, though with the new ending now in place, I doubt McNally will do anything more during this run. Perhaps he might undertake some rewrites later...only he knows that for sure.

I agree that Lane and Seldes make this show worth watching and there are moments of good dialogue in the play that could be expanded, some scenes that could be tightened or cut, and some character background that could make the play more meaningful.

But I'll leave all of that to McNally. As for Lane seeming to be drowsy, I didn't find that to be true. He IS playing a more subtle character...NOT Max B or Pseudolos, and he isn't center stage at all times, but he is clearly engaged in what is going on. I like seeing actors do things that allow them to show their talent in other areas, and hopefully prevent the studious pigeon-holing that most audience members like to engage in.

There are lots of other comments I might make about the cast and the writing but I'll save that for the critics, and will not spoil the plot for those who have not yet seen the show. The show can use some work, but if you haven't seen it yet, I think it's worth seeing Seldes and Lane together on the stage!

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