Lithgow's final performance wows!

[IssaMe]

Posted: 1/15/06 at 10:16pm

Sad to see Broadway's greatest team break up...no, not Nathan and Matthew but John and Norbert.

Spectacular performance tonight (Sunday)...Lithgow's entrance got an ovation that most hits don't even get at their curtain.

Many highlights - and moving moments...little bits between the actors.

But real fun were the surprise guests sprung on Lithgow for his final performance...at the end in costume popped up people he had worked with before like Hyde-Pierce, Errico, D'Arcy James, Noseworthy, Sternhagen...and the biggest surprise of all - his replacement Jonathan Pyrce playing the real estate investor that they scam in Spanish in the final scene.

Yazbek also took part in the final scene.

Lithgow's daughter Phoebe was brought out on stage too.

Instantaneous standing ovation during the song "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" at the end...and of course another one at the bows.

Marty Bell presented onstage gifts and introductions...John got giant framed poster of the various comic window cards for the show headed "Goodbye to a Real Pro and a Great Con!"

Ensemble dancer turned producer (of The Color Purple), Andrew Asnes (who is also leaving the show tonight) given his framed headshot with "producer" added to "actor" at the bottom.

Lovely curtain speech from Lithgow - who called Jack O'Brien onstage from the audience. You can really see how he considers this cast, crew and creative team family.

Very, very emotional and quite touching all around.

Brilliant evening...and Butz has NEVER been better - rising to the occasion of losing his partner (in crime and laughs).

They all gave their all and the audience loved it.

A stunning evening.

He will be missed!




Updated On: 1/15/06 at 10:16 PM

[James2]

Posted: 1/15/06 at 10:20pm

That sounded wonderful. I wish I could have been there.

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 1/15/06 at 10:21pm

Aww.... good to hear. Lithgow was fantastic in the show, and I'm glad i got to see Norbert and him act together.

Sounds like a lot of fun with all those guests!

Congrats on a great run John!

[wendy72]

Posted: 1/15/06 at 10:38pm

Where did John and David Hyde-Pierce perform together? And the part about Jonathan Pryce playing the part at the end--priceless!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/15/06 at 10:53pm

Im going to DRS on Dec 31st, I hope Jonathan Pryce is good.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 1/15/06 at 11:02pm

What a fantastic evening. Norbert gave a thousand percent, and never lost the opportunity to give John a hug or jump on top of him, especially during the scene shifts where the set rotated upstage. Sherie was full force and wow did she belt that ending of Here I Am. Amazing! The final scene was so sweet. Norbert never had a dry eye during their final dialogue, and John's face was beet red trying to hold it all in. The final applause after the Dirty Rotten Number was astounding, really. And you could definitely hear the cast screaming backstage at the same time! It was really funny when Jonathan Pryce came on, someone near us screamed because they thought he was Steve Martin! A fantastic, touching evening for a truly beloved actor. One to remember.

[Mamie]

Posted: 1/15/06 at 11:53pm

I hope you didn't really mean Dec 31st - or you missed it.

[Madhatter]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 12:04am

Sounds like it was a great show tonight. I'm glad I got to see him and the rest of the original cast.
Congratulations John on great performances!

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 12:04am

Sounds like an amazing night.

You were lucky to be there.

But, what I am dying to know is how was Sbarro's?

j/k

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 12:06am

Sounds great!

[TennesseeTwang]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 12:10am

So what's next for John? A return to TV? A movie role? There's nothing on IMDB for future screen roles.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 12:12am

Wow, I really, really wish I could have gone.

[SirLiir]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 12:15am

It was spectacular. Nothing more to be said. Very sad but very touching speech by John. Everyone was crying. Oh and the Jonathan Pryce cameo was brilliant!

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 12:18am

It is sad to see him go.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 12:55am

Okay, as promised/usual, loong review of everything I could remember, apologize for repeats.

First off, what an amazing audience. I mean, it's understandable, but still. Everyone got some sort of entrance applause including Greg, Sara, and the ensemble. John of course got tremendous applause at the end of the overture. Screaming, clapping, laughing so hard at everything, it's such a treat to see a show with an audience so into it. Actually, a couple of people in the front row were so into it a couple other people and I thought they knew Norbert, apparently not, as he gave me a weird look when I asked him about that...oops.

Everyone's performances and energy were top-notch tonight, especially Norbert in his physical comedy. I heard a little hoarseness here and there when he spoke, but like others have said, considering his vocal problems, he was simply amazing. And John of course gave 1,000%. He screamed and screamed at Norbert when they get into the fight before they make the bet. It was great to see Sara too as she's temporarily leaving to do Grey Gardens, and will be missed for a couple of months. Sherie reached amazingly high notes yet again and Greg and Joanna were their superb, talented, adorable selves.

Now, little fun moments throughout. John laughed quite a bit. During the end of GBS when he and Greg were sitting on the bench and everyone is in front so they can barely be seen, I was in the box so I saw he was trying to cover his mouth but he was laughing so hard, it was really cute. He also totally cracked up when Norbert first walked on as Ruprecht.

Even better, at the end of Shiffhausen, as they were turning, Norbert was either grabbing or feeling up(I couldn't tell) John's umm...tushi. We saw John make a shocked OMG face when he noticed, jump and turn to push Norbert's wheelchair laughing like he was gonna kill him. And at the end of the Reckoning, again when the stage was turning, you could see Norbert doing something to John...I thought he was humping him, but apparently he was strangling him. It was hard to tell the difference.

Also, a nice little thing I was able to notice and watch from the box...during The More We Dance, David Yazbek went into the pit and started playing percussion! The other drummer was helping him out a bit, but he seemed to be doing a very good job. When the music slowed down, he began waving his hands as if he was conducting (at this point whoever was there might have heard totally random laughing with apparently no reason for...well that was me and that's why I was laughing, sorry about that, tried to keep it quiet), then he finished, and while we were clapping the actors, the pit was clapping David, and he held his hands together and moved them from shoulder to shoulder to accept their applause. Maybe you had to see it, but it was hysterical to watch.

Okay, now we get down to it. Norbert and John are in the chairs for Dirty Rotten Number. You could tell Norbert was already really emotional, was really upset with his "nooo." He was crying mostly while John was singing, which made me cry. John held it together pretty well until...I'm not positive someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think he started crying and lost the words to the last part of the chorus before Norbert comes in. Or maybe a little before that. Again, made me cry. Of course when Norbert came in, and sang his "you've been working with the best," and pointed to John there was a huge pause for the audience to scream and cheer like crazy, you could see how close they were. They made it through the rest of the song, but then the "good-bye Freddy" part was so sad, they hugged really long, I could see tears in Norbert, couldn't see John's face though.

And then everyone comes on for their final scene...except I realize there's a lot more people than usual. Immediately I recognize that the swings and standbys have joined the cast on the stage, then David Yazbek, then finally Jonathan Pryce(oops), and then original cast member Grasan Kransberry in his old costume, and I think a couple other original cast members who might have left, though I can't say for sure. Then suddenly I see David Hyde Pierce and I was like oh wow...okay. Anyway, the show finished w/ one small ad-lib...instead of telling Pryce we'll go up to my villa to discuss details, he said we'll go up to my dressing room.

Okay, so curtain call. As stated, the producer came out, talked about and presented Andrew's thing, also mentioned that because he's a producer, he doesn't need this gig any more and is therefore leaving. (and they laughed). Then he introduced most of the random people on the stage--Yazbek, his daughter, co-stars, Pierce, Pryce, etc. Also thanked Tom for letting Jonathan play his part tonight, which I thought was very classy to do. Then he presented John's thing which again was explaining and then John spoke. Let's see what I can remember...

First, he said he would like to apologize to all of the people who came to the show tonight having no clue that this was his last night(heard quite a few of those comments in the lobby while walking in), which received laughs and cheers, but to please indulge him for a couple minutes anyway. First he thanked the producers, the pit, raved about conductor Fred Lassen, and then I think it was...the crew who he said this about...he said he likes them even though they're not Red Sox fans and recently got him a gift of a Yankees jersey w/ "Damon" on it. (Big cheer from me). He mentioned how wonderful his personal assistant Patrick was, and how he will miss him. Thanked all the costume and wig people, especially the person who has to struggle to get his wig on every night. He mentioned the ensemble, and said 80% of them have been with the show since it's first curtain rise in San Diego. He mentioned each individual principle, called Sherie something cute...shoot anyone remember what it was? And then said and finally his comic partner, Norbert, big hug, and I know he said more but I definitely remember he said something to the effect of Norbert will get over it and be fine w/o John but John doesn't think he will w/o Norbert. Very sweet.

And finally he talked about what a great experience it was, sometimes he doesn't know how he can actually leave but then he mentioned Jeffrey Lane and David Yazbek for writing wonderful songs and stories and these appropriate words:

"It was a ball, it was a blast. It was a shame it couldn't last, but every chapter has to end, you must agree. It was a joy, it was sublime, a splendid way to earn a dime" (laughter from audience) and ended it with something like and all of these people know at heart I will always be a dirty rotten guy. And then he hugged very tightly essentially every single person on that stage. It was so cute. You could see how tight and close that cast is, and how esteemed John is, from the box I could see the wings were filled with dressers and everyone trying to see.

It was a very bittersweet night. Fantastic performance, great speeches, fun, but sad that we're losing John. But still, excited for Mr. Pryce, who was incredibly sweet and signed for everyone at the stage door despite it being very cold and the fact that well he wasn't really in the show tonight, I took a picture w/ him, certainly a nice, classy guy is taking over, and I am excited.

Props to anyone involved with tonight's performance, what a wonderful evening!

Updated On: 1/16/06 at 12:55 AM

[Dre2387]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 1:12am

first video link:

first speech video

Updated On: 1/16/06 at 01:12 AM

[Dre2387]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 1:23am

here's the second one:
second speech video

[SirLiir]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 1:30am

And again, some pics I took after the show:

http://photobucket.com/albums/b76/RPGTess/johnslastshow/

[gavrochegirl]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 1:42am

Thank you Ryan for the pictures, Dre for the two videos, and Amanda for the detailed review!

[SirLiir]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 1:47am

You are very welcome. Still, its a sad day for DRS but Jonathan Pyrce looks ready to take up the task!

[Dre2387]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 1:55am

one more video of John's speech.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 1:57am

Sounds like it was an awesome night.

Hate to be a party pooper, but isn't it illegal, and expressly stated at the performance (either by announcement or in the program) that the video recording of the performance is strictly forbidden?

[AnnaB]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 2:08am

Sounds like it was an excellent night, and thanks so much for the links! One question; what do the captions say on the posters John was given?

[Dre2387]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 2:09am

uh yeah but this is after the performance. once bows take place, anything can happen. here is John's speech video
john's speech

[Parks]

Posted: 1/16/06 at 2:10am

well, any kind of recording is strictly forbidden--but since SHE only recorded the curtain call (well, speech), I don't think it's as big of a deal. It's a special occasion. I could be wrong though.

Thanks for the pictures and the videos

Updated On: 1/16/06 at 02:10 AM