Mullally to exit LIPS TOGETHER, TEETH APART? — Page 2

Isn't the American Airlines a rather big theatre for such a quiet little play? I recall it fitting OK at MTC back in the first production, where they could sit 10 feet from the audience, but at the AA, they'll need to shout those small feelings, won't they?

It's sort of unorthodox I know, but I actually would have bought a ticket to see the play. I'm so counter-culture like that. A sort of Gay Byker on Red Bull for a post-pre-post-modern anti-establishment Roundabout roustabout celebrity whore ambivalist.

---

If I had a choice between seeing Lips Together on Broadway with a cast of unknowns or Megan Mullally in "anything" simply because she is Megan Mullally, I'd go with Lips Together. I've seen Young Frankenstein without Megan and it's not like she could actually improve the material or make the show tolerable (especially given how small the role is). I've seen her talk show which made me question if How to Succeed and Will & Grace were all she had to offer and how she could get through any episode without evaporating into a smog-tinged puff of acrid humiliation. I don't know if Megan is really everything to pin one's hopes on when attending a show. If this were a one-woman cabaret act, then I could understand the disappointment, but there is a possibility that it could still be a good play with someone else in the role. And if the rumors are true, there is nothing unprofessional about leaving a job when your boss is abusive. It's the boss who is being unprofessional.

---

Updated On: 3/24/10 at 04:06 PM

She's always seemed like a one trick pony to me so I don't consider this a great loss to the production. I'm still looking forward to seeing the play.

.

Updated On: 3/24/10 at 05:23 PM

I'd hardly call Mullally a one trick pony.

Yeah she doesn't resemble a pony at all.

---

They're probably waiting to announce which performances will be cancelled until they find a replacement. If they get someone by tomorrow morning, say, they may need to only cancel one or two previews. If it takes a day or two they may need even more rehearsal time.

Also, Patrick Healy in the New York Times has this to add:

"While Mr. Mantello discussed having a temper and working on patience in a New York Times profile in 2004, one theater executive familiar with Ms. Mullally’s departure said on Wednesday evening that Ms. Mullally’s relationship with Mr. Mantello was not her main source of unhappiness with the production, and that involved another person. The executive, who described the private discussions on condition of anonymity, would not offer further explanation."

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/megan-mullally-departs-lips-together-teeth-apart/

Updated On: 3/24/10 at 08:19 PM

I also have tickets to the first preview. Do they give tickets to another performance or just send refunds when a preview is cancelled?

---

I think Ana Gasteyer is a brilliant casting idea. She has already worked with Mantello with Wicked Chicago, so I assume she can stand him

---

There are of course two sides to every story. Mullally has a reputation for being as difficult to work with as Joe Mantello. I'm sure we'll find out more to the story soon. Pagin Mr. Riedel...

And I'm not really understanding the poster who said she's unprofessional for backing out. There obviously was something going on that was making the experience miserable for her. I'm sure that all parties have been aware of this for some time. I can't imagine that her exit was a shocker to anyone involved with the production and that her representation attempted to seek a solution to the problem before she decided to jump shift. If it was escalating, with Mantello or anyone else, I can't blame her for departing (breach of contract or not). She's at a point in her career where she doesn't need to ride through a miserable experience.

If she survived Mel Brooks, this must've been pretty bad.

---

Michael Bennett, I'm familiar with stories of Joe Mantello being a difficult director - they usually seem to involve him pitting two performers against each other (Lane v. Broadway; Chenoweth v. Menzel) - but I don't recall hearing much, if anything, negative about Mullally. That doesn't mean it's not true, of course. Where do these stories of her being difficult come from?