Nathan Lane and Laura Bush

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 2/8/04 at 8:33pm

First Lady Laura Bush visited THE PRODUCERS this afternoon with her daughters.

The following ad libs (paraphrased) were told to me by the ever-delightful CaTheaterGirl (who attended todays performance) so she must the credit for breaking the story. I am only the messenger.

Nathan (looking out in the audience. Ms. Bush was sitting in one of the orchestra seats surrounded by Secret Service Men):

"What is this, the Nuremberg trials? Isn't there a DEMOCRAT in the house?!" (WILD applause and cheers)

Matthew: (in the context of an ad lib referring to the President) "Well, I respect THE OFFICE." (phone rings)
Nathan: "Its for you. Your balls are ready."

There were appearantly a lot of ad-libbed anti-Bush zingers along the way and Matthew at one point mimes hammering nails in the front of the stage. Nathan: "What are you doing?" "Matthew: "Putting up the fourth wall."

I hope the deligtful CaTheaterGirl will chime in here with more recollections!

Lord, HOW much do I love these boys?!?

[CaTheatreGirl]

Posted: 2/8/04 at 9:03pm

Very good recommection, Master. Only it was Nathan who was renailing the fourth wall after his numerous comments to the audience. All of the adlibbinhg went on for at least a minute. The exchanges with Matthew were so fast and not that audible to me, even from my first row orchestra seat. Matthew finally got everything back on track with the "So how ARE we going to raise the money?" I hope someone else was at the show who can add more adlibbed lines.

[BroadwayBaby3]

Posted: 2/8/04 at 9:23pm

i would have walked out. that's completely unprofessional. actors should learn to keep their politics to themselves and just entertain.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 2/8/04 at 9:35pm

**rolls eyes**

[Qfan]

Posted: 2/8/04 at 9:38pm

maybe the actors were just having fun

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 2/8/04 at 9:54pm

I think they were just having fun. Especially since Laura really isn't in on the planning for policy. I think they were trying to make light of it and get a laugh for them. You know living in the White House has got to be stressful. I liked how they didn't make a big deal about seeing Millie (I think it was Millie). It would have taken away from the show. Did they make a big deal at The Producers before the show? One of my mom's friends from church married Ari Flescher. I've seen him at our church a couple of times. He never made a big deal about being there. (Even with his secret service detail some people didn't even notice, and go to a small church.) I think thats the best way for high profile people to act when they are going to see shows and some other public events too.. What is it with me and rambling posts?

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/8/04 at 10:16pm

Laura's married to Hitler don't you know. I guess that would make her Eva Braun

I lost all respect for Lane after this. Imagine if a sitting Democratic president had been treated like this. There would be an uproar like you would not believe. If I were in Lane's place, I would have done the show with no ad libs & if they came backstage, I would have been respectful to them. You do not agree with Bush fine. At least give his wife & daughters some respect, unless you think they frequent policy meetings & pushed the President to invade Iraq.

My wife & I were going to try & get tickets for him in the Odd Couple. We can do without them now & will think twice before seeing him in the future. He felt it necessary to be unprofessional & I find it necessary not to attend shows he is in.It is called freedom of choice.

I know Broadway Guy 2 will be rolling his eyes again. Like I give a flying fig. Watch out for that Holy Water you are going to bathe in because of me . It might burn you .

I agree with you BroadwayBaby 3

Updated On: 2/8/04 at 10:16 PM

[Wicked_Elphie]

Posted: 2/8/04 at 11:05pm

Oh please...if you really have such a problem with ad libbing or script changes go to a movie. I believe that stuff like this is what makes live theatre so special. Little changes make it such a personal experience.

I think I might that eye rolling thing...lighten up guys!

[Wicked_Elphie]

Posted: 2/8/04 at 11:05pm

oooppss..double post!

Updated On: 2/10/04 at 11:05 PM

[BialyBloomInc02]

Posted: 2/8/04 at 11:08pm

Oh come on people!! This is live theatre! If things like this can't be said in this uncensored environment, where else can they be said!? Take it as satire and wittiness, nothing more! After all, this is the MEL BROOKS musical - a man who stands..no, DANCES! around political incorrectness. I think this evening would have been a hoot, and I applaud the boys for poking some fun at Dubya', after all, it wasn't malicious!

Sheesh, you shouldn't take it so seriously! You'll start to be labelled a Republican!

BBi02 Updated On: 2/8/04 at 11:08 PM

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 2/8/04 at 11:12pm

EXACTLY!!!!!!

[bestofbroadway]

Posted: 2/8/04 at 11:15pm

First let me say that Bush and his presidency is a complete joke (as you can tell from my icon.) BialyBloomInc02 you raise a very valid point about Brooks and his political incorrectness. While I admit to laughing when I first read this post and applauding Nathan and Matthew's actions, I must say that after thinking about it for a while I'm a little torn. Mrs. Bush and her daughters came to support the show. I find the behavior of the actors a little tasteless in that respect. But at the same time who better to let know your disapproval than the first lady.

As for the ad-libs...come on people. The Producers cast has been ad-libbing from day one. It is very much in the spirit of Mel Brooks. If Bernadette Peters started ad-libbing in Gypsy that would be a different story. Producers is built upon it's one-liners. I don't find their behavior on stage unproffesional, but with Laura Bush coming to support the show I do find their behavior a little tasteless.

[CaTheatreGirl]

Posted: 2/8/04 at 11:17pm

It wasn't a big political deal, but just a lot of fun adlibbing and Nathan is the master of it. So no need for the rolling of eyes. After all, remember this is The Producers where so many topics are irreverent! The audience loved it.

By the way, the Bush ladies were ushered out during the curtain call to avoid the crowds, They were gone and the street was reopened for the rest of the theater people. I was not aware they were at the theater until intermission. Their attendance was pretty low key. Updated On: 2/9/04 at 11:17 PM

[EddieVarley]

Posted: 2/8/04 at 11:18pm

You know I stay out of the political stuff here most of the time, but as it is a very comedic show that at current is being fueled by it's adlibbing co-stars, nobody should be suprised. And nothing that was said was a direct insult nor disrespectful, c'mon it's Nathan Lane, he could anyone laugh at anything, most of all themselves!

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 2/8/04 at 11:18pm

i find it very tasteful.

[bestofbroadway]

Posted: 2/8/04 at 11:21pm

I think they should have gone to see Avenue Q...

"But only for now...George Bush"

The night I saw there were roars of applause from the audience.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 12:08am

"Imagine if a sitting Democratic president had been treated like this. There would be an uproar like you would not believe."

Actually, Roxy, I believe they would have made just as many jokes if there were a sitting ELECTED Democratic president and I do not believe there would have been any uproar. You're always lamenting that the "politically correct" limit what can be said onstage, in fact you predicted that Blazing Saddles would never make a stage musical due to "political correctness." Don't you see for Lane and Broderick to NOT make cracks would have been to cave into the very political correctness you rail against? It is politically INcorrect to say the things they did in this era... and that is what The Producers is all about. You see, when you speak against the powerful, political elite, that's politically incorrect. I'm sorry, you just can't have it both ways, Rox.

And finally, you're always doing your hypotheses along the lines of... "If we had a DEMOCRATIC president then we'd have already been hit again by terrorists" or "If Dean gets elected we'll...," or this latest one, "there would be an unproar like you wouldn't believe." Um, no there wouldn't! Don't you just see, it's all guesses, and nothing makes your guesses more or less likely to be right than mine. Except the big difference between you and me is that you ignore ALL EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY of your predictions!

And BroadwayBaby3, why is it that Democrat celebrities are told to shut up and entertain and Republican celebrities are elected? At long last, could you please articulate that double standard for me?

Updated On: 2/9/04 at 12:08 AM

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 6:50am

Wonder if Lane met the first lady aftwerwards& shooke her hand. If so, did he meticulously wash up afterward ? Just wondering .

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 7:30am

Remember the contentous Wicked thread? I was appalled by the ad libbing that caused a break in the momentum of the show. As reported, it sounded quite unprofessional. In the case of The Producers, it sounds like the ad libbing is encorporated into the goings-on and actually ignites the momentum. Unless the ad libs were nasty, which it doesn't sound like, in this case, isn't it all in the spirit of the show? As to Bush being the butt of jokes? He's laughed, on at on a daily basis for incompetence, ignorance and lying about life and death issues. Clinton, flawed as he may be, was drawn and quartered over lying about an affair. How many Clinton and the cigar jokes (information we should never have been privy to in the first place) did we have to endure? No one was worried about how THAT might have hurt Hilary's feelings.

Makes me wish I'd sprung for the big bucks to see this show one more time.

Updated On: 2/9/04 at 07:30 AM

[nyctopone]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 8:14am

Mr.Roxy said "My wife & I were going to try & get tickets for him in the Odd Couple. We can do without them now & will think twice before seeing him in the future. He felt it necessary to be unprofessional & I find it necessary not to attend shows he is in.It is called freedom of choice."

Yeah I bet that will really make Nathan Lane upset.

Yawn.

As for me, it makes me sorry I didn't buy tickets to see Lane and Brodericks return to the Producers.

[Corine2]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 8:23am

I love it.
Wish i was there that is hilarious. I actually like Laura to bad she can't be President. She seems smarter then her husband.
Why didn't Bush go was he playing golf?
Clinton goes to the theater with his wife. Updated On: 2/9/04 at 08:23 AM

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 12:39pm

Actors are only human and can have fun on the job, too.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 12:45pm

I guess Roxy missed Nathan on Conan's show a couple weeks ago when he said he figured Bush wanted to send people to Mars so he could put all the gay couples who want to get married there. "Go to Mars, you homos!" he said. Then he said, "I say if he wants to go to Mars, let's send him to Mars. They say 'in space, nobody can hear you scream.' Or mispronounce big words."

Although Roxy is right. If it had been a Democrat president there would have been riots in the streets if anybody had made such a joke. As you recall when Clinton was president, nobody ever made a joke at his expense. Not once. Ever. Because of the liberal bias that we all "misunderestimate" in the media.

Updated On: 2/9/04 at 12:45 PM

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 12:48pm

please, folks, i would have been shocked if they had not ad-libbed something. that's the kinda show it is, as namo and others pointed out. a few ad-libs here and there should not be and are not crimes against humanity here, geez. i doubt that laura and the girls are so thin skinned as to take huge offense to it (especially considering some of the crap that gets tossed regularly around about the twins). if they're not complaining, why are you?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 12:53pm

Why can't you teach Roxy to not be so knee-jerk, papa? Papa? Can you hear me?