Nathan Lane in High Button Shoes

[goldenboy]

Posted: 2/4/12 at 11:14am

High Button Shoes has not been seen on Broadway since 1948. How about Nathan Lane in the Phil Silvers role????

I wouldn't only buy a ticket, I'd invest.

Such classic songs like Pappa won't you dance with me? and
I still get jealous.

Bring back something that is worth reviving.

[Overkill]

Posted: 2/4/12 at 11:23am

Nathan is great for almost literally anything Phil Silvers or Jackie Gleason ever played. He'd be great in this show, but I think Martin Short would be even better suited.

I agree though, why can't we get great, new revivals? Even Bye, Bye Birdie wasn't revived until that awful John Stamos production. So sad.

[Jon]

Posted: 2/4/12 at 7:05pm

The show would be perfect for Encores, but could never run commercially. It's a show that depends on several big production numbers to make up for a paper-thin plot.

The show was customized for Phil Silvers, who developed his own comedy routines during rehearsals. The original script at tyhe start of the process actually said "at this point, Phil does a monologue where he addresses the bird watchers' club" and "Here, Phil does a monologue where he tries to sell the swamp land to the neighbors", etc. Those ad-libbed routines were eventually written down for the published script.

It would be great if Encores did it and recorded it, since the original cast recording only has about half of the songs.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 2/4/12 at 7:55pm

I agree that HIGH BUTTON SHOES is long overdue for a revival. I was in a summer stock production of the show in the 60's and felt the score was absolutely terrific. It would be a great project for Susan Stroman because the Atlantic City ballet is the kind of thing she does extremely well.

Yes, either Martin Short or Nathan Lane, but how about Marin and Jason as Mama and Papa?

[Jon]

Posted: 2/4/12 at 10:11pm

If it's Nathan, it has to be Ernie Sabella as Pontdue.