Nathan Lane opens in TRUMBO

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Posted: 9/5/03 at 11:40am

hmm, I'm surprised I don't see a thread about this yet......has anyone here seen TRUMBO? Mr. Lane received nice reviews for this.

[JailyardGuy]

Posted: 9/5/03 at 11:53am

I went to see it several nights ago. It was quite a good performance on Nathan's part, as well as his (INCREDIBLY GORGEOUS) co-star, but there were a few sections that Nathan might have not been optimally suited for. He tends to play everything a bit too comedically, even when it shouldn't be, but those moments are generally more than made up for by the *intended* comedic moments, such as his brilliant masturbation monologue.

My only other quarrel with the production is that it's really quite a lot of money to see someone sit on stage and read letters. (Which is what he does...the entire show is him sitting at a desk, reading letters with some occasional commentary/narration by Trumbo's son's character). Overall, though, quite entertaining! If you're a Lane fan, definitely go see it before his engagement is over (which I believe is in four weeks).

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 9/5/03 at 11:55am

I saw it when Nathan was doing it for "one night only" a few months ago.

I love Nathan (and will see him in anything) but I was dissapointed in TRUMBO. The problem is that while Trumbo's story is very meaty, a reading of his letters (that were not written for dramatic presentation on stage) lacks a certain theatrical heft. Nathan's fine, but he doesn't have much of an oppertunity do really "do" anything with the material with the exception of two letters - one to his son in college about the joys of masturbation (Nathan devoured that like a porterhouse steak!) and one to his young daughter (it may have been the son when a tot), which Nathan delivered with great tenderness and delicacy. But I suspect that the letters are more effective and powerful read on a page rather than performed on stage.

For me, TRUMBO only whets my appetite for BUTLEY, which I hope to see in Boston next month. That's something that he should really sink his chops into!

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Posted: 9/5/03 at 12:07pm

hmmmmmmmmmmmmm, interesting:)).....

[CourtneyM]

Posted: 9/5/03 at 12:52pm

trumbo was very good. nathan lane and his co-star are both phenomenal.