Yay! Can't wait for this!!!
According to the Chicago Tribune, Nathan Lane will star in the Goodman Theatre production of Eugene O'Neill's "The Iceman Cometh." The show will be directed by Robert Falls and will run in Spring 2012. Falls commented: "Nathan had approached me about wanting to work on an O'Neill play and I have finally been able to put together this project I have been working on for three years. I think this is the greatest American play."
Lane added, "I thought that if I was going to climb this mountain, I should do it in a city where I feel comfortable and with people with whom I feel comfortable."
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Wow. Fascinating casting!
Um......ok. Asking a lot from a one trick pony, no?
Updated On: 7/14/11 at 05:16 PM
I wonder how many people would share the view that it's the greatest American play?
After seeing him in Godot, I'd love to see him do Hickey. Not ideal casting, but Nathan always is an intelligent performer. It'll be interesting.
He's obviously trying to escape his schtick. (The discussion of the fact that he totally created the persona he's now trying to escape is for another thread) He said that ADDAMS FAMILY would be his last musical (at least for a while) and he's not hurting for money, so he can pretty much play whatever role he wants.
There is absolutely no reason why Lane shouldn't be great as Hickey. Imaginative casting is not the same as miscasting. In this case my imagination is engaged.
You know, before he had schtick, he had talent.
He still has that talent and is anything but a one trick pony.
People who aren't real fans of his or just don't know his work well, only know him for the things he's type cast as. Forum, The Producers, Birdcage, Lion King, Mousehunt. He's SO much more than all of those things. The man is never used to his full potential and it's not because he chooses not to be. Both Broadway and Hollywood have type cast him. Horribly. I am so glad he's getting to do a role that really will speak for his acting. Much like he did in Butley. It really would just take one good drama for him to make it in Hollywood. Instead of casting him as the loud, funny, gay New Yorker in everything.
I staged the Iceman Cometh and nobody cameth!
Sory, couldn't resist.
Lane is an outstanding actor with a lot of range, as his recent work in Butley (where he was robbed of a Tont nomination) and Waiting for Godot proved. Yes, he's probably the best musical comedy performer I've seem onstage, but he's so much more than just that.
I hope this eventually finds it's way to Broadway, because I'd love to see it.
The Iceman Cometh? That's a funny name for a play.
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
Lane is actually closer in appearance and personality to the way O'Neill describes the character than Robards, Dennehy, Spacey, etc.
I was too young to see Lane's acclaimed performances in LIPS TOGETHER, TEETH APART and THE FILM SOCIETY. I thought he was miscast in BUTLEY (a play that definitely did not need reviving, either) and while good in GODOT, nowhere near the extraordinary level of Bill Irwin's performance. Here's hoping he does well here. I'd say with Dennehy co-starring and Falls directing, they probably have an eye towards Broadway.
So there.
I hope a Broadway transfer is possible, but Nathan is working on his new TV series, which I assume would probably film in California...
I love how you state an opinion on here and then someone shoot back an erudite comment like, "so there," as if I'm demanding that what I wrote be taken as law. Although many critics and theatergoers DID find Lane miscast and lacking in BUTLEY, or did cite him as the weak link in GODOT. Go read the reviews.
Understudy Joined: 6/1/08
The reviews for Butley were mixed, although the show did recoup. Godot got generally terrific reviews, was a huge success for the Roundabout, and Lane was not cited as the weak link. I did read the reviews. There were some that had trouble with Irwin.
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/19/06
Anyone else remember Nathan Lane flat out saying "I'm doing "The Iceman Cometh" in Chicago" during his whole "TAF will be my last musical" interview?
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