Nathan Lane to Star in Goodman Theatre's The Iceman Cometh

#1

Nathan Lane to Star in Goodman Theatre's The Iceman Cometh

Posted: 7/14/11 at 5:02pm

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."


Read More

#2

Nathan Lane to Star in Goodman Theatre's The Iceman Cometh

Posted: 7/14/11 at 5:11pm

Wow. Fascinating casting!

#3

Nathan Lane to Star in Goodman Theatre's The Iceman Cometh

Posted: 7/14/11 at 5:16pm

Um......ok. Asking a lot from a one trick pony, no?

Updated On: 7/14/11 at 05:16 PM

#4

Nathan Lane to Star in Goodman Theatre's The Iceman Cometh

Posted: 7/14/11 at 6:25pm

I wonder how many people would share the view that it's the greatest American play?

---

Beyoncé is not an ally. Actions speak louder than words, Mrs. Carter. #Dubai #$$$

#5

Nathan Lane to Star in Goodman Theatre's The Iceman Cometh

Posted: 7/14/11 at 6:35pm

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.

#6

Nathan Lane to Star in Goodman Theatre's The Iceman Cometh

Posted: 7/14/11 at 6:44pm

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.

---

"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe." -John Guare, Landscape of the Body

#7

Nathan Lane to Star in Goodman Theatre's The Iceman Cometh

Posted: 7/14/11 at 11:09pm

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.

#8

Nathan Lane to Star in Goodman Theatre's The Iceman Cometh

Posted: 7/14/11 at 11:33pm

You know, before he had schtick, he had talent.

---

#9

Nathan Lane to Star in Goodman Theatre's The Iceman Cometh

Posted: 7/15/11 at 1:58am

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.

#10

Nathan Lane to Star in Goodman Theatre's The Iceman Cometh

Posted: 7/15/11 at 3:06am

I staged the Iceman Cometh and nobody cameth!

Sory, couldn't resist.

---

"Broadway...I'll lick you yet!"

#11

Nathan Lane to Star in Goodman Theatre's The Iceman Cometh

Posted: 7/15/11 at 9:48am

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.

#12

Nathan Lane to Star in Goodman Theatre's The Iceman Cometh

Posted: 7/15/11 at 9:56am

The Iceman Cometh? That's a funny name for a play.

#13

Nathan Lane to Star in Goodman Theatre's The Iceman Cometh

Posted: 7/15/11 at 10:54am

Lane is actually closer in appearance and personality to the way O'Neill describes the character than Robards, Dennehy, Spacey, etc.

#14

Nathan Lane to Star in Goodman Theatre's The Iceman Cometh

Posted: 7/15/11 at 11:06am

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.

---

"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe." -John Guare, Landscape of the Body

#15

Nathan Lane to Star in Goodman Theatre's The Iceman Cometh

Posted: 7/15/11 at 12:52pm

So there.

---

A work of art is an invitation to love.

#16

Nathan Lane to Star in Goodman Theatre's The Iceman Cometh

Posted: 7/15/11 at 1:37pm

I hope a Broadway transfer is possible, but Nathan is working on his new TV series, which I assume would probably film in California...

#17

Nathan Lane to Star in Goodman Theatre's The Iceman Cometh

Posted: 7/15/11 at 5:29pm

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.

---

"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe." -John Guare, Landscape of the Body

#18

Nathan Lane to Star in Goodman Theatre's The Iceman Cometh

Posted: 7/15/11 at 8:24pm

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.

#19

Nathan Lane to Star in Goodman Theatre's The Iceman Cometh

Posted: 7/15/11 at 8:35pm

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?