Nice Work If You Can Get It Tonight (Or: Why Michael McGrath Is Amazing)

[Kelly2]

Posted: 5/14/13 at 11:51pm

Revisited Nice Work tonight so I could get a chance to see Judy Kaye and Estelle Parsons, Judy was still out when I saw it first and I saw Blythe as Millicent, and I just have to say tonight's show was truly fantastic. Jessie Mueller has grown into the part marvelously. I obviously already enjoyed her performance, but she's found so many more nuances in her acting and comedy and vocally, everything just sits in such a nice, smooth place for her. I was with someone who had never seen it before and she was the most impressed by Ms. Mueller, Michael McGrath (more on that in a sec), and the ever-hilarious Robyn Hurder.

There was a hilarious moment in tonight's show that I wish I could describe in a way that would do it justice. If you know the show, this happened right after Delishious. Basically, the lift that removes the huge bathtub from the number did not work. So, the entire set for Jimmy's living room came in and Michael McGrath made his entrance mopping. Except there was a gigantic bathtub in the middle of the room. So...Michael McGrath said what we were all thinking when he noticed it: "Why the heck is there a bathtub in the living room?" Cue, of course, hysterical laughter. The tub remained onstage for what felt like six or seven minutes but was probably more like three or four. And I have to give Mr. McGrath a HUGE amount of credit, because he vamped the whole time and kept the audience in stitches. "I'll just mop around until it goes away...is the bar open? Can somebody open the bar again? Soon a midget's gonna pop out of there...this is what's called a vamp, ladies and gentlemen! Does anyone have any questions for me?" Etc. etc. Finally when they got the tub back offstage, he said: "And just like in rehearsal, I'm gonna walk off and we're gonna start over!" And he left the stage and they restarted the scene and all went smoothly.

Such a great night and such a perfect, hilarious job by Michael McGrath in what could've been an intensely uncomfortable, awkward moment. I had a great time, I'll be sad to see the show close, I was thoroughly charmed by it.

[mc1227]

Posted: 5/15/13 at 8:03am

I saw last nights performance as well with friends from out of town. Thoroughly entertaining as usual with that added breakdown of the bathtub being the cherry on top. McGrath handled it marvelously and with such coolness and the audience ate it up. As with most of the previous shows I have seen it was great to walk out and listen to the crowd's amazement of what a wonderfully entertaining show it is and how it has been underrated. That has been my feeling since the very first preview. The cast is so wonderfully consistent and even with Laura Jennifer Thompson out last night, her understudy did a fantastic job. I will be sad to see it go, but judging by last nights crowd (almost full except for the wings) and their enthusiasm, this show will go out with a bang..

[Kelly2]

Posted: 5/15/13 at 9:36am

I'm so glad someone else caught that moment besides me! My friend and I can't stop talking about it and how well Michael handled it. "Why do I see everybody else running out the stage door??"

Everyone around me was really enjoying themselves too, I agree that the show doesn't get enough credit. And yes, Emily Tyra was very funny as Eileen, I heard from a friend who works there that it was her first time on in the role! You'd never know. A great night all around.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 5/15/13 at 9:47am

Kelly2, your enthusiastic review is making me want to make the trip up to NYC to see it again before it closes.

[Kelly2]

Posted: 5/15/13 at 9:50am

Dottie, that makes me so happy! I really do think the show is in wonderful shape and I'm really glad I took my friend to see it before closing, she had a great time. I'm always so impressed with how amazing everyone in the supporting cast is, it's just one great performance after another.

[mc1227]

Posted: 5/15/13 at 9:58am

Not sure if anyone but me caught the moment after the tub starting working, but when Matthew came onstage, he quietly tapped his foot on the trap door to check if it was safe...funny and smart at the same time.

[Kelly2]

Posted: 5/15/13 at 10:05am

I caught that! I have to say I enjoyed Matthew's performance more last night than I did the first time I saw it, though I imagine 'S Wonderful is more fun to watch with a real "dancer dancer" on for Jimmy.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 5/15/13 at 10:12am

Who replaced Stanley Wayne Mathis?

[Kelly2]

Posted: 5/15/13 at 10:35am

John Treacy Egan!

[mc1227]

Posted: 5/15/13 at 10:48am

Iknow most people on this board do not care for Broderick but I feel he is very charming in this role and his "dancing" is what actually makes that number very sweet, for me at least. I could not imagine a suave dancer or portrayal of Jimmy in this role at all. The fact that he's subtle, goofy and dimwitted is what makes it all work and allows the other characters to be over the top and funny.

[Skip2]

Posted: 5/15/13 at 10:57am

I've seen Michael in many past Theatre-By-The-Sea productions (Matunuck, RI in the 70s and 80s) and he is a master at improv. Always hilarious. Bravo!

[matty159]

Posted: 5/15/13 at 12:38pm

I was there last night as well! It was my first time seeing the show and I found it to be absolutely charming. McGrath's vamp was utterly hysterical. As for Broderick, I felt he fit the role well, but agree that I would like to see a real dancer do S'Wonderful with Jessie. She was basically moping the floor with him.

We were in the mezz and the rear mezz was practically empty, but as everyone has said, it was a very enthusiastic audience who were clearly having a gay ol' time. Glad I finally got to see it!

[mc1227]

Posted: 5/15/13 at 1:16pm

From the full orchestra seats I could not see the rear mezzanine seats completely but saw that the upstairs wings were pretty empty. Glad that you thought the crowd was enthusiastic..Not what I was expecting on a Tuesday night, but other people have told me that is the best night to go to a show. At least last night at Nice Work, they were right!

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 5/15/13 at 4:11pm

I would love to see it again but I refuse to waste the time seeing another bland, boring and worthless performance by Matthew Broderick. Just imagine how much better the show would have been with a real actor-dancer in the part. The only reason he gets hired any more is that people still remember him from "Ferris Bueller".

[Skip2]

Posted: 5/15/13 at 4:22pm

It's too bad Michael can't get a chance at playing the lead before the show closes. He's not perfect for the role but he'd be a hell of a lot more entertaining!