iluvtheatretrash- Tell that to John Glover!
Since this is your first experience with the text, you may be disappointed when you see another production...
Ed, I thought Crudup was fine, but I preferred Glover's performance in the last revival. Everyone was fine in that production, but Lane and Irwin never formed quite the indivisible twosome like Stewart and McKellen do. Really, it's two best friends playing two best friends and you don't know where the characters stop and the real life actors begin.
There was a moment last night when McKellen ad-libed a little something and Stewart couldn't help himself and chuckled, but I wouldn't say he broke character. He was so in the moment that it was just as much his character laughing a McKellen's character as it was Stewart laughing at McKellen.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!