Norbert and DRS

[PerforMeg]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 12:53am

Finally saw Scoundrels today, and enjoyed it thoroughly. I hadn't realized just how wonderful Norbert Leo Butz was going to be. There is definitely a reason he won five awards for that performance. I think the most special thing about him is that he didn't seem to be going through the motions. He was living in every moment with so much energy and commitment. You just don't see that anymore! So many actors look so over it. I loved every moment he was onstage. I wish I'd seen John Lithgow, though Jonathan Price was wonderful too.

Just wanted to start another Norbert love thread. My one regret was that he didn't really sing any legit stuff in the show. He needs to make an album pronto.

[ILoveWicked330]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 12:55am

I was at the show today (matinee) with my school (yes I was part of the kids in the back of the mezzanine). It was my first time seeing the show & I LOVED it!! Norbert was GREAT!! I can't wait to see it again!

[Sparklesss]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 12:55am

i wish he'd join the tour once he finishes that role on Broadway...I'd love to see him!

[broadwaybaby221]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 12:56am

"My one regret was that he didn't really sing any legit stuff in the show. He needs to make an album pronto"

YES! Norbert has such an amazing voice and while I love DRS, he hardly sings. He's still amazing but you can't beat that beautiful voice he has.

[Lamc16]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 12:56am

Good to hear. Especially since I'm going to see it again on Wednesday with my sister and her boyfriend. My sister and I saw it once before w/ Lithgow, but, unfortunately, Norbert was out then because he had nodes. I cannot tell you how excited we are to finally see him. Though, I keep thinking that we're jinxed and he's going to be out sick or something We'll see...

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 12:58am

After I saw it with my dad a few weeks ago, I commented that I thought Norbert had the best male voice on broadway. He replied, "Him?"

It was depressing.

I just hope that in his sitcom he's playing some sort of musician. Who has to sing in every episode.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 1:07am

I have seen the show 8 times, and Norbert has been out sick 3 of those times. Statistically, that's a lot.

Hope you get to see him!

(In the event that you don't, know that his understudies have been very good. When I saw the show with my brother and told him that Jason Gilman was the understudy, he was shocked. That's how good a performance he gave. But I knew the difference. Norbert's performance is simply incomparable.)

[Lamc16]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 1:22am

Yeah, we saw Gilman and no one in my family was upset. He was great!

[SirLiir]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 1:26am

Glad you enjoyed the show! The chances of Norbert doing the DRS tour, however, are pretty much nil but I am sure they will find someone just as manaic as Norbert to do the role justice.

[Sparklesss]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 1:51am

I figured that but a girl can hope! I guess for many actors that have sucessfully made it on broadway, touring would just be an inconvience...

[SirLiir]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 2:44am

Well, Sparkless, I base my comment on: the interviews where he has said he doesn't like to do roles for more than a year (only extending with DRS because he still feels he can do more with the character), the brush with nodes and his vocal chord issues, and finally, the sitcom he is shooting for CBS. I imagine those three reasons would be enough to explain why he won't be touring.

[wickedobsessed]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 10:07am

I'll be sad when he leaves. Does anyone know the exact date that he does leave??

[sabrelady]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 10:49am

Norb toured a lot w Cabaret. I think it caused havoc w his family life cos they travelled w the(then one) child. W 2 kids and an ex AND a spousal equivalent, I'd say touring is pretty much out of the question.
I have been moaning for YEARS now about gettin this fella on CD but w his family commitments, the stage work and now the sitcom in development he feel he has too much on his plate to go there now. ( per his quote- "people really beat me up over this")
I can only hope one day he'll have the time to record that voice for our long term enjoyment.

[Sparklesss]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 12:48pm

What sitcom is in development?This is news to me :)

[greeneyed_one]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 12:51pm

I saw DRS a few weeks ago. When Jonathon Pryce came on stage there was a huge round of applause. When Norbert came on- nothing. Maybe people didn't want to clap because it was the middle of the show but it seemed to me like no one knew who he was. Anyway we get to Great Big Stuff and the audience really really started getting into it. By the end Norbert got one of the biggest round of applause I've ever heard. It was great to see how the audience just totally took to the show. People could not stop clapping after Dirty Rotten Number.
I agree with the comment about Norbert keeping the role fresh. After Great Big Stuff he just fell onto the sofa with the biggest smile on his face. You could tell he was very proud with his performance and really into it.
I cannot say enough about the show. I saw an understudy for Muriel and Andre. Was sad Joanna and Greg were out but both understudies were good. The woman who understudied Muriel in particular was amazing. I hope she gets a chance to actually take over the role when Joanna leaves.
I thought Jonathon Pryce was really into his role too. I really enjoyed his Dr. Schofousen...or how ever it's spelled.

[Musical_nerd]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 12:52pm

There already is a Norbert love thread on the Off-Topic board. Search for it.

[SirLiir]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 12:56pm

Sabre, I believe when he did Cabaret, he only toured with his then 2 year old daughter and his ex. From an interview I posted on the site, he said he felt the experience was good for his daughter to see new things. No idea about its effect on their marriage but they didn't separate/divorce until 2003, four years later. I cant see him touring again anyway as he is becoming a bankable name and there would be many great shows that would love to have him here. But then again, who knows?

Oh and Sparkless, theres a news item somewhere on the archives about it. He's doing a sitcom for CBS.

Edit: Greeneyed, no applause for Norbert?! It must have been a quiet night. At least at the end of every show, he gets the acknowledgment he deserves.

[TheaterAddict7652]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 1:11pm

When Jonathon Pryce came on stage there was a huge round of applause. When Norbert came on- nothing.

Really? When I saw it in June, both John Lithgow and Joanna Gleason immediatly got applause during their entrances. When Norbert came on, there was a little pause, and then he got applause. This was about two weeks after the Tonys, so maybe it had to do with that.

[WiiCKED x3]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 2:06pm

my friend saw it and she said almost no one was clapping for pryce and everyone for norbert. ahh norbert

[SirLiir]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 2:09pm

It just depends on the night and crowd. Some nights even Greg gets applause, for example. It really depends if there are enough fans of the actors are in the audience loud to enough to get a round of applause going.

[dramaqueen2]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 2:10pm

yayyy i love to see norbert praise!!!
i saw DRS [original cast-- i saw it in late june] last year on my birthday, and actually got a chance to go backstage and i literally BUMPED INTO HIM !!!
naturally, he being one of my all time favorite actors, i started to cry and shake and became an emotional female [haha] and told him i was one of his biggest fans [again, haha] and he is by far one of the sweetest actors i've ever met! he even gave me a hug, wished me happy birthday, took a picture with me and even chatted with me for a bit. i am a norbert fan all the way! hurrahhh for norbert!!!!
<33333

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 4:06pm

Well, Pryce's entrance is tailored to get him applause. It's the end of the song and he's just revealed.

With the rest of the actors...more so Norbert and Joanna at this point, it really comes down to one person. If one person starts applauding when they come out, then the crowd follows. People just are unsure if it's appropriate to clap in those entrances, so that one person needs to start it. Lack of applause for Norbert probably just means there wasn't one person to start it. At this point, most people know who he is, and have heard great things about his performance I would think.

Greeneyed, Lucie Arnaz is taking over for Joanna. I'm assuming you saw Rachel de Benedet go on for Joanna? I agree she's great, but overall a tad young to take over the part fulltime.

[wickedobsessed]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 4:43pm

When is Norbert Leaving???!?

[SirLiir]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 4:46pm

If you saw Laura Marie Duncan, I agree wholeheartingly. She does a wonderful job understudying both Joanne and Rachel and would be a fine replacement for either role. However, I am more hopeful she gets a leading role on the tour.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 5:46pm

I haven't heard any update on the development deal with CBS yet. Has he shot a pilot at all? If he hasn't, with the sitcom announcements coming next month, I can't imagine he'll have anything on the network in the fall. Maybe mid-season.