Odd Couple Cancelled Today
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
Odd Couple Cancelled Today#0
Posted: 1/18/06 at 1:39pm
https://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=6931
As Nathan Lane battles Laryngitis, both performances have been cancelled. Refunds and exchanges are being made.
Updated On: 1/18/06 at 01:39 PM
Broadway Star Joined: 7/25/04
re: Odd Couple Cancelled Today#1
Posted: 1/18/06 at 1:42pmPoor Nathan - I hope he feels better soon. I guess the trip to CA didn't agree with him... Sounds like bad colds and illnesses are wrecking havoc on Broadway.
re: Odd Couple Cancelled Today#2
Posted: 1/18/06 at 1:45pmDoesn't he have an understudy?
Broadway Star Joined: 7/25/04
re: Odd Couple Cancelled Today#3
Posted: 1/18/06 at 1:53pm
Honestly - who would go?
I thought Brad was, so I assume the guy who replaced Brad (forgot his name, sorry) would also be Nathan's understudy.
re: Odd Couple Cancelled Today#4
Posted: 1/18/06 at 1:59pmRob Bartlett is Nathan's new understudy. However he only got the official word and started rehearsals last week so I'm sure that he's just no where near prepared yet.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
re: Odd Couple Cancelled Today#5
Posted: 1/18/06 at 2:20pmBrad was never Nathan's understudy....Gene Gabriel was.
re: Odd Couple Cancelled Today#6
Posted: 1/18/06 at 3:21pmThe only reason they cancelled it was because people see The Odd Couple to see Lane and Broderick on stage together again, not some unknown guys. They did the same thing with Hugh Jackman.
re: Odd Couple Cancelled Today#7
Posted: 1/18/06 at 3:30pm
I bought tickets to see them in February (I am a huge Nathan fan!), and while I would be disappointed if he was ill, I would certainly understand, and enjoy the performance anyways.
But I seem to be the exception in this!
re: Odd Couple Cancelled Today#8
Posted: 1/18/06 at 3:36pm
"The only reason they cancelled it was because people see The Odd Couple to see Lane and Broderick on stage together again, not some unknown guys."
And what would happen to the careers of people like Shirley McLaine if they do that?
Joined: 12/31/69
re: Odd Couple Cancelled Today#9
Posted: 1/18/06 at 3:37pmI'm sure everyone wishes him a speedy recovery. He's been working very hard doing the show and promoting The Producers film, and flying to L.A. & Chicago as well. That'll do it. I hope Matthew stays healthy.
re: Odd Couple Cancelled Today#10
Posted: 1/18/06 at 3:54pmNathan was out when I saw "the Producers" and I still enjoyed the show.
re: Odd Couple Cancelled Today#11
Posted: 1/18/06 at 3:56pmThis really doesn't make sense. Why even have understudies if they are going to cancel performances?
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
re: Odd Couple Cancelled Today#12
Posted: 1/18/06 at 3:58pmThe must be thinking that he's the draw....Matt was out on Friday and they kept it open.
re: Odd Couple Cancelled Today#13
Posted: 1/18/06 at 4:23pm
Actually Broderick was out on Friday and they DID NOT cancel, so either they are both sick or someone decided no one would want to see Lane's understudy or he's not ready.
re: Odd Couple Cancelled Today#14
Posted: 1/18/06 at 4:41pmYeah, Rob Bartlett just took over the understudy position a week or two ago and probably isn't ready to go on yet. That seems like the likeliest of situations. Lane missed 70+ performances of The Producers and they never cancelled.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
re: Odd Couple Cancelled Today#15
Posted: 1/18/06 at 7:06pm
The lucky audience gets a refund and doesn't have to sit through the dreadful production.
re: Odd Couple Cancelled Today#16
Posted: 1/18/06 at 7:55pm
That's disgusting. What if the people with tickets were out-of-towners who really wanted to see a show, not just see Matthew Broderick prance around looking like a nincompoop once again? I understand that some people are going to the show for Nathan and Matthew, but the chance of a performer being sick is just something that happens in live theatre. In fact, it's one of the great things about live theatre.
If this had been "The Nathan and Matt Show", then I could understand a cancellation. But it's not. It's "The Odd Couple" and, like it or not, some audiences go to see it to see the show, not the actors.
As far as the understudy not being ready? Poor planning on the producers' part, shame on them. It would have served them right to have the show go on minus Oscar Madison, because there should always be *someone* around able to fill in for one of the lead characters, I don't care if it's a pregnant four foot three Austrian woman with a peg leg and bad breath. Whatever happened to "The Show Must Go On!" ????
My avatar: Yummy, no?
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
re: Odd Couple Cancelled Today#17
Posted: 1/18/06 at 10:02pm"The Show Must Go On" does not apply when the $21 million advance sale is for "The Nathan and Matt Show."
re: Odd Couple Cancelled Today#18
Posted: 1/19/06 at 3:52am
Regardless of how many people choose to see it as "The Nathan and Matt Show", it's not.
It's extremely disheartening that Broadway has become nothing more than a slave to the almighty dollar. The show must--and SHOULD--go on, regardless of advance sales or current sales or possible sales or any sales. I'm not blaming Nathan Lane, I'm blaming the backers. This is sad and pathetic.
My avatar: Yummy, no?
re: Odd Couple Cancelled Today#19
Posted: 1/19/06 at 8:22amNot quite as sad and pathetic as not paying proper attention to what's been said in this thread already. Matthew Broderick missed the show last week and it wasn't cancelled. The only reason they cancelled yesterday as Lane's understudy was not ready to go on as he'd only recently taken on the role.
re: Odd Couple Cancelled Today#20
Posted: 1/19/06 at 9:57amI've never turned in my tickets because someone wasn't there (and I travel 300+ miles to see a show in NYC). You never know what shining moment you may miss because "Insert Star's name here" was ill.
Joined: 12/31/69
re: Odd Couple Cancelled Today#21
Posted: 1/19/06 at 10:27amI remember I went too see THE WIZ in the fall of 1975 and Tony winner Dee Dee Bridgewater who played Glinda was out. I was a tad upset but her understudy Phylicia Ayers Allen was lovely in the role. After she married she changed her last name to Rashad and the rest as the say is history. Don't underestimate the power of the understudy! Updated On: 1/19/06 at 10:27 AM
Broadway Star Joined: 6/3/03
re: Odd Couple Cancelled Today#22
Posted: 1/19/06 at 10:36amI saw Michael Ball and Maria Friedman in WIW just after Christmas. They were astonishing. He then came down with the "fosco flu" and I had the pleasure of seeing Norman Large, and also Lisa Brescia (ms. Friedman was still not quite up to 8 per week). They were wonderful. Don't think I would ever turn in my ticket unless it were a one-man show. Never know what gems might be discovered. But as an afterthought I have to say that I think ALW and S. Friedman have loaded this cast with the absolute best voices, be it stars, features, ensemble or understudy
re: Odd Couple Cancelled Today#23
Posted: 1/19/06 at 11:24am
"The only reason they cancelled yesterday as Lane's understudy was not ready to go on as he'd only recently taken on the role. "
That's what he's complaining about, though. This a professional Broadway production. There should have been an understudy ready to go on.
re: Odd Couple Cancelled Today#24
Posted: 1/19/06 at 11:30amWell bad luck and bad timing meant they didn't. Couldn't be helped.
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