Odd Couple Cancelled Today

[Yankeefan007]

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

[ProducersFan]

Posted: 1/18/06 at 1:42pm

Poor 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.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/18/06 at 1:45pm

Doesn't he have an understudy?

[ProducersFan]

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.

[inishmore]

Posted: 1/18/06 at 1:59pm

Rob 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.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 1/18/06 at 2:20pm

Brad was never Nathan's understudy....Gene Gabriel was.

[jasobres]

Posted: 1/18/06 at 3:21pm

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. They did the same thing with Hugh Jackman.

[Magdalene]

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!

Updated On: 1/18/06 at 03:30 PM

[Gothampc]

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?

Posted: 1/18/06 at 3:37pm

I'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.

[xxnewgirlxx]

Posted: 1/18/06 at 3:54pm

Nathan was out when I saw "the Producers" and I still enjoyed the show.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 1/18/06 at 3:56pm

This really doesn't make sense. Why even have understudies if they are going to cancel performances?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 1/18/06 at 3:58pm

The must be thinking that he's the draw....Matt was out on Friday and they kept it open.

[SamIAm]

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.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 1/18/06 at 4:41pm

Yeah, 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.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/18/06 at 7:06pm

The lucky audience gets a refund and doesn't have to sit through the dreadful production.

Updated On: 1/18/06 at 07:06 PM

[overthemoon419]

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!" ????

[Yankeefan007]

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."

[overthemoon419]

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.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 8:22am

Not 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.

[Magdalene]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 9:57am

I'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.

Posted: 1/19/06 at 10:27am

I 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

[sharon1]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 10:36am

I 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

[Fosse76]

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.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 11:30am

Well bad luck and bad timing meant they didn't. Couldn't be helped.