Odd Couple to play the Palace Theater??

[Luckydave14]

Posted: 2/23/05 at 4:49pm

I was just reading the IMDB.com news and it said that the Nathan/Matthew "Odd Couple" is to play the Palace Theater from October through December. Is this true? Here is the link to the story...

http://imdb.com/news/sb/2005-02-23/#2

AND the story....

"Broderick and Lane To Reteam for 'The Odd Couple'

Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane, who appeared together in the stage version of the movie The Producers, will reteam in a new Broadway production of Neil Simon's The Odd Couple, the stage production that became a television series. Syndicated columnist Liz Smith reported today that Broderick will play the fussy Felix Unger, while Lane will play the slob Oscar Madison. The show will have a limited run from October through December at the Palace Theater."

[PJ]

Posted: 2/23/05 at 4:51pm

Besides the fact that All Shook Up is currently playing at the Palace, that particular theatre is way too large for a play.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/23/05 at 4:53pm

The Palace is a bad theatre for ANY PLAY. It should only be used for musicals.

[RadioTV2]

Posted: 2/23/05 at 4:55pm

Here's the liz smith gossip column link that states
" ISN'T IT great to think of Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane together again as a dynamic duo? People loved them so much as "The Producers" that they came back to their Broadway smash after leaving it, and they are now making the movie version.

But it isn't "The Producers" we are talking about. We're moving on to the revival of Neil Simon's "The Odd Couple." That production is already taking reservations for this latest melding of Broderick and Lane for next October-December at New York's Palace Theater. Matthew will play the fussy Felix Unger, created by the late Art Carney onstage. Nathan will assay the slob Oscar Madison, the role created by Walter Matthau in the 1965 Broadway original. (On TV these roles became truly immortal in the persons of Tony Randall and Jack Klugman.)

Tony winner Joe Mantello is the director of this bound-to-be hit! "

Wow, no way is the Palace right at all
Link

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/23/05 at 4:56pm

And it's IMDB...not the most worthy source of information on the net. Besides, will it only run for 3 months? that's kind of a waste...

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/23/05 at 4:58pm

And it's coming from Liz Smith, who I'm convinced makes up about 80% of the stuff in her column.

[magruder]

Posted: 2/23/05 at 5:02pm

The Palace has indeed had plays, albeit not very succesful ones. Don Juan in Hell (24 performances), First Breeze of Summer (48 performances), London Assurance (45 performances), Herzl (8 performances), A Meeting By The River (1 performance), Break a Leg (1 performance), Caesar and Cleopatra (12 performances), and the legendary fiasco, Frankenstein (1 performance), are all plays that have played the Palace. I'd imagine that the producers would consider the Palace over a traditional play house, given the enormous possible revenue of the Lane-Broderick pairing in Odd Couple in a large theatre.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/23/05 at 5:10pm

And if it only runs for three months, it will definitely sell out. I just find it hard to believe that they're already expecting ASU to be gone...it's kind of strange.

Mef - Liz Smith cracks me up. She means well, but her theatre "reviews" are hysterical. What she writes never ceases to amuse and confuse me.

Posted: 2/23/05 at 5:17pm

Maybe she meant to say the PLYMOUTH

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/23/05 at 5:22pm

Or Eugene O'Neil...both are very similar to PALACE...hahahaa.

Some of my favorite Liz Smith quotes:

On NEVER GONNA DANCE: "The greatest show I've seen since A CHORUS LINE."

On INTO THE WOODS: "It's like SHREK meets THE PRINCESS BRIDE!"

On THE PRODUCERS: "The greatest show ever!"

She really needs to find another job.

[jjdude2000]

Posted: 2/23/05 at 5:23pm

Haha those quotes are great.

She said this today : "RAGE AND FOILS: Rumor has it that two of Broadway's most delightful leading men, currently starring in a big musical, can't bear each other. They are rarely onstage together. So many missed performances are being counted that we nominate our colleague, Michael Riedel, to track down this story of how males can be bigger prima donnas than anyone else. Michael loves to cite missed performances by the ladies. Now's his chance to go gender inclusive! "

Updated On: 2/23/05 at 05:23 PM

[Princeton78]

Posted: 2/23/05 at 6:15pm

I'm not surprised the producers want to book "The Odd Couple" into a large venue given the obvious sold-out business it will do, but reading early preview buzz about "All Shook Up" makes me think that they may have to look elsewhere as I think the Palace will still be happily occupied in Oct.

[bjivie2]

Posted: 2/23/05 at 7:10pm

I'm surprised Princeton was the first person to point out that the show is going to be a ridiculous hit. There's no way it won't. I'd say it's a no-risk venture, which is very rare on Broadway. I would be surprised if they chose a large house to play the show. Besides, it's a limited engagement, for three months or less, and people will kill to get tickets.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/23/05 at 7:16pm

Hey, I mentioned that first!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/23/05 at 8:19pm

It does not exactly bode well for All Shook Up

They will probably charge a kings ransom for seats so I will take a pass on this one

I actually saw Frankenstein & liked it as I remember

Updated On: 2/23/05 at 08:19 PM

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/23/05 at 9:08pm

Munk-Yes, her theatre "reviews" are hysterical. Usually, I know to steer clear of everything that she gives a rave to.

On the movie side, there's only one film that I think she has ever panned: "Far From Heaven", which is one of my favorite films.

[wildcat]

Posted: 2/24/05 at 12:11am

They are going to have to sell every seat. There have already been reports that the investors will be lucky to see any money after Nathan, Matthew, Neil Simon and Joe Montello get their hefty chunk of change.

[bjivie2]

Posted: 2/24/05 at 1:37am

Sorry, Munk. You're right. Credit where credit's due.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 2/24/05 at 10:05am

When you've got two 100 grand per week stars plus a star director and a name playwright to pay big money to, the supporting company isn't going to expect to be paid scale, so this production is going to be very expensive to run week-to-week.

The Palace is an odious house even for musicals, but the producers will need to sell a lot of $100 seats to make money.

I just hope it is not over-designed. This is a one set play--a middle class West Side apartment living room. It better not get turned into a penthouse.

[wildcat]

Posted: 2/24/05 at 10:10am

Oscar is a sports writer. To have a glitzy set would kill the joke of Felix tidying up a tiny messy apartment.