Riedel whines about Nate Lane's 'tude.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 11/1/06 at 9:25am

November 1, 2006 -- TWO critics' darlings were cut down last week, and both are behaving in ways that tell us a lot about who they really are. Backstage at the Booth, home to "Butley," everybody's walking on eggshells around Nathan Lane. The great Broadway star has, according to one source, been in a "vile mood" ever since critics complained he was miscast as the bitter, dissolute, bisexual English professor in Simon Gray's slashing drama.

"The name Alan Bates must not be spoken," jokes a production source, referring to the late, celebrated British actor who created the role in the 1971 play and to whom Lane was unfavorably compared in some reviews.

Lane's dark moods are legendary around Broadway. He has the classic comedian's personality - brilliantly funny onstage, black and brooding, off.

Read on...
EGOS HAVE LANDED

[Ciaron McCarthy]

Posted: 11/1/06 at 9:38am

Lane is known for being like that. Who cares. He is a brilliant performer. I dont know about you guys but I like my Broadway stars a little bit crazy!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/1/06 at 9:39am

Would you like that list?

[WhoCouldBeBlue]

Posted: 11/1/06 at 9:53am

I'm not a fan of Lane's at all. His pompous attitude has always shined through everything he's ever done. There's plenty of people out there with talent equal to his or better that don't have the attitude!

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/1/06 at 9:58am

Over at the Brooks Atkinson, that other critics' darling who was dinged last week - Twyla Tharp - is taking a f - - k you attitude. Literally.

Literally? Really? Who did she f--k?

Tharp's producers are joining the fight. They've slashed their weekly overhead, rolled out a television commercial and are vowing to keep the struggling show on the boards at least until the end of the year.

"We'll see what happens," says a production source. "But right now, nobody's talking about closing."

This show is becoming this season's In My Life more each day. This sounds, almost verbatum, what the IML camp said and did. Right before they posted the closing notice.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 11/1/06 at 9:59am

I think Lane made a fine BUTLEY, and I can't knock him if he is depressed about the reviews.

Reidels "Lady Macbeth" comment is pretty homophobic.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/1/06 at 10:02am

Hey, if they want to piss money out their a**, it's their prerogative. But when the critics AND the audiences hate your show, it's time to let it die with dignity.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/1/06 at 10:04am

"Hey, if they want to piss money out their a**,"

Somebody needs to brush up on her Anatomy & Physiology.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/1/06 at 10:13am

Did they really say he was miscast? Why? I think he is perfect for that role.

(I didn't find the Lady M. comment to be homophobic, just a bit catty. It IS Riedel, after all.)

[gustof777]

Posted: 11/1/06 at 10:17am

i didn't think Times was doing that bad at the box office...i mean not great but not awful...perhaps better than "In My Life"?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/1/06 at 10:20am

Apparently, to paraphrase Rath, they're blowing thru money like snot out their navels.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/1/06 at 10:24am

Would Times They Are's BO reflect pre-review sales? I am sure there was a lot of interest prior to the pans.

[SamIAm]

Posted: 11/1/06 at 10:25am

Since my original post seems to have crashed my machine, I will write this again and hope it actually goes through this time:

To suggest that everyone in the audience or all critics hated Butley is incorrect. There were positive reviews and I have been in audiences where many people did get this play and enjoyed it. It is not a play for everyone, nor does Simon Gray, Nicholas Martin or the cast of the play pretend that it is.

If you go to this play thinking that you are going to see Forum and the Producers you will be disappointed. That isn't the fault of the playwright or the cast.

As for Riedel: PUH-LEEZ, people. He is a gossip columnist who makes his living by throwing stones from behind the dumpster. If he will not quote sources it is because his sources are afraid of being fired or ostracized and why? In most cases, stories like this one and the one that dogged Daniel Davis after he was fired from La Cage or really just inflated gossip, spoken by someone with an axe to grind.

I am sure that Lane is NOT happy that most critics didn't like the play or his performance. I have done a lot of plays and NO ONE likes bad reviews. You learn to live with them.

But do you think that Betty Buckley really got fired because she kicked the beloved dog of that TV producer or Lane will not allow anyone to say the name of Alan Bates backstage? We all love a good story and we feel superior because we think we are not as nuts as the next guy. The fact is that everyone feels bad when they get a bad review.

Let Riedel write an actual review, and I might pay attention. Butley was in the works and intended to arrive in New York shortly after it was finished in Boston (it was just a question of timing for everyone concerned) so it is truly misleading to say that Lane brought it to Broadway to take the sting out of the Odd Couple reviews.

And as for the 'funny ha ha' comment about Lady MacBeth... disguising the comment as humor does not negate the mean-spiritedness.

There are two reasons I dislike the tripe published by Riedel about ANYONE or any project: First, he is not a theater critic but he pretends to be, and secondly, he uses his column to spread rumors and gossip to a community that really doesn't need any more flavors of crap. It would be nice if we could rise above this childish behavior.

Still, I suppose it is human nature for people to run willingly to the flame. I pine for some intelligent use of language and critical clout. In the meantime, did you hear the rumor about...

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/1/06 at 10:31am

"But do you think that Betty Buckley really got fired because she kicked the beloved dog of that TV producer"

I wouldn't doubt it.

Updated On: 11/1/06 at 10:31 AM

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/1/06 at 10:31am

"The name Alan Bates must not be spoken," jokes a production source

The operative word here is JOKES. Riedel is not reporting this as fact. And I can even hear Lane, in faux crisis mode, screaming (jokingly), "If I hear ANYONE mention ALAN BATES' name you are FIRED!! You hear me? FIRED! AHHHHHHHHH!!"

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/1/06 at 10:34am

I will say this - I've worked with Lane once. An event that he hosted where the cohost (a certain loud Broadway-lovin' lesbian) backed out at the last minute so he was left with hosting the entire show. He couldn't have been kinder and more gracious.

I do realize that's only my experience, but I wanted to add it to the mix.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/1/06 at 10:37am

Ziemba backed out at the last minute? Tacky. But good for Nathan.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/1/06 at 10:40am

Ziemba is never the problem.

[Ciaron McCarthy]

Posted: 11/1/06 at 10:48am

He is a gossip columnist who makes his living by throwing stones from behind the dumpster.

You know normally I would agree with you but I saw Reidel get into a fight with some producer at a benefit. He's pretty scrappy and did not seem afraid at all.

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 11/1/06 at 11:10am

Oh, Michael Riedel, be quiet.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 11/1/06 at 11:16am

Reidel is a jerk. I have never liked him.

Nathan, however, is a good person. I have met him on several occasions, seen him in everything he's been in. He was always kind, funny and gracious. He smiles a lot If the terrible, unnecessarily harsh reviews bothered him, then good. He's a human being with feelings amd mood changes just like all of us and he loves his craft. He works his a** off in this show. He never leaves the stage for the entire show, the other characters come in and out of his office...

I saw him perform BUTLEY just days ago. He was riviting. The audience was very into it, but I did hear the words "It seemed slow..." Well, yes- it's a straight play and he is NOY Bialy, Timon or Oscar.

He offered to read with all the other people who auditioned for the other roles. Not many- if any- actor's of his stature would do that. I saw an interview with Simon Gray who said he can't remember Bate's anymore... *LOL* I can hear Nathan *JOKINGLY* saying, "Do NOT say that man's name in my presence!" thinking to himself, "I need to make the role my own."

Updated On: 11/1/06 at 11:16 AM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/1/06 at 11:20am

It seems like in all these benefit flashback scenes, Rath has been digitally inserted like Forrest Gump standing on the school doorstep in Alabama or uncovering the Watergate scandal. And inevitably, some woman celebrity has done her wrong, or the benefit wrong, or both.

Run, Rathnait, run!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/1/06 at 11:27am

It's true, Namo, my life is all made up. A mere figment, meant to drive you to drink.

Clearly, it's working a little too well.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 11/1/06 at 11:33am

You know what's good about America?

If you don't like what Riedel has to say, you can turn the page.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/1/06 at 11:36am

Bob Seger?