Roger Bart Missing Performances of Young Frankenstein- Page 2

[paphillyguy]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 8:40am

Rumor back stage is that he will be out probably a month if not more.

[mc1227]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 9:08am

Broderick would have been great in that role. Unfortunately, Mel Brooks wanted to go cheaper (in salary, not in talent I mean)

[mc1227]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 9:24am

Because Mel Brooks got greedy and decided he didn't want to pay for one. He all but promised the role to Broderick a coupld of years ago and then recinded. You can't take it with you, Mel!!!

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 9:50am

If he really does have a slipped disc, he won't be back anytime soon.

[pab]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 10:49am

I don't think that Roger going back to the show will make that much difference. Mel needs to go back to the script but I think it's too late for that.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 10:58am

Oh my god ! poor Roger...

The usher (Roland) who work at the Hilton told me that they were TOLD that Roger got injured !

Also Matt Lablanca told me at the stage door that he hurt his back...guess that's what the injury is all about... Hope Roger heals fast !!

Is it a work related injury ?

J*




Updated On: 10/23/07 at 10:58 AM

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 11:10am

Slipped discs are extremely painful and can take a LONG time to heal. Godspeed to Mr. Bart.

In the mean time they need to get a real standby for the role. From what I've heard from several people, his current understudy looks young enough to be Megan Mullaly's son. That won't do.

As for Broderick, well Brooks wanted to avoid major names in the leads, since replacing Lane and Broderick in THE PRODUCERS proved to be such a daunting task. Everyone saw the show as a "star vehicle" and the box office dropped off precipitously when Foster, Bart, Oscar etc... took over the lead roles. Brooks didn't want to repeat that with this show and wants to make the show itself "the star" (like Wicked, Jersey Boys, etc...) -- so NO major names.

Aside from his Bart problem, let's hope Brooks gets busy fixing the show's other problems. Apparently Trevor Nunn was seen at the show yesterday with a pad and pencil (he's an old friend of Stroman's and is in town directing Stoppard's ROCK N ROLL). This doesn't seem like Nunn's kind of show, but, hey, maybe he can help (they NEED to call Tommy Tune and Neil Simon, two of the most experienced show doctors around).

Anyway, I wish them well.....

[Dolly_Levi]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 11:35am

Tommy Tune is a genius.
They would be lucky to get him to show doctor.
BTW: Why isn't he directing new stuff?

[WestVillage]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 11:40am

I had tickets to last night's performance and exchanged them for a later date when hopefully Bart will be back in.

[morosco]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 11:41am

While Bart's on the mend...is Liza available to fill in?

[Anakela]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 11:49am

I saw the understudy this past Saturday and honestly by the middle of the second act I had forgotten that Roger Bart wasn't it.

Ditto- caught LaBanca on for Bart on Saturday matinee, (which apparently was his first time on, based on reports here?) and was very impressed with him during Act I. Then opened my Playbill during intermission to read his bio, saw the 'Broadway debut' line, and was honestly a little blown away- he is very talented and going to be a huge name someday, and I think those who are trading in their tix are missing out by not seeing him.

*shrug* and I actually didn't even care that he looked young enough to be Megan's son.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 11:52am

After seeing a pictrure of him at the stagedoor in jaystarr's review thread I will admit he doesn't look old enough to be a renowned professor and scientist, but on stage with the crazy hair and makeup he didn't appear to be that young.

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 11:53am

While I've certainly seen understudies who I thought were fantastic, there's definitely something to the claim that people are paying to see a certain performer, and I don't blame them for exchanging their tickets. Sure, they might be missing out on the next best thing, but for those people who can't afford to buy tickets again, and want to see the show as originally cast, I don't have an issue with it. There are enough of us freaks who like seeing understudies out there.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 11:53am

Margo- you wont even notice that he is young enough to be Megan's son bec. from where I was sitting Rear Mezz for $120.00 ... TOO FAR you to notice it.. unless you have binoculars... forget paying $430.00 for front orchestra...

yup-he is very young....I met him at the stage door. he may even be younger than me.. on his 20's perhaps?

J*




Updated On: 10/23/07 at 11:53 AM

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 11:54am

jay*, why did you pay $120 for rear mezz? YF is releasing their house seats every day for the same amount.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 11:59am

I bought mine early and i wanted it that date .. actually our seats are DRESS E seats 24..we moved after the intermission at the center though at back ..thru Roland's help

Yeah.. I knew that you can get $120.00 orchestra but when I got ours.. it was SOLD out bec. it was SATURDAY and I want it on my b-day weekend


J*

Updated On: 10/29/07 at 11:59 AM

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 12:01pm

Gotcha, that's understandable. Happy birthday!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 12:04pm

I dunno. I have seats for next week for the 8th row of the orchestra on the aisle (that I paid $120, not $450, for -- I would NEVER pay $120 for the rear mezz of a barn like the Hilton), so from there I think I will notice that he's less than half her age. Not that it will necessarily bother me -- if he's really good -- but I still say that it's ridiculous for a $20 million musical not to pay for a proper standby for the lead role in the show.

Updated On: 10/23/07 at 12:04 PM

[jaystarr]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 12:05pm

Are all MEZZ or DRESS Circle $ 120.00 ? So the $80 & $60 are all balcony ? I supposed the $60.00 is the last row only ? and all balcony are $80.00

J*
Updated On: 10/23/07 at 12:05 PM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 12:09pm

Somebody please call Eric McCormack. He's worked with Strohman before and was her first choice for the role. Besides. he's a quick study.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 12:09pm

Well, I think the show needed a Broderick to really carry it. While Roger Bart is a great actor he's just not enough of a force to carry this show. I wouldn't be that upset if I got to see the understudy if I were you.

Yes, they need a great show doctor like Tune and hopefuly they will get a great standby.

[Anakela]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 12:10pm

I was sitting front row orch (26.50 lotto seats, that was pretty much my top price to see this), so yes I *completely* noticed how young LaBanca looked, but he was just that good that I didn't think his having a babyface took away from his character and what he was doing onstage in any way, if that makes any sense?

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 12:18pm

I had 10th row center orchestra and I paid 120, but I stood in line for three hours the day the box office opened. jaystarr, I think the entire dress circle is 120 and the balcony is 75/50.

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 12:47pm

LaBanca's first time on was Saturday matinee, and apparently, he had virtually no rehearsal beforehand. He really looks like Gene Wilder in costume. Updated On: 10/23/07 at 12:47 PM

[devonian.t]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 1:12pm

Watching Bart, it felt to me like he was understudying the real star- whilst he is perfectly competent and a great side-kick, I just can't see star quality- that special arrogance that demands and holds attention across a whole show.

In the UK, we had Lee Evans as Bloom and he was surprisingly brilliant. I could see him as Frodric.