THE NANCE Reviews — Page 2

I really hope Nathan Lane can find a vehicle that is as good as he is. He's such a gifted actor and a true treasure of the theatre. However, he's given stellar performances in NOVEMBER, ADDAMS, and THE NANCE yet all 3 in actual material were mediocre to bad.

I hope he can find another show that's as strong as a piece of material as he is. Just look at his raves. He's that rarity, especially today, of an actor that's famous for theatre

Haven't seen Ann so can't be totally unbiased, but you'll kick yourself for missing a brilliant Nathan Lane performance and a heartbreaking (and revealing) Jonny Orsini one in a night of true theater at the Lyceum. Just sayin'.

Saw this tonight and I thought it was good. It's an incredibly ambitious play, to a fault. Beane has bitten off more than he can chew here. Everything from politics to relationships and every single thing in between is thrown at the wall and not all of it sticks. But I would rather see ten thousand more shows like THE NANCE, which aim high and don't hit the bullseye than something mind-numbingly boring or another slavishly transcribed film to stage adaptation. I think the best stuff in the show is the relationship between Johnny Orsini and Nathan Lane. I wish Beane would have ditched the political stuff (which seems forced) and dug into the heart of the show, which is this fragile and complicated dynamic between these two men. Some of their moments and scenes in this show are downright beautiful.

The cast is full of reliably strong performers, and they are all deliver. Nathan Lane is, it goes without saying, absolutely fantastic in every sense of the word. This is his best performance onstage in years. But the real discovery of this production, for me, was Orsini. What a talent he is! I surely hope this isn't his last foray in New York theater. He was just sensational.

The physical production is really great...that set design is one of the best of the year, by far. Strong direction from O'Brien.

It's worth seeing for Orsini and Lane...they are so great that they made me wish the play reached the greatness that they manage to present in their performances.

I finally decided to get a ticket for "The Nance." I'm very excited to see this play. Now, I'll have to unload somehow my ticket for "Ann." from RC in Austin, Texas

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I have a question about the Nance. Is there any singing in the show? Does Jonny Orsini sing (whether in the show or not)? I'll be fairly up close to the stage. I waited too long to decide on this show and missed the discount deadline. But I'm so looking forward to seeing this play. from RC in Austin, Texas

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Oh well. I'm looking forward to seeing Jonny Orsini. Someone mentioned that he's in a state of "undress" in the show?

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The Nance at Lyceum Theatre

One of the cleverest writers working in theatre today, Doulgas Carter Beene, has penned a play about the fabulous, but closeted, world of Gay New York in the '30s told through the lens of the seedy world of depression era burlesque? We're in! But wait there's more you say? Nathan Lane is the lead? Marvelous! Of course we did recently re-watch 1996's The Bird Cage and Mr. Lane's portrayal of a rather similar character no longer hit the right notes in 2013's progressive climate of marriage equality. Let's see if going back in time another 60 years provides a deeper take on what it means to be gay in America
AndrewAndrew ~ The Nance

THE NEW YORKER review by Hilton Als (April 29 issue) is a rave:

"Douglas Carter Beane’s “The Nance” (at the Lyceum) is a nearly perfect work of dramatic art, whose power derives from its equitable compassion and its unromantic view of myth."




Click to read the NEW YORKER review

Updated On: 4/24/13 at 06:10 PM

Patti-Depending in where your seat is, you may get a lot more than just Orsini's behind. I was row A, 101 and got what the usher called, "a nice, big treat."