"Butley" & Nathan Lane

Posted: 10/28/03 at 12:46pm

My partner and I went to Boston Saturday night to see the Huntington Theater's production of "Butley" starring Nathan Lane. All I can say is: get to Boston, people! It was one of the first previews, and the show was incredibly polished, funny, moving, and thought provoking. Nathan soars as Ben Butley, an acerbic, manipulative, "dark" English professor who loses his male lover (beautifully played by Benedick Bates) and his wife on the same day. It was fantastic to see him delve the depths of this multi-layered character, and do it with such style and pent-up emotion. The man is, as is so often said, a true force of nature. Pamela J. Gray and Jake Weber were excellent support. Tickets are difficult, but if you can, try to see the show. (And wear good shoes - the sidewalk is being ripped up all around the theater and I twisted my ankle on the way out - youch!)

[Auggie27]

Posted: 10/28/03 at 7:32pm

What great news. It's the out of town performance I'm most curious about. This role strikes me as a shrewd move for Lane. Maybe he'll stop waiting for a sitcom to work for him and stick with the theater. Taking on a role like this brings him back to the kind of parts he played in the 80s, like LISBON TRAVIATA. He was extraodinary in that, very vulnerable, nuanced. If this goes well in Boston -- and NY critics will attend -- it's bound to come to NY sometime his brief return to Max is over.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 10/28/03 at 8:11pm

Exactly, Auggie. This is the sort of juicy dramatic part that Nathan has been away from for too long. I'm seeing it towards the end of its run in Boston, and I cannot wait.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 10/28/03 at 8:39pm

Nathan Lane is playing a gay man? Now that's a stretch!

Posted: 10/28/03 at 9:01pm

Dollypop with an opinion on Nathan Lane? Now that's an even bigger stretch!