| This show probably caused us the most angst in our trip. We knew we wouldn't be able to get tickets at TKTS, and we knew it would involve lining up for six or seven hours for standing room, so we had to decide when best to spend that time. And I had never seen it before, so I really wanted to see both Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane, and Nathan had been having vocal trouble and missing a lot of performances, including Saturday matinees. But we finally worked our schedule out and did the cancellation/standing room line Sunday morning. We arrived around 6:30 a.m. and were among the first in line, so we knew we had tickets, it was just a matter of standing around and waiting for them. We managed to keep ourselves amused (and I was very excited to see Gary Beach turn up for something, although no one else saw him!) and made friends with the people in line, and the time passed fairly quickly. | 
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| I had rushed shows before, but I had never done SRO, so this was another new experience. It actually wasn't as bad as I feared - there was a rail for us to lean on, and the St. James isn't that big a theatre, so we had no trouble seeing. Sure, I would rather have been in a seat closer up, but that would have cost me nearly three times as much. :-) The show was absolutely terrific. We got lucky and all the major performers were in, including both Nathan and Matthew. They were both terrific - absolutely hysterical. Nathan was obviously struggling at times and having trouble, but I just wanted to run up and give him a big hug for toughing it out. It's an incredibly demanding role and he gave it his all. If he hadn't eventually gone on with the scene after "Betrayed," I think we'd all still be there applauding. And Matthew Broderick was just too cute for words. | 
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| This show really needs perfect casting in its supporting characters, and all of these actors were also terrific. Special mention has to go to Roger Bart as Carmen - he had me on the floor more than once, and he delivered my favourite line in the show to perfection. Cady Huffman (Ulla), Gary Beach (Roger) and Brad Oscar (Franz) were all absolutely wonderful in their roles. They all had their moments to shine, and they all performed magnificently. Before seeing the show I had been a little bitter about the The Producers sweep at the Tonys, but afterwards I decided that not only did everyone who won deserve it, but the others who were nominated and didn't win should have one too (although it is worth noting that all six of the main actors are Tony winners, either for this or another show, which gives you an idea of the amazing amount of talent on that stage!)! The chorus were also to a person extremely talented, and I particularly enjoyed Jeffry Denman (and would have enjoyed him more if I had read his book before seeing the show!!!). |
| As were leaving this show Stacy commented that it's the kind of show that you feel guilty for laughing at, because it really is so incredibly offensive on so many levels, and she's absolutely right. But that sort of is the definition of Mel Brooks' humour, isn't it? :-) And, oh my goodness, it was funny. So many comic geniuses (geniusi?) involved in one production, and all at the top of their game. I'm so glad I had the chance to see the original cast of this show - they had a chemistry and hilarity that I don't think can be equalled. Not to say that other performers and casts won't do the show justice, but there was something special about this group of people. Not only Matthew and Nathan, although they of course were the heart and soul of the show, but the entire cast. I was prepared to resent the show because it received so much hype and attention, but afterwards I had to admit that it lived up to they hype. And that's very rare. Just a fabulous show, and worth the seven hours in line to get tickets. :-) |
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| We stage doored this show afterwards because Stacy wanted to meet Rogert Bart, but it was a madhouse, and we eventually discovered that Roger had left through another door (and I don't blame him - I wouldn't want to have to face that every night!). Nathan Lane didn't come out (which didn't surprise me - the poor man was obviously absolutely drained by the end of the performance), but he sent out an usher with a bunch of signed playbills, which I thought was classy of him. Matthew Broderick took about an hour, and we briefly considered trying to talk to him, but decided it wasn't worth the effort - there were people in that crowd who wanted it a lot more than we did, and we didn't feel like fighting them for it. When we left he was madly signing, and if he signed for everyone who was there he must have been there for hours. Craziness. I've never seen anything like it. | 
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