MovieChat Forums > The Man Who Came to Dinner (2000) Discussion > The most wonderful play

The most wonderful play

posted 19 years ago by chareli
12 replies | jump to latest

I have seen this play over 25 times and I never get tired of it. Nathan Lane along with Jean Smart and Harriet Harris do wonderful justice to the classic tale of Sheridan Whiteside and the unfortunate family that he happens to be stuck with. I don't know if anyone will answer me, seeing that I'm the first post for this movie but my hopes are high. If anyone out there knows what Sherry means when he calls Maggie "Madame Butterfly" please inform me.
In the event that someone who has not seen this movie stumbles across my little message, see this movie. There is nothing like it and you will be laughing for hours afterwards just thinking about it.

[–] Dre23 18 years ago

hey. just watching the recorded version of the play now. just wondering if you heard of the musical version of the play called: "Sherry!" the recording was made last year with Nathan Lane as Sherry. it's not bad. when i found that in a Barnes and Noble, I decided to get it: 1. it had Nathan lane and Mike Myers (as Banjo) and 2. haven't heard of it and I like to listen to new stuff since I am a radio dj at my college playing Broadway tunes. that's when I first heard of the play, so i read the play and i am now watching the play.

Do you know any other plays or musicals that have been videotaped when on Broadway, besides Into the Woods and The man Who Came to Dinner?

Dre

[–] broadwaystarwesley 18 years ago

Yeah!

Pippin

Fosse

Putting it Together

Passion

Sweeney Todd

Sweeney Todd in Concert

Candide

Victor/Victoria

[–] jjpeachum 18 years ago

Also a production of YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU starring Coleen Dewhurst and Jason Robards.

Actually, PiPPiN was filmed somewhere in Canada, and not -- technically -- on Broadway... and CANDIDE was a concert staging done at Avery Fisher Hall, and the SWEENEY TODD concert was filmed in San Diego.

[–] ghostfan 13 years ago

Back in the mid 80's, the cable station A&E ran a bunch of musicals that were re-produced/filmed as a state show. The ones I am happiest to have are Camelot, with Richard Harris (who was a heck of a lot better than the film) and Meg Bussart. It is available through Acorn Media, I believe. Also, much harder to find, is I Di! I Do! a musical version of The Fourposter - it originally starred Mary Martin and Robert Preston, but this production had Lee Remick and Hal Linden. I think they also producted a Production of Purlie.

[–] deekens 18 years ago

"Madame Butterfly" is an opera. Madame Butterfly pertains to the title character, or Cio-Cio-San, a 15-year-old Japanese geisha. An American sailor named B.F. Pinkerton marries her. However, an American consul Sharpless, a kind-hearted old man, tries to break things up because the girl believes the marriage to be binding.
I played Whiteside in college, and high school. In my research of every single celebrity name mentioned by every single character in the show, I figured that Whiteside believes that he is acting as Sharpless, trying to break up the marriage of Pinkerton and Cio-Cio-San. That was the relevence that I gathered to the role.
And, interestingly enough, Madame Butterfly kills herself.
Anyway, hope this helps.
By the way, it is the most wonderful play! EVER!!!!

[–] Isaac5855 17 years ago

I've loved this play ever since we did it in high school. It was decades later before I saw the 1942 film with Monty Wooley and Bette Davis. I saw this version last year on PBS and thought it was just wonderful. The role of Sheridan Whiteside fit Nathan Lane like a glove and Jean Smart and Harriet Harris were great as Lorraine and Maggie. Would love to get this version on DVD.

[–] stevenackerman69 16 years ago

Yes, in that special, the late Kitty Carlisle Hart mentioned that she thought Nathan Lane would be perfect for the role of Whiteside at some point when she saw him in the 80's.

[–] stevenackerman69 16 years ago

I saw it on Ch. 13 Great Performances and taped it. The first time, however, there were problems at times with the sound so you didn't hear everything at times. I was able to rerecord it a few years later with better sound. I enjoyed the play too, especially Jean Smart's performance as Lorraine. She really made that character a riot and you could see she put a lot of work into the role. I do have a comment though. I have the script and it seems that some of the things in the show, like Banjo's monologue about "Did you ever get the feeling..." is not in there. Was that an added improv by Lewis J. Stadlen?

[–] just1Hitch 16 years ago

I have the script and it seems that some of the things in the show, like Banjo's monologue about "Did you ever get the feeling..." is not in there. Was that an added improv by Lewis J. Stadlen?

No, Jimmy Durante sang it (as "Banjo") in the 1942 film.

I don't think I want to go to the pictures. Oh?Why not? I've seen everything worth seeing.

[–] stevenackerman69 13 years ago

Then I guess Durante added it in the film and they kept it in as a tribute to him. But there is some added stuff in there, like when Banjo repeats quickly all the stuff that happened once he got there. In the play he just says, "I just got here, remember?" and that is all.

[–] Harold_Robbins 15 years ago

Never got through it. If anything, it's even more annoying than the 1942 version with Woolley. I guess you had to be there.

"Somewhere along the line the world has lost all of its standards and all of its taste."

[–] stevenackerman69 13 years ago

I think you have to understand that Woolcott, whom Whiteside was based on, could be a pain, but he really wasn't a bad guy. You had to know him and his sense of humor.