A production of Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple, starring Alan Davies and Bill Bailey, was the fastest seller on the Edinburgh Fringe this year (so much for experimentation and daring there); now another new production that hits Broadway this month (reuniting Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick from their pairing in the original production of The Producers four years ago) is about to begin previews and is already in the enviable position of having sold out its entire first booking period.
“I don’t think we can take out any ads,” producer Emanuel Azenberg has told the New York Post, “because it would be misleading. We don’t have any tickets.” It has $21.5 million in the bank already – thus making it truly critic-proof, too. “I’ve produced 71 Broadway shows, and this is the first time I’ve never had to worry about what the New York Times is going to say,” he adds mischievously.
Already it is being speculated that they stars will re-sign to stay beyond the current booking period of next April; could London beckon next? Certainly the West End – who were denied the chance to see them both in The Producers, and only got Nathan Lane by default as a last-minute emergency replacement for Richard Dreyfuss – would welcome them with open arms.
