Brian Alvey: Nathan Lane in David Mamet's November

Niki is a big Nathan Lane fan so for Christmas I got us tickets to the matinee performance of November on Saturday, plus the all-important baby-sitter.

November is a new play by David Mamet about a first-term U.S. president who is guaranteed to lose his upcoming re-election bid. He has messed up the country pretty badly and is being advised to just take his remaining campaign money and go away quietly. Mamet also wrote Glengarry Glen Ross and Wag The Dog, among many other things.

We saw Nathan Lane three times in The Producers, once in the revival of The Odd Couple and once in Butley. He is always amazing and Niki and I are really big fans of his.

So this was planned as a Christmas present for Niki, but we got a surprise bonus present for Jack.

Although Laurie Metcalf (a.k.a., Roseanne's sister) is listed after Nathan Lane in the billing, Dylan Baker spends more time on the stage as the President's advisor. Baker played Dr. Curtis Connors in the Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man 3 movies and is rumored to be signed for one more film so he can become The Lizard in Spider-Man 4.

The present for Jack was a picture of his Daddy with Dr. Connors:

Dylan Baker and Brian Alvey

Comments (5)

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mitch levy 248 days ago

My wife and I saw November yesterday (Sunday) as an Anniversary present from her to me. First, Nathan Lane is mesmerizing. We could watch him reading a telephone book and laugh. My sides hurt from his and the great cast's acting via Mamet's brilliant words. Glad we saw it now before it is sold out after the official opening.
Glenn Hauman 247 days ago

You fanboy, you.
Brian Alvey 242 days ago

Hah! A Nathan Lane fanboy, yes. We had no idea who else was in the play when we bought the tickets.
Dorie 236 days ago

Good job, Brian. A great memory is taking an opportunity that we would regret passing by.
i_have_a_name_but_i_forgot_what_it_is 13 hours ago

I am Nathan's biggest fan. I love him. I saw November weeks before it closed. I loved the show. I thought that it was very funny, even though Nathan said the F-word 97 times. I actually went into that back hallway inbetween the stage door exit and the dressing room door hoping to meet Nathan Lane. I saw all of the other actors come out of the dressing room to go home, except for Nathan. He had ran out before I got there. He must be pretty fast. He had no more than 1 minute to get undressed and leave. I figure that there will be another chance to meet him in the future.
Ok... Bob out!

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