Opened (Manhattan Theatre Club, Stage 1): CAST
November 1, 1994
72 performances, 24 previews
Transferred to Walter Kerr Theatre:
January 20, 1995 (previews) Opened February 14, 1995
Closed: September 17, 1995
249 Performances, 28 previews
Stephen Bogardus (Gregory Mitchell)
John Benjamin Hickey (Arthur Pape)
Stephan Spinella (MTC) (Perry Sellars)
Anthony Heald (Walter Kerr)(Perry Sellars)
John Glover (John & James Jeckyll)
Nathan Lane (Buzz Hauser)
Justin Kirk (Bobby Brahms)
Randy Becker (Ramon Fornos)
PRODUCTION CREW
Terrence McNally (Book)
Joe Mantello (Director)
Loy Arcenas (Sets)
Jess Goldstein (Costumes)
Brian MacDevitt (Lighting)
John Kilgore (Sound)
John Carrafa (Choreography)
Victoria Bailey (General Manager)
Denise Cooper (Company Manager)
William Joseph Barnes (Stage Manager)
Ira Mont (Stage Manager)
Nathan Lane originated the role of Buzz Hauser, a Broadway musical afficianado who is HIV-positive. Buzz presents many of the show's highlights, including a serendipitous relationship, and many amusing Nathanesque lines.
-- written by Ariel Rugg
Interesting note: Invited to the second reading of the play as an audience member, Lane was called into
service when the original Buzz got stuck in traffic. "People laughed," Lane deadpans. "They
like me in it." So when Laughter closed on Labor Day, Lane, suddenly without prior
commitments, was offered the part.
A movie has been completed with nearly the entire original cast (the only exception Jason Alexander replaced Nathan Lane) and was released May 16, 1997.
Anthony Heald, Nathan Lane, John Benjamin Hickey
| TONYS | |
|---|---|
| Play |  Terrence McNally |
| Director |  Joe Mantello |
| Actor | John Glover |
| Actor | Stephen Bogardus |
| Actor | Anthony Heald |
DRAMA DESK
Nathan Lane OUTER CRITICS CIRCLE
Nathan Lane OBIE
Nathan Lane GLAAD
1995 Theatre Award Reviews of MTC Production:
Robert Feldberg, Drama Critic, Bergen Record Corp
"The prime funnyman is Lane ..."Sydney H. Weinberg, BPI Communicastions Inc., The Hollywood Reporter
"Lane makes the most of his role as the HIV-positive Buzz, a witty connoisseur of Broadway musical history"Laurie Winer, L.A. Times
"[Nathan Lane] has never had a role as full of humor and pain as he does in "Love! Valour! Compassion!"Linda Winer, Newday
"Everyone is terrific ..."Reviews of Walter Kerr Production:
Robert Brustein, New Republic
"The most explosive jokes of the evening belong to Nathan Lane, an irrepressible actor who should be forcibly repressed ..."
THE BOOK
Love! Valour! Compassion!
and A Perfect Ganesh
by: Terrence McNally
Plume Drama - ISBN 0-452-27309-9
Comments or corrections, please contact
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