'It’s Only a Play' Brings a Hilarious Comedy to Broadway

Nora Dominick ‘17/ Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer

Have you ever laughed so hard you began to cry? Have your sides ever ached because you were doubled over laughing hysterically? If you answered no to either of these questions, you clearly have not sat in the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre in NYC during Terrence McNally’s comedic play, It’s Only a Play.
It’s Only a Play tells the story of producers, playwright, director, actors and friends as they eagerly await the reviews of their Broadway play on their opening night. Peter Austin (Matthew Broderick), the panicked playwright, anxiously awaits to see if his show is a hit. With his career beginning to fade, the only thing calming him down is spending the night with his television star best friend, James Wicker (Nathan Lane) who has flown in from LA to see the play he turned down. Also in attendance is his novice producer, Julia Budder (Megan Mullally), his doped-up has-been actress, Virginia Noyes (Stockard Channing), his genius director Frank Finger (Rupert Grint), a lethal critic Ira Drew (F. Murray Abraham) and Gus (Micah Stock), a fresh off the bus coat check attendant. Set in the bedroom of Mrs. Budder’s Manhattan apartment, ridiculous, heartfelt and simply hilarious chaos ensues.
Legendary playwright Terrence McNally originally wrote the play in 1978. It was later re-worked and opened Off-Off Broadway in 1982 by Manhattan Punch Line at the Actors and Directors Theatre. The play was proven a smash hit, even in such a small venue. It’s Only a Play finally migrated to Off-Broadway in 1985 by the Manhattan Theatre Club. The production ran for a limited engagement to rave revues. It was directed by John Tillinger and starred some well-known actors such as Christine Baranski as Julia Budder, Joanna Gleason as Virginia Noyes, Mark Blum as Peter Austin and James Coco as James Wicker. Tillinger was nominated for a 1986 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Play.
For this adaptation of It’s Only a Play, the book has once again be revamped to include a whole new generation; the cast even takes a selfie mid way through the performance. Other references include, Wicked and other Broadway casts, the queen herself Barbra Streisand and of course Nathan Lane even name drops himself. With the re-vamped book, the play becomes a hilarious current comedy. McNally has seamlessly revived his previous work and has presented it to a whole new generation of comedy and Broadway lovers. Few playwrights can boast that their work has spanned generations.

Now, with such an ensemble cast each and every one of these veteran actors stands out in their own right. Leading off the cast is Emmy Award Nominee and Tony Award Winner Nathan Lane. No stranger to Broadway, Lane has commanded the stage for more than thirty years. This role was tailor made for Nathan Lane. His charismatic charm and spot-on delivery cause the audience to laugh hysterically. He is the star of It’s Only a Play considering he’s the only actor that is on stage from beginning to end. Lane cannot be contained and the audience is often found staring right at him during big, ensemble scenes. His commanding personality makes the show, and he brings the character of James Wicker to new heights. Even in tender moments, Lane commands the stage as he strips down Wicker’s sarcastic persona. This is a role that will help define him to a new generation of theatre lovers.
The two other major standouts of the night were newcomer Micah Stock and Rupert Grint. Stock is a Broadway actor known for mostly Off-Broadway work. He made his Broadway debut in It’s Only a Play with an incredible cast. Stock plays Gus, the coat check boy who wants to make it as an actor on Broadway. Throughout the night he is seen coming in and out of Mrs. Budder’s bedroom where the other characters are discussing the opening night. Stock’s comedic timing is exceptional as he makes hilarious one-liners that have the audience roaring with laughter. His big and most memorable moment of the play comes towards the end. All of the characters are crying hysterically after the play received horrific reviews. They have all started going after each other and they finally break down crying. Enter Stock, who begins to sing his rendition of “Defying Gravity” from Wicked. Stock sings this act one finale number with such humor that the entire audience is crying from laughing so hard. How he manages to keep a straight face, we will never know. Stock manages to command a stage filled with veteran actors and that is an impressive feat of its own.
Rupert Grint has shed the persona of Ron Weasley with his Broadway debut role. His work in the Harry Potter franchise may follow him forever however, for the two hours he is on stage as the brilliant and quirky director Frank Finger, audience members forget that he was ever Ron Weasley. Like Stock’s performance, he commands the stage with subtle quips and humorous body language. Grint leaves it all on the stage as he leaps, lands and laughs his way around. He assumes the role effortlessly and brings a kind of humor to the play that the other actors lack.

Of course the entire ensemble is spectacular in their own right. F. Murray Abraham portrays the perfect harsh critic who has infiltrated the groups opening night conversations. Stockard Channing brings moments of humor as she plays the recovering drug addict actress who is trying to restart her career. Channing allows for moment of humor during more quiet and intimate moments, which works very well for the show. Matthew Broderick plays a Ferris Bueller-like playwright. Any other actor would not be able to play the shy, sensitive and naive character as well as Broderick. He pulls it off effortlessly although he seems to be the weakest link in the production. Lastly, Megan Mullally as Julia Budder is hysterical. Except for the accent and excessive drinking, Mullally is playing a version of her Emmy Award winning character Karen Walker from Will & Grace, and no one is complaining about that.
The ensemble brings this show to life. It’s Only a Play seems to be the play of this Tony Awards season. With hysterical dialogue brought to life by extremely talented actors, It’s Only a Play brings tears to audiences’ eyes and has everyone leaving the Schoenfeld Theatre with a big, beaming smile on their faces.
It’s Only a Play will continue it’s original, limited engagement run until January 18, 2015 at the Schoenfeld Theatre. Following this performance, the play will move next door to the Bernard B. Jacos starting on January 23, 2015 until March 29th. Portions of the original cast will also be departing shortly. Megan Mullally, Rupert Grint and Nathan Lane are scheduled to take their final bows on January 4, 2015. Katie Finneran, Maulik Pancholy and Martin Short will make take over their roles respectively. Make sure to grab your tickets to the hottest and funniest Broadway play in town.