Nathan Lane as “The Nance” from Broadway To A Screen Near You

Now playing at a cinema near you, recorded earlier this year, is the 2013 Tony award winning Lincoln Center production of Douglas Carter Beane’s “The Nance” starring Nathan Lane, Johnny Orsini, Cady Huffman, ad Lewis J Stadlen. It is set in the not-so happy days of the mid 1930’s in New York City. Late one evening at an automat (a kind of vending machine/cafeteria), a dapper, well-dressed man (Lane) strikes up a conversation with a shabbily-dressed younger man (Orsini). Being carefully discreet, the older man buys the other a sandwich and instructs him where to meet outside. It seems the place and its clientele are the target of the police vice squad looking to bust homosexuals. The next morning at the older man’s run-down, but cozy apartment, the young man doesn’t wish to dash away. It seems that the younger man, who we learn is named Ned, has fallen for his benefactor, much to his surprise. After much prodding the older man  reveals that he is Chauncey Miles, an actor working at a dying burlesque theatre, the Irving Place. Oddly, Chauncey’s specialty comic character is a swishy effeminate stereotype nicknamed “the Nance” (perhaps short for “pansy” or “Nancy-boy”). complete with his own tagline (“Hi. Simply hi!”). Later Ned visits the theatre and meets Chauncey’s co-workers, the baggy-pants, top banana comic (Stadlen) and a trio of “bump and grind” girls lead by a statuesque fiery redhead (Huffman) whose leftist leanings irk the staunchly conservative Chauncey! Over the next few years the troupe tries to keep the show going by staying a few steps ahead of undercover cops who want to shut them down, not only for the twirling tassels but for the sexual jokes from the “nance”. Offstage, Chauncey tries to settle down domestically with Ned while dealing with a  heavy sense of self-loathing. Included in the play are several old standard tunes, some “racy” dance moves, and recreations of classic comedy routines such as “Meet ya’ round the corner”. “Peace and quiet”, and “Niagara Falls. Of particular interest is the clever staging, with each set positioned on a huge revolving wheel (similar to a massive “Lazy Susan”) with the wheel moving to reveal the theatre stage, the backstage, Chauncey’s apartment, and that automat. If you wish to catch this on the big screen, act fast!

In St. Louis “The Nance” screens on Wednesday July 16 at 7 PM and Sunday July 20 at 11 AM

To find out where it’s playing near you go to:

http://www.screenvision.com/cinema-events/the-nance