Butley plays final performance on Broadway

Simon Gray's comedy Butley, starring Nathan Lane, plays its final performance tonight (14 Jan 2007) on Broadway. The show played 21 previews and 94 regular performances.

The production's limited engagement began previews at the Booth Theatre on 5 Oct and opened on 25 Oct 2006.

Butley is a dark comedy about a literary professor who loses his wife and lover in the same day. It was mounted on Broadway in 1972 and also made into a film, both starring Alan Bates.

The show opened to mixed reviews: The New York Times said "If you were expecting a seamless, emotionally stirring marriage between a first-rate actor (Nathan Lane) and a first-rate play, then '�Butley' disappoints."; Journal-News wrote "For those who aren't looking for a laugh riot, it offers the rewards of a remarkable American actor (Nathan Lane), at the top of his form."; Variety said it was a "Disappointing production." To read more of what the critics said click here

Directed by Nicholas Martin, Butley also features, Julian Ovenden, Dana Ivey, Pamela Gray, James McMenamin, Jessica Stone and Darren Pettie.

Nathan Lane starred in the production of Butley at The Huntington (Boston) in 2003, also directed by Nicholas Martin.

The production has set design by Alexander Dodge, costumes by Ann Roth, lighting by David Weiner and sound by John Gromada.