It’s award season. Greatest hooker, biggest liar, cleanest janitor, lousiest politician, fattest butler — everything’s getting an award. But Monday’s Drama League — born 1916 — gala spotlighted Broadway’s deserving.
Honoree Nathan Lane — who’s hit more stages than Shakespeare: “My first performance was a school play. I was in seventh grade. My Catholic grammar school had no budget for dramas and only did musicals. This was ‘Around the World in 80 Days.’ I had the lead, and it was a divining moment. The first time in my life I remember getting a laugh.
“It was like a drug. That good feeling was totally unexpected. I was getting love from my dysfunctional family and sort of understood this was my vocation. For me, work is not drudgery.
“Not that I don’t appreciate leisure. My partner, Devlin Elliott, and I have a shelf with books, things, my three Tonys and tchotchkes. We don’t like cooking. Neither of us can. We manage, but he can’t and I don’t so we go out. We have a house in London, where we’ll go Christmas.”
But who remembers a Nathan Lane-less Broadway season? It was just the ’80s AIDS epidemic days of “Angels in America.”
Coming next, the medieval days of “Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus.”
First, who can fit all that on a marquee? Second, it’s bloody, gritty, spoken in iambic pentameter and maybe Nathan schlepping a spear in a tunic.
Meanwhile, his new Tom Ford tux looked to cost more than the whole Roman empire. Host “Producers” mate Matthew Broderick’s tux? Who knows?
Lane: “This is funny, political, about life and human behavior. Not going out of town. Producer Scott Rudin, who’s very smart, is opening it here so now it’s called a lab. I don’t know how people will react. We’re figuring it out.”
Right. Since all this was above my pay grade, I figured out the only intelligent thing to do. I left him flat and went home.
Please try to pay attention
Polling place officials: Ellen Easton, a professional, said “voting machines were down” at Church of the Heavenly Rest, 90th and Fifth. She tried reporting it, but they wouldn’t give her the name of those in charge. Just letting you know . . . After six months behind bars, designer Oleg Cassini’s widow Marianne Nestor Cassini, who’s done kindnesses for many people: “Why I was in jail, I don’t understand. It’s ridiculous. I only say bad things went down that shouldn’t have. Maybe later — but right now I can’t say more” . . . Actor Bob Balaban: “I’m writing a YouTube series soap opera about college kids who have a secret.” Great — so when’s it go on? “First I have to write it.”
Celebrating City Center
Nov. 14. City Center, founded by Mayor La Guardia, celebrates 75 years. It’s a gala at the Plaza plus a performance of “A Chorus Line.” I mention this partly out of respect. My late husband, comedian Joey Adams, grew up in the mayor’s house. It began when, a little kid on 105th and Madison, he shouted La Guardia slogans. His growing up years and early showbiz life all happened under the La Guardia eyes.
B’klyn fare fares in Tokyo
Several months ago a gentleman, brunching in Brooklyn restaurant Buttermilk Channel, appreciated the food, décor, ambiance and offered owner Doug Cowell partnership in a similar Tokyo operation.
Cowell just visited Japan’s identical replica — down to the ceiling and exposed brick walls. The only change? In one missing brick’s place rests a child’s toy cow.
Only in Brooklyn, kids, only in Brooklyn.
About one of this state’s politicians running for what should’ve been the border: “This guy had it very rough growing up. He was the eighth of six children.”
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.