Here's a clip from the Tony Awards of 1992. It's the big number from that year's revival of Guys and Dolls, "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat," followed by a brief snippet of the title song. Walter Bobbie, who is now primarily directing, has the Stubby Kaye role of Nicely-Nicely Johnson. (That is to say Mr. Kaye originated it on Broadway and re-created it in the movie. He made such an impression in the part that it became quite standard — Bobbie was an exception — to cast Nicely-Nicely with a fat actor or to pad a skinny one with pillows…this, even though there's absolutely no reason the character has to be heavy.)
Also in the number, you'll see Nathan Lane as Nathan Detroit, the role from which Lane got his first name. This was the first time I saw Nathan Lane perform…the first time most people saw — or at least took note of — him. It's interesting that it made his reputation because he's such a fine singer and the role of Nathan Detroit doesn't call for one. It was originated on Broadway by an actor named Sam Levene who was a terrific comic performer but no vocalist. In fact, Levene was so bad that during the "Oldest Established…" number, when he was among a whole group of actors singing, they asked him to just mouth the words.
During rehearsals, they kept taking musical numbers away from his character until finally, all he was left with was the "Sue Me" duet, which is simple enough for a non-singer. Since then, many a singing actor has been cast as Nathan Detroit (including F. Albert Sinatra in the movie) and has wondered how come he only has the one song. Sam Levene's rotten singing is how come. It is not uncommon for a production to add Mr. Detroit to the "Guys and Dolls" number (as was done with Sinatra) even though it's way out of character for Nathan D. to be singing those lyrics. There have also been famous instances when a Big Star who was cast as Detroit would demand that the "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat" number be taken from Nicely-Nicely and given to his character. I've never heard of the change actually being made but I'd guess it has happened somewhere.
So you'll see Nathan Lane not singing much in this clip, and Ernie Sabella (who co-starred with him in many things, including the movie of The Lion King) is also in there. You may also catch a fast glimpse of Faith Prince in a wedding gown…and wearing a magenta suit is J.K. Simmons, who's been playing J. Jonah Jameson in the Spider-Man movies. Have a look…
