Simon's 45 Seconds to Exit From Broadway, Jan. 13 | Playbill

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News Simon's 45 Seconds to Exit From Broadway, Jan. 13 Hit with poor reviews and sinking grosses and facing a tourist-strapped winter, Neil Simon's new comedy, 45 Seconds from Broadway will end its run Jan. 13 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre after 31 previews and 73 regular performances. Jerry Zaks directed the comedy, which began previews Oct. 16. Emanuel Azenberg, Ira Pittelman, James L. Nederlander, Scott Nederlander and Kevin McCollum are the producing team.

Hit with poor reviews and sinking grosses and facing a tourist-strapped winter, Neil Simon's new comedy, 45 Seconds from Broadway will end its run Jan. 13 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre after 31 previews and 73 regular performances. Jerry Zaks directed the comedy, which began previews Oct. 16. Emanuel Azenberg, Ira Pittelman, James L. Nederlander, Scott Nederlander and Kevin McCollum are the producing team.

For the week ending Jan. 5, 45 Seconds grossed only $189,486 and filled only half its seats. The New York Post reported (Jan. 9) that the show closes at a loss of roughly $1.7 million.

45 Seconds from Broadway (a reference to the old George M. Cohan song "45 Minutes from Broadway") pays homage to Time Square's Edison Cafe, known in theatrical circles as "The Polish Tearoom." Director Zaks appeared to be the right man for the job, since 45 Seconds looks to be a heartfelt comic valentine along the lines of Laughter on the 23rd Floor, which paid veiled tribute to Simon's early years writing for Sid Caesar's "Show of Shows."

45 Seconds from Broadway, which opened Nov. 11, stars Marian Seldes, Alix Korey, Lewis J. Stadlen, Kevin Carroll, Judy Blazer, Bill Moor, Julie Lund, Dennis Creaghan, Louis Zorich, David Margulies, Rebecca Schull and Lynda Gravatt.

The play underwent two cast changes in the middle of the rehearsal process, with Carol Woods and Joan Copeland both leaving. Taking over for Woods was Gravatt, making her Broadway debut. She appeared Off Broadway in The Old Settler and If Memory Serves and is a regular on Showtime Networks' "The Hoop Life." Over the Columbus Day weekend, the show lost Copeland, whose role was taken over by Schull (Golda, Herzl, TV's "Wings"). There was no official word on why Woods (Follies, Smokey Joe's Cafe) and Copeland left the production, though the latter will shortly turn up in an Off-Off-Broadway farce, A Comedy of Eros.

Seldes most recently finished a run in Edward Albee's The Play About the Baby. This spring she received (in addition to several award nominations) an OBIE Award for Sustained Excellence. Stadlen last graced Broadway as Banjo in the Roundabout Theatre Company's The Man Who Came to Dinner. He acted in the Broadway premiere of Simon's Laughter on the 23rd Floor, which was also directed by Zaks. Copeland has performed in plays ranging from The Torchbearers at the Drama Dept. to Over the River and Through the Woods Off Broadway. Korey garnered a wealth of notice for her turn as a lesbian in the musical The Wild Party at Manhattan Theatre Club and recently appeared in Suburb at the York Theatre Company. Julie Lund is best remembered as one of the slightly insane inhabitants of Christopher Durang's summer beach house in Betty's Summer Vacation, which played Playwrights Horizons two seasons ago. Blazer's credits include Titanic and the current Sundance Festival Funny Girl Utah. Margulies appeared in Conversations with My Father and a Guthrie Theatre mounting of The Price.

45 Seconds is the first Simon play in many years to open cold on Broadway. Over the past decade, Simon comedies has tried out in the regions only to experience short runs on Broadway, or opened and closed Off-Broadway. The Dinner Party reversed the playwright's fluctuating fortunes, becoming Simon's first Broadway hit in some time. The comedy earned back its investment and ended a season-long run at the Music Box Theatre Sept. 1.

The 74-year-old playwright has been less lucky healthwise recently, with the New York Times reporting that he underwent surgery for a herniated disk in his back in late October. Simon was at the first preview but didn't get to do his usual heavy revisions between then and opening night, though he and director Zaks were said to have conversed daily on the phone. Critics slammed 45 Seconds from Broadway, for being jokey and artificial, though some kind words were spared for various performers.

The Edison Cafe, located on W. 47th Street on the ground floor of the Edison Hotel, has long been a haunt for theatre types. Little more than a fancy diner (albeit with a highly decorative, salmon colored ceiling), it is prized for its casual atmosphere, inexpensive prices and Matzoh ball soup. The walls are covered with theatre posters and a corner table near the front door is always reserved for high-powered lunch meetings held by the Shubert Organization. August Wilson is know to frequent the place when he is in town.

The play features characters based on the cafe's owners, Harry and Frances Edelstein, comedian Jackie Mason (the Stadlen role), and various producers, actors, stage managers and the like.

Other Simon works include Biloxi Blues, Broadway Bound, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Rumors, God's Favorite, Lost in Yonkers, Come Blow Your Horn, Fools and the books for Little Me and The Goodbye Girl.

 
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