I am sure that most of you know Nathan Lane, an incredibly talented actor who has played in several film roles, including “The Birdcage”, “The Producers” and “Mouse Hunt,” to name a few. However, he currently concentrates his efforts on Broadway and his latest work is in the Douglas Carter Beane play, “The Nance.” Lincoln Theater At The Movies recently released a limited big screen performance of the play, and we at Eat Play Rock were fortunate enough to attend one of the showings in our area.

Nathan Lane In “The Nance”

The Nance is set in New York City during the 1930s, at a time when being anything other than straight was considered not only degenerative but criminal. During this time there were a lot of low budget, cheap and seedy shows {as was the view of many in that time} called burlesque shows. Burlesque shows would feature women in provocative attire dancing around the stage, as well as a lot of humor that was of an adult nature. One of the main characters of these shows was the nance. The nance character was meant to be a parody of a homosexual man, usually portrayed by a straight man.

Nathan Lane plays Chauncey Miles, an actor in one such burlesque show who plays the Nance, but with one huge exception: Chauncey is actually a gay man. Although Chauncey thoroughly enjoys his role, he realizes the danger that he puts himself in by being what is considered highly taboo in New York in this era. This play deals with the stigma that many people face when they live outside societal norms.

Our Thoughts On “The Nance”

“The Nance” had lots of side-splitting comedy throughout the play that just kept me laughing. However, the play does take on its serious moments, when it tackles some strong social issues that were not only extremely pertinent back in this time, but are also quite prominent today. In our ever-changing world, we see more and more people living life as they choose today – a right they were not always afforded. There are parts of the country, though, where the thought process of many is much the same as it was in the 1930s. So I am sure that many people today can relate to what Chauncey was going through back then.

We Recommend “The Nance” For…

If you are looking for something that is not your typical summer movie fare, then “The Nance” is a great alternative. Nathan Lane delivers a one-of-a-kind performance as Chauncey Miles in this stirring play-to-film. But, consider leaving the kids at home for this one due to the adult nature of the content. “The Nance” is devilishly entertaining and all of the performances are outstanding. We think that anyone who is a fan of thought provoking social issues, adult comedy and burlesque will definitely enjoy “The Nance.”

Also, be prepared to have the production’s catch phrases and songs stuck in your head for weeks. My wife and I have been saying “Hi, simply hi!” “Slowly I turned…” and “Meet you round the corner in a half an hour” ever since we saw “The Nance.” It’s been a lot of fun!

Find out where The Nance and other Broadway To Screen productions will be playing in your area.

Have You Seen “The Nance?” What Did You Think Of It?

*Eat Play Rock was provided tickets to facilitate this review. All opinions are completely our own.