Nolan Gerard Funk "stops" Birdie
Nolan Gerard Funk "stops" Birdie
#1Nolan Gerard Funk "stops" Birdie
Posted: 12/28/09 at 1:19pm
From a friend who was in attendance last night:
"During lot of livin to do the kitchen set got jammed as it was slidin off, brynn and catherine try to continue the scene b.c YOU DONT STOP UNLESS THEY TELL YOU TO.
Nolan comes out and goes "Im sorry everyone looks like the set is broken" nd starts laughing nd making gestures b.c his ego isnt big enough. Then allie runs on nd goes "ummmmm MR Birdie?!?!" Then a stagehand came on pushed the fridge off nd continued the show but he tried to stop the show b.c he cant act
I can say that nolan is the most unprofessional arrogant actor ive ever come across."
#2re: Nolan Gerard Funk 'stops' Birdie
Posted: 12/28/09 at 1:22pm
He's pretty awful in the show. Talk about a community theatre performance if I've ever seen one. Very good looking though.
"Somethin's comin', I don't know what it is but it is gonna be great!"
Updated On: 12/28/09 at 01:22 PM
#3re: Nolan Gerard Funk 'stops' Birdie
Posted: 12/28/09 at 1:32pmYour point?
"Somethin's comin', I don't know what it is but it is gonna be great!"
winston89
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/18/06
#4re: Nolan Gerard Funk 'stops' Birdie
Posted: 12/28/09 at 1:45pmI was under the impression that you don't need a good actor for the role of Birdie. That the whole idea behind the character is that he is good looking and can sing and that is about it. That he has all his choices made for him and just does that which he is told to do and doesn't care one way or the other.
"If you try to shag my husband while I am still alive, I will shove the art of motorcycle maintenance up your rancid little Cu**. That's a good dear"
Tom Stoppard's Rock N Roll
yankee_fan907
Leading Actor Joined: 10/14/06
#5re: Nolan Gerard Funk 'stops' Birdie
Posted: 12/28/09 at 2:08pm
"he tried to stop the show b.c he cant act"
Am I the only one missing something here? This makes no sense. Professionalism and acting ability are two separate things. Your friend, Taylor, is quite immature in her telling of the mishap. Besides, the whole show is just one big mishap anyway.
#6re: Nolan Gerard Funk 'stops' Birdie
Posted: 12/28/09 at 2:14pmIs your friend's "a" key broken?
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#7re: Nolan Gerard Funk 'stops' Birdie
Posted: 12/28/09 at 2:15pmif you're gonna type "nd" how hard is it to add the A to it to make it the actual word?!?! W.T.F.
and all that I could do because of you was talk of love...
#8re: Nolan Gerard Funk 'stops' Birdie
Posted: 12/28/09 at 2:21pm
Well, this was taking from a very casual instant message conversation so I'm sorry HIS spelling is not up to par for you all.
The point was, despite the jabs at his acting, to tell about how he immaturely handled the situation. Sad
Eleah
Understudy Joined: 12/16/07
#9re: Nolan Gerard Funk 'stops' Birdie
Posted: 12/28/09 at 2:25pm
Thats super unprofessional. He should have improved his way out of it.
And in response to someone who posted earlier, any actor on a stage should know how to act regardless of the role. Many people, for instance, love Marc Kudisch's take on the role of Birdie because of his acting choices. Its not just about being a pretty face because there are a lot of pretty faces out there, but about making choices, and Nolan chose a stupid choice by getting the audience out of the show due to technical difficulties. The show must go on
winston89
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/18/06
#10re: Nolan Gerard Funk 'stops' Birdie
Posted: 12/28/09 at 2:35pm
Eleah, clearly you missed the point of what I was trying to say. I was trying to say that Funk did a stupid move by stopping the show. I was also saying that it is like his character due to the fact that the character of Birdie is someone who looks good can sing and really doesn't mind having people make his choices for him or when he does make his own choices and do his own thing, they end up being stupid ones
Taylor, while it might have been taken out of a casual instant message chat with a friend of yours, it clearly wouldn't have hurt you to do some editing to fill in the gap between letters and words and to give us some complete sentences.
"If you try to shag my husband while I am still alive, I will shove the art of motorcycle maintenance up your rancid little Cu**. That's a good dear"
Tom Stoppard's Rock N Roll
#11re: Nolan Gerard Funk 'stops' Birdie
Posted: 12/28/09 at 2:43pmOh trust me, I did. And the day I get grammar lessons from Winston is a sad ****ing day.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#12re: Nolan Gerard Funk 'stops' Birdie
Posted: 12/28/09 at 2:45pmIf Patti LuPone had done it you'd all be wetting yourself with joy.
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#13re: Nolan Gerard Funk 'stops' Birdie
Posted: 12/28/09 at 2:50pm
I've seen this production of BIRDIE twice and truly feel that there's enormous talent up on that stage but they've all been ignored by the director. Funk, in particular, has it in him to be an excellent Birdie. He needs a real director to draw the performance out of him. This is where Bobby Flatbottom was a total and complete failure.
Don't blame Funk, Stamos or Gershon for the amateur quality of the show. Blame Flatbottom.
"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)
#14re: Nolan Gerard Funk 'stops' Birdie
Posted: 12/28/09 at 2:54pm
I think your friend stopped using the "a" key because she can't act.
Or rather she can't ct.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
Dantes
Broadway Star Joined: 10/11/09
#15re: Nolan Gerard Funk 'stops' Birdie
Posted: 12/28/09 at 2:56pmIm sorry but we have had moments in shows before where sets have broke etc and the we have been told from the wings to stop the show etc, improv for a few seconds etc. The chances are he did not just stop the show off his own back.
former sadm2 (wink)
#16re: Nolan Gerard Funk 'stops' Birdie
Posted: 12/28/09 at 2:56pmHell, I'm good looking.
-Benjamin
--http://www.benjaminadgate.com/
--http://www.benjaminadgate.com/
thevolleyballer
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/29/04
#17re: Nolan Gerard Funk 'stops' Birdie
Posted: 12/28/09 at 3:01pm
I read this thread title and literally muttered "Oh, please" as I clicked.
Joe, you are spot on.
justafan2
Broadway Star Joined: 3/25/04
#18re: Nolan Gerard Funk 'stops' Birdie
Posted: 12/28/09 at 3:46pmI remember during the opening number of "Annie Get Your Gun", the set failed to rise and they had to close the curtain the start the show over. Tom Wopat, during "There's No Business Like Show Business"----made a grin aside to the audience and muttered "There's NO business like show business". The audience ate it up----no problem was felt with his breaking character.
#19re: Nolan Gerard Funk 'stops' Birdie
Posted: 12/28/09 at 3:57pm
"Funk, in particular, has it in him to be an excellent Birdie. He needs a real director to draw the performance out of him."
I don't think there's anything saving this kid but his good looks. But apparently good looks make a good actor to some casting directors? I'm not sure, but I know a ton of drop dead gorgeous actors who can act. But I guess without the name, it's not worth it.
Not to threadjack, but NGF just seems to have a track record of being a bit of a diva (or maybe more than a bit). My friend saw the show, and was waiting at the stagedoor, and I was waiting to take her home, when a girl next to her asked her if she'd take a picture of her and Funk. When she took the camera, he pushed her. Everyone was a kind of awkwardly unsettled, but he just brushed it off saying he doesn't like cameras to close. I'm not sure why he couldn't have just said that, but whatever.
Men don't even belt.
#20re: Nolan Gerard Funk 'stops' Birdie
Posted: 12/28/09 at 4:22pmI think he just seems to lack a personality at all. I can honestly say I probably wouldn't know what to do if this happened, I just wonder how long he was onstage before he interrupted the show. If it had been a decent amount of time and they didn't stop the performance or stagehands didn't come manually correct the problem in sight of the audience, I probably would have just blanked. You don't have to be good at improv to be a good performer, but it certainly helps in situations like this.
#21re: Nolan Gerard Funk 'stops' Birdie
Posted: 12/28/09 at 4:29pm
"Funk, in particular, has it in him to be an excellent Birdie. He needs a real director to draw the performance out of him. This is where Bobby Flatbottom was a total and complete failure.
Don't blame Funk, Stamos or Gershon for the amateur quality of the show. Blame Flatbottom."
Ummm...no. Well, yes and no.
No, because there really is nothing saving Funk other than his good looks. And as for Stamos and Gershon...they're just miscast, especially John Stamos. Gina Gershon is a very talented actress IMO and if anyone suffered from Longbottom's lack of direction it was her. She's the only actor in the show who I feel would have been so much better if only Longbottom had worked with her more.
And yes because...well, Longbottom was a failure. I agree with that.
Tis a shame.
"Somethin's comin', I don't know what it is but it is gonna be great!"
#22re: Nolan Gerard Funk 'stops' Birdie
Posted: 12/28/09 at 4:32pmNo doubt, this is unprofessional, but don't take it out of hand. I think what Patti Lupone did was much worse. But both times it isn't like the stormed out of the theatre and refused to be in the show. Oh, and I love how Allie tried to handle it.
winston89
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/18/06
#23re: Nolan Gerard Funk 'stops' Birdie
Posted: 12/28/09 at 5:16pm
I also believe that there was a situation where there was a malfunctioning set and Stamos was up there alone. However, Bob Saget was in the audience and climbed up on the stage and the two of them improved together to entertain the crowed while the set was being fixed.
"If you try to shag my husband while I am still alive, I will shove the art of motorcycle maintenance up your rancid little Cu**. That's a good dear"
Tom Stoppard's Rock N Roll
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#24re: Nolan Gerard Funk 'stops' Birdie
Posted: 12/28/09 at 5:30pm
Actors break character all the time when set changes malfunction. No one knows if he was told to what he did or not. And since he is new to stage work (to the best of my knowledge) maybe no one ever took the time to talk to him about what to do when these things happen.
NGF (and PERSONALLY I am not a huge fan of Birdie as a show or his redition of it) was absolutely delightful to my 13 year old daughter at the stage door, and was happy to pose for a picture with her. He chatted with her and even waited with us to make sure she was happy with the picture we took.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
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