The acclaimed British stage actor who had the unenviable task of taking over the part of Max Bialystock from the irrepressible (and seemingly irreplaceable) Nathan Lane in Mel Brooks' zany Broadway smash, The Producers, got the hook Sunday after just 30 performances.
News of Goodman's firing was first reported by the New York Post, which quoted a company member as saying the producers of the show--along with creator Brooks and director-choreographer Susan Stroman--were "unhappy with the lack of progress Henry was making in the role." The Post says Goodman tried to take the character in a different direction from the manic Lane, instead making Bialystock "too serious, too brooding."
The official word was much more diplomatic. Said Stroman in a statement Monday: "I have the utmost respect for Henry Goodman. He is a wonderful actor and I would happily work with him again on another project. Henry has been well received nightly by audiences, but the producers have decided to pursue a different quality for the role.
Goodman previously starred on Broadway in the Tony-winning comedy Art. He scored his best reviews playing Shylock in Trevor Nunn's production of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice for Britain's Royal National Theater, as well as West End revivals of Chicago and Guys and Dolls. He is perhaps better known in America for roles in movies like Mary Reilly and Private Parts.
He and former Wings star Steven Weber (Bialystock's hapless accountant, Leo Bloom--the role originated by Matthew Broderick) were tapped to replace the show's stars when they bowed out last month.
Despite his lack of brand-name recognition, Goodman impressed The Producers brain trust after nailing Bialystock--a greedy two-bit producer who tries to bilk elderly investors out of their life savings--during his audition. But by many accounts his zingers lost their zing after he began his tenure on March 19.
Apparently being funny is a tough task when you're following in the footsteps of Lane and Broderick, whose chemistry carried The Producers to a record-breaking 12 Tony Awards (including Best Actor in a Musical for Lane) and made it one of the biggest Broadway hits of all time.
There were signs all was not well with The Producers with Goodman heading the cast. While actors traditionally get a honeymoon period to work out the kinks, critics weren't invited back to review the new pair until May 1--an unusually long time. (Now with Goodman's exit, that date might get pushed back further.)
One reason for the quick change might be traced to the box office. While The Producers is still packing audiences in and remains sold-out for many months, last-minute cancellation tickets are now easier to come by and advanced ticket sales are reportedly slowing. It's a good bet the show's producers wanted to stem any slackening sales by finding a more high-powered Bialystock.
Goodman will be replaced by Tony-nominated cast member Brad Oscar, who currently plays the musical's Nazi playwright, Franz Liebkind. As Lane's understudy, Oscar received favorable marks for filling in for the star when he was laid low with vocal problems during his yearlong tenure in The Producers.
Oscar takes over as Bialystock Tuesday night. Weber remains in place as Bloom.