 |
| Missed 'The Book of Mormon'? Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells Return with Side-Splitting 'Gutenberg!' |
Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells have a knack for effortlessly swapping roles on stage, quite literally at the drop of a hat. In the quirky Broadway production "Gutenberg! The Musical!," these versatile actors take on numerous characters in a whirlwind 105-minute performance, each persona identified by boldly-lettered baseball caps they interchange with finesse. The madcap comedy centers around Bud (played by Gad) and Doug (played by Rannells), two aspiring playwrights who enthusiastically pitch a musical about Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the printing press. Their comedic escapades unfold in front of potential producers, who are, in fact, the audience at New York's James Earl Jones Theatre.
The revelation about the constant cap-swapping came as a surprise to Gad during the first reading of "Gutenberg!" His initial reaction? "I almost had a heart attack," he confesses during a joint interview with Rannells. "We only had a three-week rehearsal process, so it was beyond nerve-racking. It’s definitely a mathematical equation of comedy."
"Gutenberg!" marks a long-awaited reunion for Rannells, 45, and Gad, 42, who last shared the stage in the 2011 smash hit "The Book of Mormon," a bold satire that clinched nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Their return to the theater is already generating significant buzz, thanks to their proven comedic chemistry.
Director Alex Timbers describes the duo as "wildly inventive comedians" who effortlessly play off each other's talents, creating an extraordinary dynamic on stage.
The actors delve into more details about "Gutenberg!," reminisce about their pre-acting jobs, and share some humorous audition anecdotes:
Q: Despite the absurdity of "Gutenberg!," it manages to convey a heartfelt and emotional message. Was that surprising?
Andrew Rannells: While we knew "Gutenberg!" was incredibly silly and a delightful homage to musical theater, we were pleasantly surprised by the underlying heart it revealed. There's a distinct absence of cynicism or snarkiness in the script. It's about two characters who genuinely care for each other and share a common goal. Finding a comedy script with such a genuine core is rare, especially in today's comedic landscape. What's even more unique is that Josh and I bring over a decade of friendship to the show, making the material resonate with our real-life camaraderie.
Q: Before your acting careers took off, what were your most memorable jobs?
Josh Gad: I once took a job at an advertising firm through a family connection. They had a client called "1-800-Telemattress," and my task was to pitch a campaign for them. So, I walked into the office with great confidence and said, "Feeling tired? Tell a mattress!" My pitch fell flat, and my family friend gently told me, "Josh, I don't think this is the right path for you."
Rannells: I worked as a greeter at the Warner Bros. Store, where I had to wear a Looney Tunes letterman jacket and enthusiastically announce, "Welcome to the Warner Bros. Store. Eight floors of fun!" I must have said that line about 500 times a day. The day I quit was when a customer asked me where the Tweety Bird mud flaps were, and I thought, "I can't do this anymore. Despite the bills, I just can't."
Q: Can you share your worst audition stories?
Gad: My worst audition was for admission to Juilliard. Michael Kahn, who was running the program at the time, sat there with a group of intimidating-looking individuals who resembled the villains from "Superman 2." They stared me down, and I completely blanked on my monologue. I began improvising in iambic pentameter, and it was a total disaster. I eventually said, "I will show myself out now. Thank you all very much."
Rannells: I auditioned for the revival of "South Pacific" at Lincoln Center and was on a kick of singing the same song for every audition, just to see what would happen. So, when I auditioned for director Bartlett Sher, I sang "Born to Run" by Bruce Springsteen. He politely told me that I was talented but not suitable for that particular show.
Q: Looking back, when did you realize that "The Book of Mormon" was a hit?
Gad: I was convinced that "Mormon" would run for only three months before closing. People forget that before the opening night, we were already being written off as too controversial, destined for picketers, and a potential disaster. However, around the fifth or sixth performance, I noticed a line of 150 people waiting outside the theater for lottery tickets. The next day, it swelled to 400. I turned to Andrew and said, "This feels like something very big," and from there, it just exploded.
Rannells: There was a night, about a month into the show, when Will Ferrell and his wife attended. They were incredibly friendly and even invited us to dinner. Josh and I were like, "Uh, yeah! Okay!" We ended up dining at Orso on 46th Street, and Martin Short joined us. It felt like I was stepping into a part of New York that I knew existed but had never been a part of before.
Gad: When you hear the phrase "the toast of the town," and you actually become the toast of the town, it's an incredibly surreal experience. One night Tom Hanks would be in the audience, and the next night Bono would be there, wanting to meet you.
Rannells: The entire cast recognized that it was a unique moment. We were grateful for the opportunity, knowing it wouldn't last forever, so we embraced the dinners and the parties because we understood it was a brief, extraordinary chapter in our lives.
Gad: And now that we're both in our 40s, we just want to go home after every show.
Q: Do you have a favorite celebrity who came to see "Mormon"?
Rannells: It was often a "Sophie's choice" situation with so many celebrities in attendance. One night, Bernadette Peters and Sean Penn were there, and I gravitated towards Bernadette. We chatted for a while, and she asked, "Aren't you going to talk to Sean Penn?" Honestly, I replied, "No." My inner child would have been astounded to know that, years later, I'd be hugging and conversing with Bernadette Peters.
Gad: That means I got stuck with Sean Penn!
إرسال تعليق