Ed and I are traveling to New York with our friends Ken and Elaine the first week of June and need advice on comedies. Elaine and I want to take the men to a play but they have given us orders--"no musicals," so I've done some research and the following sound like they might fit the bill:

Boeing, Boeing
Rafta, Rafta,
The 39 Steps
reasons to be pretty
Up From Here

I saw some reviews on the board about Boeing, Boeing--it sounds funny but maybe too broad or dated. Just wondered if anyone has seen any of the others and could give me their opinions/comments. Ed and Ken's favorite movie of all time is Little Murders, if that's any help.

I have seen 2: 39 Steps and Boeing Boeing which was very very good,
not dated and very funny.

november with nathan lane is one of the funniest plays i've ever seen. you can get discount tickets from playbill.com. the girl who played roseanne's sister, laurey metcalf? is really great it in too.

Broadway is kind of light on good comedies right now. Nathan Lane is leaving November (I believe sometime in the next few weeks). I saw 39 Steps and can certainly second that recommendation. Very funny and well done (even nominated for a Tony for best play).

August: Osage County also has laughs, though a more serious premise and not really a comedy (and also over 3 hours long, so probably not a possibility). However, I saw it last week, and it's absolutely wonderful.

Nathan Lane is performing in November through July 13, which is the last performance of the play scheduled. There has been talk of extending the run with someone else, but that's rather doubtful and at the present time they are only selling tickets through July 13.

I think that sounds like a really good option for the non-musical loving husbands. Boeing, Boeing would also be a good bet. 39 Steps by the way is even more dated and much broader than Boeing, Boeing. I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing -- just pointing it out -- that's an "over the top" broad spoof of the old Hitchcock movie with four actors playing all the parts.

Given what I read about Little Murders, I'd guess they'd enjoy November with Nathan Lane. I'll also point out that all of these should be available on discount from broadwaybox.com

I'll also endorse the apparently top three candidates:
November, The 39 Steps and Boeing, Boeing.
And, as mclaurie noted, discount tickets are available.

Thanks so much for telling me about November. That just might be the ticket.

From Up Here is not a straight comedy like November or Boeing Boeing - there's a lot of angst to it.

If you like Nathan Lane, you will like November as it is a perfect vehicle for him. Boeing Boeing is a farce with a terrific cast and not dated.

I would love to know what others think of 'New Century.' Although some of it is quite funny, I thought parts were in poor taste.

Anybody see it?

Parts are in poor taste? Ohhhh. I'm so glad I have tickets to see it in a couple weeks. Sounds better already!

I'd have to disagree though about Boeing, Boeing. Of course it's dated, but I don't think that hurts anything -- it's played in the right time period. But since it's basically about those "new jets" speeding up flights and causing the three stewardess girl friends to start arriving closer together -- you'd have to say it's dated.

Patrick - will you see it before the NY GTG? I want to hear what you think.

The only plays that I find dated these days are Neil Simon revivals (which I loved way back when). They haven't aged well (and maybe I haven't either - oh well).

Yes, we see The New Century on Saturday, June 7. Bugswife told me she loved it -- very funny.

Funny about the Neil Simon shows. I recently saw The Odd Couple, and despite knowing it almost by heart, I thought it stood up as well as ever. I did think Barefoot in the Park seemed just a little too "innocent" for modern times, but then it's usually set in period also, so I think it works.