Line! Shaky Start for Play Starring Matthew Broderick

Merwin Goldsmith also used a script to read his lines. Goldsmith joined the New Group production last week replacing Jonathan Hadary who took another job according to a show spokeswoman.

Scott Elliott, artistic director for the New Group, informed Monday's audience at the Acorn Theater that a prompter was present and that it was the first full run-through of the show in front an outside audience. In a later interview, Elliott revealed that a prompter may be in attendance for this week's remaining shows. Elliott further explained that Broderick's role was "Shakespearean in size" and that he was coping with "chunks of dialogue moving around and being cut" by Lonergan.

Lonergan expressed that he was "alternating between great hope and total despair about the show" and some members of the cast, crew and production were in "panic" mode about the state of the play but that this sentiment was not uncommon. "I know it will come together, but my inexperience with the production elements of staging a play has made me nervous," confessed Lonergan.
"Being responsible for the whole thing is a challenge emotionally," he added.

Elliott recalled only one other New Group production that used a prompter. He revealed that their four-and-a-half week rehearsal time was fairly typical, that Lonergan rehearsed the original draft of the script before cutting and there was insufficient time to hold an invitation-only performance or full dress rehearsal. Internet-surfers cried for refunds but the New Group stated that it had not received any formal requests and did not plan on making refunds available.

Broderick, 47, earned critical acclaim portraying Leo Bloom opposite Nathan Lane on Broadway in 'The Producers.'

Lonergan, also 47, is a playwright, screenwriter and director. He achieved initial success with the play 'This is Our Youth.' He wrote the screenplay for 'Analyze This,' as well as 'Gangs of New York.' 'Starry Messenger' marks his debut as a director of a major production of a play.

'Starry Messenger' involves an astronomy teacher (Broderick) who's life is upended by an affair with a younger woman. It is scheduled to run through December 12th.