Jaunted

So how is the play, anyway, besides the eye candy? Pretty good! The dialogue, actually a set of overlapping monologues Wolverine and James Bond deliver at first seated in chairs and later pacing about the stage, is a little hokey sometimes but the actors rescue it. If they wanted a vanity showcase, easy on the lines and roles, they could have gotten one, but "A Steady Rain" proves both actors are serious about their chops. We especially liked Craig as a recovering alcoholic who tries to pull his partner back from the brink of vengeance—and there's not a whiff of Bond about him.

If you want to be in prime position to snag an autograph from them, though, best to come back another night and wait: By the time we got out of the theatre, each side of the stage door was 10 deep and the best we could do was the top of Craig's head. (Mighty fine head, that.) On the other hand, Gerard Butler was in the audience and walked right past us—and next door the actors from Yasmina Reza's Tony Award-winning "God of Carnage" were coming out and we got within five feet of Marcia Gay Harden, who stayed outside for 15 minutes chatting with fans.

"A Steady Rain" runs through December 6th. Tickets start at $66.50 at Telecharge.com. Unlike most Broadway shows, don't wait for this one to go on sale; the New York Times reported it's selling out almost as fast as Julia Roberts' Broadway appearance in 2006.

Related Stories:
· Get Tickets [ASteadyRainOnBroadway.com]
· A Sentimental Journey Over Brutal Terrain [NYTimes.com]
· Recession Hits Disney As Broadway's "Little Mermaid" To Close [Jaunted]

[Photo: NY Daily News]