Good news. “It’s Only a Play” will extend beyond January 4th even though Nathan Lane is leaving the hit. Martin Short will replace him in the lead role of James Wicker, opposite Matthew Broderick. There was a fear that the hilarious Terrence McNally revival would close if they couldn’t find a replacement. As it is, Short has replaced Lane before in “The Producers.” “It’s Only a Play” averages $1.3 million a week right now, like a musical more than a play at the box office. It wasn’t like the producers could just shut it down. Maybe Lane will return one day. But for now it’s Martin Short, and he’s just great.
