Now this is ACTING! Nathan Lane as Roy Cohn everyone 🤯 | Angels in America Part II: Perestroika

'Yes, I know what time it is. I couldn't sleep, I'm busy dying.' What a scene! Roy Cohn, played by the incredible Nathan Lane, pulls strings to get the very best AIDS treatment in hospital in 1980s New York City. Tony Kushner's world famous two-part play about the AIDS, Angels in America, is now streaming worldwide: www.ntathome.com/
Life and death, love and sex, heaven and hell. This is America in the mid-1980s. Amid the AIDS crisis and a conservative Reagan administration, six New Yorkers with interconnected lives grapple with their existence.
This multi-award-winning production of Angels in America at the National Theatre is directed by Marianne Elliott, with a cast including Andrew Garfield, Nathan Lane, Denise Gough and Russell Tovey.
Filmed by National Theatre Live.
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[@StevenMichels]

You've never seen what a theater star can do to a stage till you've seen Nathan Lane.

[@Kermit_T_Frog]

It helps having good lines to deliver. That was a great script.

[@robkunkel8833]

If you love “The Bird Cage”, see the French version that preceded it.

[@Sarah_270]

Saw him in The Producers in London, ever in our memories as the best night out at a stage play. Love him to bits.

[@astoriacub]

I saw this on B'way... Fantastic production.

[@DerekWrites]

It takes a special skill to fill the stage without leaving a hospital bed

[@orion7741]

not really, its actually pretty darn easy when they only have the spot light on you and one little section of stage.

[@DerekWrites]

@@orion7741 Are you on stage crew? Because that was exactly what stage crew would say 😂

[@geraldstephens6612]

My compliments to Mr Lane for playing a person who was a nasty SOB; not trying to soften the person, but showing him as he really was.

[@nataliekmaguire]

It's rare you see someone outperform an actor like Al Pacino, but Nathan Lane utterly owns this role.

[@ricardocantoral7672]

He's a flaming queen. Of course he'll outdo Pacino.

[@robothunter1035]

When I was a child my parents told me that if I wasn't good, Santa wouldn't visit our house at Christmas, but Roy Cohn would.

[@breezingby2611]

I go back and forth on the two, I think they’re utterly brilliant with wildly different interpretations

[@ytuser_3122]

I didn’t get why you mentioned Al Pacino, till I realized he played Nathan’s role in a HBO mini series

[@sorenaleksander2670]

PACINO was better

[@TheRaymanFan]

nathan lane crushes *every* *single* *role*

[@MovieJunkieOfficial]

I adore Nathan Lane. Haven’t seen him in much, my first introduction to him was Mousehunt. But he’s awesome in every little part I see him in, such a unique voice also.

[@raoulduke8794]

Same, mouse hunt was so good

[@mackswellgg]

Mouse. Hunt. 👏👏👏👏👏

[@eridickulous4626]

He was excellent in The Birdcage, and in The Addams Family musical! And just about everything else he does lol. He always gives 100%

[@ComicBookGuy420]

Mousehunt is a classic The producers is also a great laugh

[@jwelch5742]

Nathan Lane won 2 Emmy Awards for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program for playing Timon in Timon & Pumbaa (TV series): Season 1 and Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program for playing Spot/Scott in Teacher's Pet (TV series).

[@Matt-cz6ti]

I grew up on The Lion King and every time I hear Nathan Lane's voice I just think of Timon

[@AliciaNyblade]

Me, too. As brilliant as Nathan is, all my childhood brain could think of while watching this scene was, "Why is Timon being so mean?" XD

[@KewAnneOn]

Nathan Lane has always been one of the greatest yet one of the most under appreciated actors in the business 👍🏼

[@smi7leee]

I've seen him on stage once...and he literally lifted everyone! The air in the theatre changed! He was spectacular 🥰

[@NoOne-kr4jc]

nice :)

[@ghintz2156]

Nathan Lane is an international treasure

[@ramandeepnijjar8281]

If you love Nathan Lane recommend the film "the bird cage." It is so funny! This is definitely incredible acting!

[@xdevilxbabex2003]

I saw it for the first time a year ago, it is in my top 10, loved it.

[@Anna.GG.]

Yes, you are so right! His portrait of Zarina is beyond funny! 🤣🥰🤣🥰😂

[@ramandeepnijjar8281]

@@xdevilxbabex2003 Mine too my mother and I love it!

[@ramandeepnijjar8281]

@@Anna.GG. I know!

[@monicacasares9698]

Too good!

[@Olivia3641]

All I hear is Timon swearing. Lmao. I love you, Nathan!

[@eanayac]

1:30 "Half the time I just make it up, it still turns out to be true. We learned that trick in the 50s!" Best shot against the 1950s politicans EVER!

[@lekoman]

And some notable modern ones.

[@frasierfreak92]

@@lekomanNotably his protégée Donald Trump…

[@nebulousisgod]

Definitely one of best living stage legends if not the best. He’ll be a beloved theater hero for centuries to come.

[@kylerutherford]

Nathan lane is just amazing!!!!!

[@danieledwards3360]

I adore Nathan Laine he is quite simply one of the greatest theatre actors America has ever produced ❤️❤️

[@natashatobin670]

Just love Nathan Lane's work. He's a fantastic stage actor. Like the old school actors I remember watching in the 1970s in London (when I was a kid and my parents worked in theatres). I could watch this all the way through. Great emphasis, and biting humour.

[@aparnarajesh]

One of best performance by Lane along Al Pacino

[@isaacgraham5727]

Not really sure it’s fair to compare this to Al Pacino in the miniseries; theatre is *not* the same thing as film. It’s actually quite different. And Angels in America is a very special - and very LONG - play. Most actors in this ply actually perform 2-3 roles throughout the piece, but not the actor who plays Roy Cohn; I think he’s the only one to just play that role, and with good reason. It’s an extremely physical and draining role to perform, with tremendous amounts of deeply complex dialogue across a freaking 6-7 hour long play. Being able to effectively perform that role - to die of AIDS night after night - is one of the most insanely difficult and challenging performances any actor can undertake. To do it extremely well with this kind of energy while lifting all the performances around you is stunning. There’s a reason why he won the Tony hands down that year.

[@va1445]

I. LOVE. HIM. ♥ Nathan Lane could read the disclosures on antidepressant medications and I would be mesmerized.

[@Thesushiboii]

Nathan Lane is amazing.. bird cage was hilarious. He’s a comedic genius.

[@andrzejzborowski4920]

And The Producers too.

[@irenedezwaan4592]

Is anyone besides me disappointed that we can no longer threaten to strange ourselves with the phone cord when someone's being annoying?

[@jamesb1988]

Simple, say phone charger instead. The thing about strangling yourself is anything can work if you are creative enough 😂

[@m3rrys0ngstr3ss]

I sent my sister this clip to give her an idea what the play is like, and I told her it cracked me up that Roy doesn't just demand AZT, but also a gift bouquet - and her response was, and I'm paraphrasing here "Hey, I would too, you only die once, and it's a status symbol!" She's not wrong - for all that Roy says he doesn't care about being loved, he does care about appearances.

[@lauramineto9675]

Amazing performance. Hats off!👌👏👏👏

[@jaminpatrz5197]

I had know idea this play existed but it further proves how wonderful nathan lane is on stage

[@stereodreamer23]

Roy Cohn was a close confidant of J. Edgar Hoover. He was also literally one of Donald Trump's mentors. They used to hang out at Studio 54. Do the math...

[@joshuaizzo8893]

"I don't even know what I know! Half the time I make it up and it turns out to be true anyway!"

[@jonathonrodriguezthomas6457]

"We learned that in the 50's"

[@maestroclassico5801]

My God he really is one of the great theater actors.....PERIOD.

[@pazuzu126]

I hope he reprises this role once Broadway reopens

[@jamesb1988]

Nathan Lane is an underrated gem. Was a pleasant surprise to see him pop up in American Crime Story: OJ.

[@raheemdeangelo7256]

Nathan is the GOAT!!!! I LOVE HIM 💗

[@DaveTheTurd]

Great way to start the day, thank you.

[@trishbrewster183]

I saw him in this a few years ago on Broadway. Just brilliant 👏

[@JensForum]

That VOICE!

[@ytuser_3122]

Jesus, this man is a great actor! Im surprised some of these theater actors don’t break character or get distracted when audiences laugh.

[@edbarrett5995]

Part of one of the greatest pieces of theatre I've ever seen.

[@dreamslab7150]

Amazing! I like how's passion he is)))👏👍👍👍

[@andrewc.2952]

They put bags under his eyes and everything. LOL I love Mr. Lane. :-D

[@JamJells]

Nathan is pure gold on any stage.

[@mitchellminer9597]

Roy Cohn taught Donald Trump how to behave like that. Their relationship was very formative.

[@jrbaskind]

That was brilliant!

[@cherylmarkham3477]

I will see ANYTHING with Nathan Lane!!

[@Sarah_270]

I love Nathan 💘

[@J0kerScars]

Seeing Nathan Lane look so old trips me out, I’m still thinking of him in mouse hunt or the birdcage lol

[@Did.You.Forget]

Such a great role 🙌🏾

[@andrzejzborowski4920]

Great, great, great actor.

[@josecotto7940]

National treasure indeed!

[@ThePa1riot]

Huh, that’s actually clever and good casting on multiple levels.

[@MisterMandMz]

Im speechless.....busy dying....😭😭😭

[@stu5804]

Can't believe this is the same actor from Mousehunt. Suddenly i feel really old lol

[@nickmorrell3559]

Theatre legend

[@JnEricsonx]

This is why even though I didn't see much of the LA based Penny Dreadful, the man still convinced me that he could play a hardboiled 40s/50s cop.

[@BarEscm]

I expected him to suddenly blurt out: "What do you want me to do? Dress in drag and do the Hula?"

[@ComicBookGuy420]

Nathan Lane still one of my favourite actors

[@louiseturner9811]

Nathan lane is such a good actor. He can do comedy as well as drama.

[@BellaFirenze]

Nathan Lane is a national treasure.

[@witsendpod]

Unsurprising that Nathan Lane would conquer this role. Pacino is solid in the mini series, too.

[@WalkingSideways]

Tried to get tickets for this a year before it opened. Sold out?! :( I hope it comes back so I can have another go. Loved the HBO series, that was a masterpiece of tv film making. But I know the original live theatre production will be a whole other experience.

[@musicfreak1138]

Nathan Lane is a National Treasure for sure but, Damn! I miss Live Theatre!

[@Belfastboi]

Can you show Helen McCrory in Medea please? One of our finest. I’m really going to miss seeing her.

[@NationalTheatre]

Medea is currently streaming worldwide on www.ntathome.com/ We miss her already :(

[@maestroclassico5801]

@@NationalTheatre Saw the clip. She was 2 years younger than me. It's truly not fair that she's gone. She was amazing.

[@CS-er3ib]

Love Nathan Lane.

[@nikyboyable]

I would love to see Nathan lane one day ❤

[@DolceFarnienteABC123]

The loud music at the end woke me up. -_-

[@helmhouse3productions648]

Just imagine Timone saying this to Pumba

[@brooksashmanskas4516]

Wooo, amazing performance. He would have deserved several awards (for a long time), and a much better career in the cinema. I love him so much. Nathan Lane is so underrated in Hollywood (for too many years), shame. Brillant actors : The Lion King, The Birdcage, Mousehunt, The Front Page, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Iceman Cometh, Lisbon Triviata, Love, Valour!Compassion, The Nance, The Producers, The Good Wife, Modern Family or recently Penny Dreadful City Of Angels (Is incredible is this role).

[@ramandeepnijjar8281]

I know he is amazing!

[@brooksashmanskas4516]

@@ramandeepnijjar8281 hell yeah. Fantastic.

[@sodamncutestud2]

I can’t help but think of the cat from Stuart little every time I hear him lol

[@got2bjosh]

The HBO miniseries was a perfect adaptation. Al Pacino was great in the role.

[@user-xt3js8yh1b]

Yup

[@willbryangarcia]

He was great in the good wife.

[@leahmoore6820]

"Where's my Roy Cohn?!"

[@samuelgusfield2536]

Unreal, how does he have the same energy he did three decades ago??

[@paulacornelison243]

3 months ago, I was in the Hospital. While I was being transferred from the ER to a Hospital room, I received a phone call from a telemarketer. I told him to leave me alone as I was dying. Needless to say, I was in no danger of dying.

[@invernessfan3017]

I hope they make a film of this.

[@w.urlitzer1869]

The Nance is also wonderful.

[@magzdilluh]

I can't believe this is Timon OMG

[@mastershmiddy]

Description (as of 5/18): “Roy Cohn, played by the incredible Roy Cohn” damn Nathan Lane is so good they thought he was the actual guy 😂

[@TheThing2011]

Only two films got pulled from my film class because of complaints: American History X and Angels in America. Because both portrayed the rawest form of modern America.

[@mistonklelees]

Nathan Lane is the King

[@QuilLocke]

0:14 “DIAL. THE FUCKING NUMBER! OR I’LL STRANGLE MYSELF! WITH! THE! PHONE CORD!”

[@bartwilson2513]

The man Nathan Lane is playing was Donald Trump's lawyer and mentor early in his career.

[@BlueLatte-f3f]

🤣😂He said, he makes stuff up and it still turns out to be true ... learned it in the fifties

[@JustMe-ed1cq]

Pacino blows this away.

[@coopernickerson370]

Love him in Mousehunt.

[@venus189]

I live hiiim!

[@jwershoven]

Is "Present Laughter" with Andrew Scott available to stream? I would love to see that!

[@sarahjones8396]

I agree, that would be great! Hint, hint.

[@JaysonMurrayYo]

does this mean that you'll release it soon 👀👀👀

[@carloscardona6587]

this has to be animated with Timon in his sickbed

[@timothysmith7888]

Nathan Lane is Theatre Royalty and anyone who is lucky enough to have a chance to see him perform live, should seize and protect that opportunity like they were Lloyd’s of London. It’s been so long since I’ve seen Angels in America performed live - not since it’s pre-Broadway Taper production. In the clip of this scene, I am immediately reminded how completely lovable is Nathan Lane. I have a problem with that in this role. There was N O T H I N G Lovable about Roy Cohn. Before the play even begins, one can pick up and sense Nathan Lane’s S P I R I T a block away from the theater, pouring out the lobby doors! Roy Cohn, on the other hand, was a predatory death rattle; a merciless, crusty, scab surrounding an utterly endless V O I D, a soul-sucking, Black Hole. The casting of Lane makes Cohn a sympathetic character, I fear, almost, a victim. THAT’s what .... what?... it’s what I RESENT! I think it would be difficult to find Lane, utterly despicable. There are too few people that history gives us Carte Blanche to despise.... Roy Cohn is one of them. It’s hard to imagine Lane doesn’t get in the way.

[@mchaggis622]

Beautifully stated. Couldn’t agree more.

[@taliahakimian1863]

We’re is this from??

[@Masanumi]

Me on the phone when my italian temper takes over my german continence...

[@mproyuclan]

I went to the NT production a couple of years ago and wanted so much to love the whole play. When the original production ran in NY a friend went up to see the production and was so impressed and I was very envious as tickets were hard to get. When I did go to the NT, in truth I was disappointed overall and maybe my expectations were too high. The Nathan Lane / Roy Cohen element was really excellent but I found the production overall did not justify the monumental scale and I did not feel it sustained itself. Of course I do not regret having the chance to see it but it comes quite low on my list of memorable productions. I contrast this with the RSC 2006 History series where Henry Vi (pts I II & III) and then Henry IV (I & II) + Henry V were shown as day long productions. These were so immersive that starting at 10am and finishing after 10pm we did not want to leave until the after play Q&A with the cast and production team and quickly booked up to go again. I must say that the 2014 history cycle at Stratford never came close to the 2006 one and whilst everything else I have seen Anthony Sher in I have found him to be magnificent, I found his Falstaff did not work. As such second cycle did not have hte energy of the 206 one. So whilst you can do productions of such scale and they can have the critical mass to sustain you, I think you need something really special to make such an investment of time worthwhile.

[@isobellabrett]

Not me who just thought: Roy Cohn, never heard of him. He sure reminds me of Nathan Lane. 🤦🏽‍♀️

[@williamgardiner2010]

Cohn. Trump family lawyer in the early days. ‘Deny, deny, deny” was his motto for his clients. Sounds familiar?

[@geraldstephens6612]

@@williamgardiner2010 Cohn was disbarred some years before his death; look up all the nasty, illegal things he's done throughout his life. A real p.o.s.

[@peteranddavidproductions3403]

Timon in the hospital

[@jimmyz2684]

Roy Cohn: "I want to be...an octopus!" Prior Walter: *swings in and punches him in the face*

[@HappyQuailsLC]

This is why I watch documentaries. Do watch the excellent one, "Where is my Roy Cohn". It is far more insightful that this... stuff.

[@JustSomeCanadianGuy]

It's weird how much he looks and sounds like Brian Cox here.

[@alexwilson1878]

Nathan Lane is the best, and he's Timon from the Lion King

[@MahlerHolic1860]

This is acting.....and then some!

[@dracodracarys2339]

i just hear Timon

[@rightonrightonrighton]

Whats with the title? Come on, lets not go down the "Guy performs monologue! You wont BELIEVE what happens next!" route...

[@DrJones20]

Yeah it's quite cheap.

[@TigerGreene]

I love Nathan Lane, but I think Pacino absolutely owns this role.