Bill Murray felt more than just déjà vu when he saw a showing of the Broadway musical version of Groundhog Day on Tuesday. In fact, it ended with him in tears, followed by a heartfelt speech to the cast, according to a New York Times account of the night.
According to the Times, he rolled in with his brother Brian Doyle-Murray (who played Buster in the film) and Danny Rubin (who co-wrote the screenplay for the movie and the book for the musical). Then he went straight to the bar, where he asked for a water—not in a bottle, mind you, but in a glass—and tipped the bartender $50. Then, when he sat down, his neighbor said he looked "taller and thinner." Murray responded, "Yeah, I've been working out."
As the Times describes:
Mr. Murray exhibited a range of emotions throughout the night. At first, it was quirky one-liners to gleeful fans who suddenly recognized him. There were gestures and guffaws during the first act. But by the end of the performance, Mr. Murray was visibly sobbing.
He was sobbing, he told the Times, because of "the idea that we just have to try again. We just have to try again. It's such a beautiful, powerful idea."
After the show, Murray hung out with fans, including an 11-year-old girl on crutches, who he told "Don't sell short on the rehab. Otherwise, you'll limp and gimp for a long time."
Then he went backstage to give an emotional speech to the cast.
"As actors, I can't respect enough how disciplined you are and how serving you are of the process. There's nothing worse than seeing someone that's out for themselves. And you are all in it for each other," Murray said. ""When you ever feel you don't know what to do, sing to the person next to you. And that person will sing to the person next to that person, and then you will have this force that's even stronger."
Though the reviews for Groundhog Day have been phenomenal since it opened in April—and it was nominated for seven Tonys, including Best Musical and Best Actor for Andy Karl, who tore his ACL 72 hours before opening night, there's probably no higher praise than from the legendary actor whose performance in Groundhog Day the film is arguably one of his best. Maybe Murray will even see it again. And again.
