His inspiration was his father Donald, who worked as a sideman, in jazz parlance a musician for hire who can blend in with the band or star as a solo performer, according to what is required by the gig.

Clifford eventually assumes the role of breadwinner his father has forsaken and offers his mother the emotional support Gene cannot.

[citation needed] Through an arrangement with Actors' Equity, which allowed for the British cast of The Real Thing to travel to Broadway, Side Man, with Wood, Falco (reassuming the lead role of Terry), Page (reassuming the supporting role of Patsy), and Jason Priestley, opened on February 8, 2000, in London's West End at the Apollo Theatre, where it ran to June 2000.

[5][6] In reviewing the Off-Broadway production, Peter Marks of the New York Times called it "both heartbreaking and touching, a play of true feeling, full of affection for its characters and insight about the events it conjures.

For one thing, there is the dexterous hand of Michael Mayer (who has been involved in this show since its early workshops) guiding; he keeps the storytelling in sharp focus.