Patti LuPone out, Linda Balgord on today, Sat Nov. 22 Matinee- Page 2
Patti LuPone out, Linda Balgord on today, Sat Nov. 22 Matinee
#25re: Patti LuPone out, Linda Balgord on today, Sat Nov. 22 Matinee
Posted: 11/22/08 at 9:38pm
Yeah, I'm wondering how full the theater was with Patti not there.
I'm so happy for Linda though!
#26re: Patti LuPone out, Linda Balgord on today, Sat Nov. 22 Matinee
Posted: 11/22/08 at 9:38pm
I was there the first time she was out and the show did NOT start 45 minutes late. It started on time.
Updated On: 11/22/08 at 09:38 PM
#27re: Patti LuPone out, Linda Balgord on today, Sat Nov. 22 Matinee
Posted: 11/22/08 at 9:43pmJust wondering... but would anyone care to surmise how much advance notice Linda Balgord got that Miss Patti would be absent? As soon as L.B. got her notification, what would she do specifically to prepare for the show? from RC in Austin, Texas... where it's a cool 59 degrees (cool for us).
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
sbflyfan
Broadway Star Joined: 4/12/07
#28re: Patti LuPone out, Linda Balgord on today, Sat Nov. 22 Matinee
Posted: 11/22/08 at 9:45pmLenora Nemetz was Patti's first understudy? I saw her in "Hello Dolly" in Pittsburgh, and all I'll say is, her Mama Rose must have been rather, erm, interesting...
"I'm seeing the LuPone in Key West later this week. I'm hoping for great vocals and some sort of insane breakdown..." - BenjaminNicholas2
#29re: Patti LuPone out, Linda Balgord on today, Sat Nov. 22 Matinee
Posted: 11/22/08 at 9:51pmI'm curious as to what Linda's costumes and wigs were like. were they similar to (or the same as) Patti's?
When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain.
-Kad
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#30re: Patti LuPone out, Linda Balgord on today, Sat Nov. 22 Matinee
Posted: 11/22/08 at 9:54pm
LuPone's missed a performance?
Will she have to give her Tony Aard back?
"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)
#31re: Patti LuPone out, Linda Balgord on today, Sat Nov. 22 Matinee
Posted: 11/22/08 at 10:00pm
Of course she will have to return her Tony.
Patti isn't allowed to be sick. She's supposed to be super-human.
#32re: Patti LuPone out, Linda Balgord on today, Sat Nov. 22 Matinee
Posted: 11/23/08 at 12:21am
I saw Linda Balgord on for Rose this evening (I rushed the show with a friend from out of town this morning before anyone knew what was going on.)
The scene outside was very awkward to say the least. They had huge signs saying Patti was out and people from the house staff were also handing out elaborate fliers at the door explaining how to go about getting a refund, though it looked to me (at least from the orchestra) as if most people just saw the show as is.
As I was waiting in line to get in, I overheard someone who'd bought their tickets between shows today complaining that the person at the box office who handled them said Patti wasn't scheduled to be out tonight and didn't tell them she'd been out at the matinee. The staff member they were speaking to rebutted that Patti didn't call out for tonight's performance until 5pm, so it looks like she's going on a show-to-show basis with whatever illness has sidelined her.
I thought Balgord was terrific in a completely different way than LuPone (who I've seen in the role twice, once at the very end of previews and once again back in August.) She was much more emotionally vulnerable, which made her moments of anger and frustration that much more volatile.
Her singing was great (though her tendency to close her vowels made her sound shrill at times,) and she wore the same wig and costumes Patti does. She didn't get all of the laughs, but I think that had more to do with the audience than her delivery (since they didn't laugh at much else either, save for "You've Gotta Get a Gimmick" in the second act.)
Knowing that her first time on was only this afternoon, I was particularly impressed with how great her chemistry was with Boyd Gaines and Laura Benanti, both of whom are still turning in stellar performances that only validate their Tony wins. The dynamic is different, but it still works beautifully.
If you do end up seeing Balgord (which I don't imagine will happen often from now on,) know that the role is in good hands.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Updated On: 11/23/08 at 12:21 AM
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
WiCkEDrOcKS
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/04
#33re: Patti LuPone out, Linda Balgord on today, Sat Nov. 22 Matinee
Posted: 11/23/08 at 12:23amWow! I hate to say this but I hope Patti's out again soon so I can see Linda. Thanks for your thoughts!
RentBoy86
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/15/05
#34re: Patti LuPone out, Linda Balgord on today, Sat Nov. 22 Matinee
Posted: 11/23/08 at 12:42amI'm going to try and get over there tomm. morning. I hope it's not all for nothing!
#35re: Patti LuPone out, Linda Balgord on today, Sat Nov. 22 Matinee
Posted: 11/23/08 at 12:59amOh, yeah because getting to see Patti again would be soooooo terrible.
Parks
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/5/04
#36re: Patti LuPone out, Linda Balgord on today, Sat Nov. 22 Matinee
Posted: 11/23/08 at 1:16amI might try to see it tomorrow as well! I'd love to see Patti's understudy!
"If it walks like a Parks, if it wobbles like a Parks, then it's definitely fat and nobody loves it." --MA
Q
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/3/05
#37re: Patti LuPone out, Linda Balgord on today, Sat Nov. 22 Matinee
Posted: 11/23/08 at 3:33amPatti being 'out' would be the only way I'd sit through this.
#39re: Patti LuPone out, Linda Balgord on today, Sat Nov. 22 Matinee
Posted: 11/23/08 at 12:23pmso any word on whether Linda is on again today?
When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain.
-Kad
RyToast1
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/07
#41re: Patti LuPone out, Linda Balgord on today, Sat Nov. 22 Matinee
Posted: 11/23/08 at 12:39pm
I saw the show yesterday afternoon. I liked Lenora better than Linda.
Linda wasn't bad though, not at all.
#42re: Patti LuPone out, Linda Balgord on today, Sat Nov. 22 Matinee
Posted: 11/23/08 at 12:49pmTelecharge customer service said Patti is performing today.
#43re: Patti LuPone out, Linda Balgord on today, Sat Nov. 22 Matinee
Posted: 11/23/08 at 12:55pmHas anyone been to box office? I am sure telecharge really has a good handle on who is in and out.
#48re: Patti LuPone out, Linda Balgord on today, Sat Nov. 22 Matinee
Posted: 11/23/08 at 2:03pmWord is that Patti will be back this afternoon.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
#42re: Patti LuPone out, Linda Balgord on today, Sat Nov. 22 Matinee
Posted: 11/23/08 at 4:57pmYay!!!
#43re: Patti LuPone out, Linda Balgord on today, Sat Nov. 22 Matinee
Posted: 11/23/08 at 8:45pm
Patti was on and she was FINE:
#44re: Patti LuPone out, Linda Balgord on today, Sat Nov. 22 Matinee
Posted: 11/24/08 at 1:05amsaw patti today. she was great. jon voight and kelsey grammar were in attendance.
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