Well it didn't fall on Patti's head so she didn't care. Merman was unliked but not for stopping the show and yelling at the audience who paid $25 top price to see her.
LMFAO Parks, I'll be using that as my signature from now on if you don't mind
You're reminding me of people you hear at the movies asking questions every ten seconds, "Who is that? Why is that guy walking down the street? Who's that lady coming up to him? Uh-oh, why did that car go by? Why is it so dark in this theater?" - FindingNamo on strummergirl
"If artists were machines, then I'm just a different kind of machine...I'd probably be a toaster. Actually, I'd be a toaster oven because they're more versatile. And I like making grilled cheese" -Regina Spektor
"That's, like, twelve shows! ...Or seven." -Crazy SA Fangirl
"They say that just being relaxed is the most important thing [in acting]. I take that to another level, I think kinda like yawning and...like being partially asleep onstage is also good, but whatever." - Sherie Rene Scott
Granted it's not the same situation in a way--but Merman was not afraid to stop a show. Have you not heard the story Elaine Stritch tells about how Ethel once walked all the way into an audience to throw a drunk audience member who was yelling at her all the way out onto the street? Again, it's not the same--Ethel's case was much more justified--but still.
Now that I found a computer, I'll write more. As has been confirmed, it DID happen. It looked like Patti lost her balance because she was focusing on something in the audience, and I thought she was going to just proceed after a little trip up, but she turned towards the orchestra and yelled, "Stop!" Then she proceeded to reprimand the audience members in question and said that that was the 3rd time she had caught them and she had had enough. She then said she would not continue with the show until they were removed then she walked off stage left. A few seconds later, I guess she could see that the audience members whom she wanted to leave weren't doing so willingly or something and she came back out and proceeded to tell them what she thought. One of the ushers then told Patti that they were out and Patti put her smock back on to start over and decided to thank the rest of the audience members for having good theatre etiquette in a time when such etiquette is often not displayed. Patti began Rose's Turn over and the crowd went wild - cheering and applauding throughout the number like I have never heard them before.
(audio exists)
Also, a question since this was my first time to see it... Is the zipper supposed to get stuck in the Detroit portion of the Gypsy's transformation? No, she is supposed to do a strip, but she couldn't get the zipper down. One of my friends said she saw Laura have problems with her zipper before.
Didn't Ms. LuPone once state that she does not like to participate in the post-show BC/EFA fundraising events because she feels that they violate the "4th wall" rule?
"Be on your guard! Jerks on the loose!"
http://www.roches.com/television/ss83kod.html
**********
"If any relationship involves a flow chart, get out of it...FAST!"
When I saw it, Patti was signaling to the ushers who were on walkie-talkies. No joke...
"I mean, sitting side by side with another man watching Patti LuPone play Rose in GYPSY on Broadway is essentially the equivalent of having hardcore sex." -Wanna Be A Foster.
"Say 'Goody.' Say 'Bubbi.'" ... "That's it. Exactly as if it were 'Goody.' Now I know you're gonna sing 'Goody' this time, but nevertheless..."
"patti needs to learn to deal with that stuff. People pay good money not to see her get out of character and yell at rude audience members even though falshing objects is distracting and dangerous."
Hahah I'd pay to see Patti completely flip her sh*t!! Whomever said she's batsh*t crazy is totally correct. And it's fabulous lol.
I'm astounded. People are angry at Lupone but I don't see anyone pointing out that the audience members who were recording were actually the ones at fault! This is like blaming the victim of an drunk driving accident for getting in the driver's way.
But, by the sounds of it she made a mistake thanks to the flashes and probably didn't want to take the 'fall' for it, so to speak. I can see why she did it. It is slightly annoying she thinks it's justified though..
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
Before he enters the thread. Let's all prepare for "A Director" to gloat and gloat about how he told us all what a terrible person Patti LuPone is.
Updated On: 1/11/09 at 02:49 AM
wonkit, I honestly don't think that people are feeling the way you think they are. It isn't that we are trying to justify the people taking pictures etc. We are trying to say that it isn't Patti's job to take care of such things. Yes, they are wrong to do in the theatre and yes they are annoying to deal with. But, a good professional would learn to not let things like that bother them or get in their way of putting on a good show.
I agree that both parties were wrong. It was wrong of Patti to break the fourth wall in such an uncalled for way. And, it was wrong for the audience members in question to do what they were doing.
Sorry - it was the THIRD instance of a flash going off and no one had done squat about it. I don't blame her in the least, she had every right to stop and do what she did. It's funny, but when Brian Dennehy used to do the same thing regarding cell phones going off during Death Of A Salesman, he was applauded for taking a stance. I saw Robert Morse stop Tru because someone in the first row did a flash photo. He went off on the guy, and the audience cheered him for doing it because these people are yokels and deserve what they get. He made his point, got applause, and got right back into character and the show went on and we all enjoyed it despite the five-minute break. But it's always fun to read teenager's opinions on such things.
"I never had theatre producers run after me. Some people want to make more Broadway shows out of movies. But Elliot and I aren't going to do Batman: The Musical." - Julie Taymor 1999