binau said: "GiantsInTheSky2 said: "For what it’s worth, Audramissed twenty performances between the December first preview and hervacation in June. I have no doubt that people would still be pissed if she went on knowingshe wasn’t able to give100%. Damned if she does, damned if she doesn’t.God forbid she get sick or rundown, while carrying the entire production on her back (as so many claim). She can’t even agree to an alternate without being criticized for it. People were far too eager to tell on themselves with their reactions to this production…not that any of them are introspective enough to see that.
binau - Theirony of several paragraphs complaining about “toxicity” (most of them having nothing to do with the actual show in question, just noise around it egged on from outsiders, people online, and you) with barely a point that isn’t unnecessarily harsh and toxic in nature…We get it, you didn’t like this production. We got it the first fifteentimes you posted about it on this board. Still going on about “Patti being cancelled” when that has not a damn thing to do with this show is ridiculous. Move on, or at least stay on topic.You yourself sound just as“toxic” as those you’re pointing fingers at.
“Sacrificing your quality of life” was a choice you were not obligated to make, and one no sane person wouldever do.It’s even sillierthat it was donefor a first preview before finding out howexactly the production was “breaking the mold” in the first place. Younot being happy with the end result does not make the entire production a “marketing scam”. Talk about melodramatic. Simply make smarter decisions, and try learning some descriptive buzzwords beyond “toxic”. Six times in a single post is something else. 😵💫"
1. This thread is like a post-mortem of the show, so I am summarising my thoughts and yes if you read my posts you will see that I'm not saying anything too much new, just wrapping it up in one post. What's the deal? So what? Are people only meant to post "ohhh sorry to see it go" or post new thoughts? I really don't understand the complaint. God forbid I spend time clearly articulating and summarising my thoughts in a way that clearly also shows my passion for theatre and these issues. Is that not the purpose of this board?
2. RE: Toxic. I don't currently have another word in my vocabulary that describes some of these problems. Do you have another word I can use to describe people unfairly trying to destroy the career of Nicole and Patti instead of toxic? Toxic seems to fit best to me. And I strongly reject the idea that calling out toxicity makes me toxic. Someone needs to stand up and call out this behaviour (the treatment of Rachel Z is also an example of something I'd describe as Toxic).
I also think absolutely every single point I said was on topic. It was speaking about the production of Gypsy and the fanfare/reaction to it. I accept and agree that in many ways the latter has nothing to do with the show. But it's still part of the overall experience of being a fan and I'm just commenting on it. The whole events around this were also highly unusual and something I've never seen before to this degree and scale. I really don't understand your point, do I ignore it? I don't want to ignore it. So I chose not to.
Almost every production of Gypsy or at least recently such as the Bernadette/Sam Mendes and Patti/Laurents Gypsy have had their own story and saga. The Audra Gypsy is no less and this is part of the theatre history books or at least collective knowledge.
3. RE: Sacrificing my quality of life and whether I'm 'sane'. I don't claim for a second to be 'sane'. Did I ever suggest I was sane? I think I have a borderline addiction for theatre and I don't really have a choice unless I goto theatre-holics anonymous or something.It's extremely important to me and my life, above most other things.
Of course I accept in reality if I blow $500 on a first previewthat's on me in literal terms. However, at the same time I have never been to a first preview in my life (and I have been to many) that couldn't do something as simple as get everyone into the theatre in time and start the Overture in darkness. That was amateur. And it cost $500, which is not good value. So I think it's well within my right to express my disappointment about this. Do you think it's good value or ethical for producers to charge $500 for this? On Broadway and in New York City, which has the highest standards of musical theatre of anywhere in the world,I don't personally think so.
4. RE: Me being melodramatic. I think I have posted here for long enough and people know me well enough to realise that I love to be a bit over the top sometimes - gurls this is theatre do we not want to be theatrical?I am passionate about theatre and I do try to to entertain and be playful a little (thanks Bwaygurl2, denali.fireand Dame for appreciation). So people don't have to take everything I say literally. The reason I describe it as a 'marketing scam' is because it was hyped up in the marketing and interviews and chatter and yet I don't think they delivered the goods. That's all. I know it was not literally a scam they probably tried their best, but it wasn't good enough for me.
5. RE: Audra's absences, I agree it's absolutely a damned if you do damned if you don't situation. And there has been very few instances of people suggesting Audra has phoned in a performance or had vocal problems live (seriously I can only think of a couple of comments, and I guess some of the Tony vocal issues). Which is very respectful. I believe Audra is a consummate professional and would not simply call out lightly. She knows the entire show is riding on her shoulders. However, the job isn't just to give an excellent performance it's also to run a marathon and it's not for everyone. It's not even about blame it just is what it is - sometimes people can run this marathon, sometimes they can't. Unfortunately for Audra, she appears to be struggling a little running the marathon right now.
Someone on Reddit (thank you Bwaygurl2 for suggesting it does indeed seem locked now, very strange) speculated that Audra might actually have some vocal damage and is potentially trying to ride it out, hence the Montego alternate and an early closure. This doesn't sound impossible to imagine. I hope Audra is ok and does not put her voice at risk."
dear god
soneone please wake me up when its over