Gypsy- first preview- what happened in the audience?- Page 3

[CapnHook]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 11:17am

I, too, was there. I'll comment on the accident, and then another situation.

I was sittitng in the back of the Right Orch and in the moments preceding "Rose's Turn" I heard a loud crash in the Mezz above and I thought some dumbass knocked something over.

A few seconds later, I heard people mumbling and then someone up there shouted "Are you OK?!" I then thought...what could have happened? Did the hinges of their seat break and she fell?

Ushers and management (about six people) then RAN upstairs and I saw the people sitting in the box seats house left looking not at the stage, but at the balcony. I heard the victim sobbing and crying so I knew it was something much more severe and was PLEADING for them to stop the show because everyone was clearly distracted and wanted to know that this person was OK.

At the stage door, Laura Benanti commented on it and I asked if everyone on stage knew what had happened? She said something to the effect of: "Oh yes, we saw something fall and crash and we all were very worried, but Patti kept us focused and kept the show going so unless they stopped us, we kept going."

Very scary.

Secondly,

In addition to the "choker" upstairs, there was a gentleman downstairs in the back of the Center Orch. He wasn't too unruly until Act Two. In a quiet moment of the gypsy strip, he shouted out "Sing Out!" to Louise. Then after Rose's Turn, he shouted out "We love you!" at the end of her standing ovation applause to Patti. Then when Laura entered the stage to continue the scene, as soon as they began to speak, he shouted out again "WE LOVE YOU!" and everyone kept quieting him down and he just laughed. R-U-D-E.

[RyToast1]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 11:20am

OMG, I totally forgot about that guy. I hated him!

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 11:21am

Amen, sistas.

[Lynnespock2]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 11:24am

Avoid a lawsuit? Unless the insurance company comes up with a large sum of money, you can bet there will be a lawsuit. I definitely would sue!

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 11:36am

"...but Patti kept us focused and kept the show going so unless they stopped us, we kept going."

The imagination whirls at what this could have been.

Updated On: 3/4/08 at 11:36 AM

[tazber]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 11:42am

I think the lesson here is clearly not to go see the Patti Gypsy.
It's the new Macbeth.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 12:01pm

^Or if you do go and see that you're under an air vent, demand a different seat immediately.

[Kalimba]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 12:44pm

Too bad the scanner that scans the tickets can't scan for the freaks and keep them outside the theatre where they belong.

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 1:18pm

Wow, not even joking, I would sue the theater. That's terrible.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 1:19pm

Just bring a helmet and some additional rollerblade-type padding.

[BkCollector]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 1:54pm

Man, I wish it were me. I would PWN her, and make her not sing anymore and work at a 7-11

[insertclevernamehere]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 1:56pm

Out of curiousity, what would the common etiquette for something like this be? Should Patti have stopped the show?

[BkCollector]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 1:59pm

I don't think this is a common situation, so there probably isn't a common etiquette for it.

I think this is where common sense comes in. This "the show must go on" crap is tired.

[fnyboi88]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 2:21pm

Now if someone would have quoted Jack from Will and Grace that night... "Shut up Patti LuPone!"

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 2:50pm

From the stage I'm sure it was probably difficult to tell exactly what happened. But if they could have heard any type of verbal crying, sobbing, etc., one of the actors probably should have stopped the action, walked to the wings - and told the stage manager to bring in the curtain.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 3:04pm

But the real question has not yet been asked.

WWMD? What would Merman do?

[tazber]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 3:05pm

the actors probably should have stopped the action, walked to the wings - and told the stage manager to bring in the curtain.


But these weren't mere actors, these were PATTI!

[blaxx]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 3:10pm

Imagine if it would have fallen on her.

[RyToast1]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 4:02pm

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/04/falling-object-creates-real-drama-on-broadway/index.html?hp

[MadPhan]

Posted: 3/4/08 at 9:23pm

Whoah! The Phantom of the Opera must have been there! Seriously, though... I am glad nobody was hurt worse. When should they know what caused it? Hopefully it was an isolated thing. If they are going to have more problems like this, they should postpone the show for repairs or find another theatre. As to why they didn't stop it, I am surprised also. Other then them having bigger problems then the show stopping, nobody was paying attention, it seems. Also; would they really want the PR that while a woman was hurt and, possibly(as far as they knew) dying the show wasn't stopped? I wonder what is the theatre protocal for emergencies like when to pull the curtain and get the audience out of there? Anyone work at a theatre and can shed light on typical practices?

Updated On: 3/4/08 at 09:23 PM

[DickonDefysGravity]

Posted: 3/5/08 at 12:15am

Patti will be sued and sentenced to star in the revival of Brooklyn the Musical and Bernadetter Peters will take over her role in GYPSY and all will be much better. :)

[MovieGuy1031]

Posted: 3/5/08 at 12:17am

According to another poster, the balcony was closed at tonight's performance for repairs until further notice.

[courtnyj]

Posted: 3/5/08 at 1:42am

Kinda wish I had read about this a little sooner....I just bought tickets in the front right balcony for the 20th. Haha. Maybe I should wear a helmet?

[WhitehallandMarks]

Posted: 3/5/08 at 1:54am

The other poster was misinformed. The balcony was closed due to lack of seats sold, not due to repairs. The vents were all checked and reinforced Tuesday.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/5/08 at 1:56am

What is your source, WhitehallandMarks?