Valentina3 said: "binau said: " Sondheim is her [Patti's] greatest musical artist influence and after so many years of playing second fiddle to Bernadette in the 80s and 90s it could be yet another successful outing for her to stick it to Bernadette in her very successful career revival/peak she has had in the last 20 years. "
Um... What? Lol. Kinda nonsense to pit these artists against each other outside of an competitive awards setting. Patti was not a second fiddle to anyone, neither was Peters. "
Patti LuPone tried to replace Bernadette in Sunday but wasn’t cast as Sondheim famously said he didn’t want belting, was in the running for the Witch but wanted to play Cinderella and later negotiations ‘broke down’ but then “then Bernadette [Peters] got billing and everything else I wanted”. Meanwhile her career is hurting because of Sunset and Bernadette performs Whistle at C Hall, debuts her Sondheim concert, and wins her second Tony. Patti said she was ‘convinced Sondheim hated me’. Sam Mendes has lined up Patti to star in Gypsy but Laurents stops her from doing the role and gives it to Bernadette (before doing a complete 180 and directing her himself just a few years later). It doesn’t actually stop there, with Patti calling Trevor Nunn about Night Music who ‘didn’t call her back’ and then Bernadette eventually doing the role after Sondheim recommended her personally.
While it’s easy to dismiss their rivalry as gay fan gossip and maybe it is, I have heard from people that have worked with Patti it hasn’t gone unnoticed. However, my speculation that she is enjoying her career revival in this context has no basis what so ever but it’s hard to think someone with Patti’s strong personality wouldn’t. It’s only in the last 15-20 years, essentially since Sweeney Todd that Patti really established herself as a Sondheim girl - who according to her became her biggest musical artist career influence (David Mamet biggest play influence) - holding her own against Bernadette’s position. Between Sweeney, Gypsy, War Paint and Company in my opinion Patti has become the most important Broadway diva in the last 15 years - taking the crown off Bernadette. I think their careers peaked at different times.
Give me claws and a hunch, just away from this bunch.
Updated On: 8/5/22 at 09:18 AM