Just thought I'd share - today at Gypsy about a minute before the show started the announcer came over and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, Ms. Patti LuPone is not feeling well today. However, she knows the meaning of "the show must go on" and that is what will happen today." (Not exact wording, but you catch my drift.)
She still kicked ass though. She sounded amazing, though at times you could clearly tell she was sick. She was coughing a lot and sounded pretty nasly when she spoke. Still, she did not let it get to her performance and gave everything 150%. I really respect her; at curtain she looked so accomplish.
Just thought it was interesting and I should share!
Ah, I was really expecting you to say that she was out. Good on her for going on anyway.
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I chose, and my world was shaken- So what? The choice may have been mistaken,
The choosing was not...
"Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life." - Lin-Manuel Miranda
"And when Idina Menzel is singing, I'm always slightly worried that her teeth are going to jump out of her mouth and chase me." - Schmerg_the_Impaler
Good for her! I don't wanna think about the angry mob that would attack Lenora Nemetz.
"Oh look at the time, three more intelligent plays just closed and THE ADDAMS FAMILY made another million dollars" -Jackie Hoffman, Broadway.com Audience Awards
I would be disappointed after that announcement if all she did was cough. With that kind of fanfare, you'd think they were anticipating she might have to rush offstage to vomit.
Like a firework unexploded
Wanting life but never
knowing how
I know that in opera, sometimes when a singer is not up to par, there will be an announcement prior to the beginning, something to the effect of, "Although Mme. ***** is indisposed this evening, she has graciously agreed to sing the role of ***** as scheduled and begs your indulgence." I haven't heard of this being done for a performer in a Broadway show before and applaud Ms. Lupone for going on. Patti on an off-night is better than 99 percent of everyone else at his/her best, IMO.
I find that a bit odd. Like walking into an audition and saying "I'm sorry, I'm a little sick today" before you perform odd. You know, why announce it? Just go on and be fierce anyway.
Did she come out of the stage door...did she take pics???
Just kidding :-p
"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
...sorry I couldn't resist anyway way to go Ms. Patti! What a trooper. Though I wonder how long the thought of infecting other castmembers vs just letting Nemetz have her moment went through her head.
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
I would LOVE to be able to pull up the comments people made when mere mortal Bernadette Peters coughed her way through the show. The double standard around here would be staggering if we hadn't seen it displayed so often.
I knew it..I was at Saturday night's performance. I figurd she wasn't feeling well. Yes she's still amazing and gave it her all for Rose's Turn, but you could tell she was holding back to save it all for that. You could tell she wasn't feeling all that well. Even with that she is so amazing.
I applaud any actor that goes on when not feeling well. I can only imagine how tough that is. However, I think Patti's ego would not let her go on without the announcement since she knew she was not at her best. I have seen a couple of performers go on with colds and such and no announcement has ever been made. I think a performer needs to trust the audience to be able to tell if someone is coughing or has a sore throat and cannot reach the notes they normally do. It's part of the live theatre experience. Otherwise, we would just go see movies.
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