LuPone Issues Response To Showstopping Vegas 'Texting' Incident- Page 5

[rwlevin]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 7:45pm

I think the way actors should handle issues like this depends on what kind of show it is. Was Patti right? If I understand correctly, she stopped during the song. I know of many stories where actors stopped, reprimanded audience members for things such as coughing, talking and/or using their phones, and then restarted their performances. My favorite experience was during the cabaret convention about 6 years ago when the performer was playing "I Love a Piano" and while he was in the middle of an improv solo a phone rang. He looked into the audience and said, "Is that for me? Tell them I already like my long distance service." I also remember Nathan Lane admonishing late comers to A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum by saying as they found their seats, "I was on time, where were you?"

[winston89]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 8:26pm

Matt, the situations you site show me more signs of being immature then being professional. If I am sitting in the balcony of a theatre and there is someone with a cell phone out in the rear of the orchestra. I am of course not going to see it and thus would not notice that A it is out and B that it is causing a problem. Having a performer yell on stage to the culprit is going to be at least to me more annoying and more bothersome then having a cell phone out.

Yes, times are changing and a professional performer would know how to deal with things changing. A professional performer would choose not to get distracted by such things and to not let them be bothered by it.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 8:34pm

I see your point, Winston, but you're forgetting about the dozens(?) of people who ARE aware and distracted.

[logan0215]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 8:37pm

Your example holds no merit. If somebody is in any other row than the last, their cell phone will directly distract the eye of the row behind them. Even at that, in ANY row a cellphone light will distract the eye of the person or people next to the user.

Times changing does not excuse terrible theater etiquette. What, pray tell, are they changing to? A time when people DON'T or SHOULDN'T care about disruptive behavior in public?

[FlyingMonkey1223]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 8:38pm

It's really not that distracting. More of annoying if you see it, but distracting? Not on your life, unless you are just an unprofessional actor looking to "put people in their place" because you are supreme in your fantasy world. Ushers should do THEIR job and actors should do THEIR job. They shouldn't mix into a bloated, self loving, marginally talented performer like Patti.
Updated On: 6/23/09 at 08:38 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 8:41pm

So how much was Patti fined, liar?

[loveplays]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 8:43pm

I think Patti has every right to stop a performance. I am with Patti and many others on here don't decrespect the performers by having your cell phones go off during the performance, or video tape the performance. I always turn off my cell the minute I enter a theater.

[FlyingMonkey1223]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 8:43pm

I have no idea, but she did get in big trouble for her outburst at GYPSY, and some of her other antics during the run. And no, I was not, nor were others, telling lies about Patti being in trouble for stopping a show for a tangent against someone who was given permission to take pictures.

An actor does NOT have permission or a right to stop a show just because they are annoyed. It's call being professional and an adult. Updated On: 6/23/09 at 08:43 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 8:45pm

^ None of that was EVER confirmed.

[Byron Abens]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 8:48pm

I have never heard from anybody other than on here and various other blogs (meaning, never from an official source) that the photographer that warranted the Gypsy incident was a professional who had permission to be shooting the show, and that includes discussing the incident with people connected with the show.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 8:49pm

I have no idea, but she did get in big trouble for her outburst at GYPSY, and some of her other antics during the run. And no, I was not, nor were others, telling lies about Patti being in trouble for stopping a show for a tangent against someone who was given permission to take pictures.

is this like when her cast members in Anything Goes tried to get her in trouble with Equity because she had her wedding onstage?

/geek

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 8:49pm

As a professional performer, I DO find it distracting. I cannot tell you how much it pulls me out of the moment to be in the middle of an emotional transformation on stage and then see a cell phone light flip on. It is incredibly disruptive to the process.

This type of behavior is truly unacceptable and until we start treating this behavior appropriately, it will continue. This responsibility falls on everyone, house staff, audience members and performers.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 8:59pm

Seriously, everyone's welcome to their opinions--about this incident and about LuPone generally. Everyone's personal opinion is as valuable (and subjective) as anyone else's. Talent is immaterial if a performer simply doesn't appeal to you.

But to call a multi-Tony, Olivier, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle award winning actor "marginally talented" is just, forgive me, stupid.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 9:00pm

I heard that at one performance of Gypsy, there was a man who was wearing a heart monitor. His heart stopped, he went into cardiac arrest and the monitor started beeping. Patti stopped the show and said "You've been told to turn off your cellphones. I will not continue until that device is shut off!"

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 9:02pm

Patti is a proud outspoken Italian woman with a STRONG personality, and a lot of people do not like women like that. I believe that is why her name causes so many heated arguments. Updated On: 6/23/09 at 09:02 PM

[Jane2]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 9:08pm

"It's really not that distracting. More of annoying if you see it, but distracting? Not on your life"

Incorrect. Every person working in every theater is instructed to make sure no cell phones or other appliances are on because THEY ARE DISTRACTING TO THE REST OF THE AUDIENCE, and possibly to the cast. Why else is it against theater rules, pray tell?
unbelievable.

Good for you if you're not distracted.

[FlyingMonkey1223]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 9:14pm

At one time Patti was talented. But now her voice is not what it used to be, and she sounds horrible. Sad but true. I am all for strong women, but Patti is an immature brat, and those who have worked with her can confirm this.

And people texting on their phones is ANNOYING, but not DISTRACTING. At least from all my experiences and those I know who perform have said that they usually don't see much in the audience with all the lights on them, and when they do see people taking pictures or cell phone use it's just annoying and rude, but they are professional enough to get past it and expect some people to not obey theatre rules.

The reason for no pictures or cell phone usage is because the show is under copyright. The choreography is under copyright. The costumes are under copyright. You can't take your own video/still/audio recordings of something that is under copyright. Also, cell phones can interact negatively with the sound system, so that's why you need to turn them off. Even though it's rude to text, be on the phone, take pictures, the rules are more there because of copyright laws, not just because it's obnoxiously rude and annoying. Updated On: 6/23/09 at 09:14 PM

[logan0215]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 9:20pm

"And people texting on their phones is ANNOYING, but not DISTRACTING.

Who are you to deem what is considered distracting to someone? There is a VAST difference between someone crinkling a wrapper and (while in a DARKENED theater) having a bright light completely illuminate their upper body and face. I don't think any actor should have to get used to looking out into a darkened theater and suddenly see people start lighting up like they're about to be beamed up by Scotty.

"...professional enough to get past it and expect some people to not obey theatre rules."

Why should people not obeying the rules be tolerated? NEVER MIND expected?

Updated On: 6/23/09 at 09:20 PM

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 9:21pm

I agree her voice is not what it was; she's 60 years old, so that's hardly surprising. Nor is Peters's, Buckley's, Holliday's, Ripley's, Minnelli's, Rivera's, Channing's . . . Well, you get my point. I find it, in some ways, a better voice, though not in all ways. Talent, in my experience, doesn't change.

As for your experiences about texting, etc., that's the exact opposite of everything I've heard from my Broadway performer friends.

I guess the experiences of actors differ as much as those of audience members.

[Jane2]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 9:22pm

Flying monkey-you must be a master at concentration. Most people, if they catch sight of a light in the darkness are distracted by the mere action of noticing it. during that brief moment in time, their minds are on the light and not on the stage. this is why house management tries to prevent it, and why so many people complain. You are in a very very small minority, so in my opinion, majority wins!

Again, lucky you for not being distracted.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 9:28pm

Barbara Cook's voice is just as good as it always was. And she's 81.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 9:29pm

One further point about LuPone's long-gone talent: she won the Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critic's Circle last year.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 9:30pm

Gotham, Barbara Cook is magic. and I happen to think Patti sounds better now than she did when she was younger.

[FlyingMonkey1223]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 9:31pm

Patti sounds horrible now! Seriously. Listening to her sing live was torture!

[americanboy99]

Posted: 6/23/09 at 9:33pm

Perfectly stated. Classy and true. Hooray, Patti!