Neil Patrick Harris Yells At Fan Mid Performance

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 7:35am

from the NY Post Page Six.com
NPH Yells At Fan

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 8:02am

It sounds like he was joking around or was responding in character. Way to exaggerate, Ian Mohr.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 8:17am

Good point. And even in reality if he wasn't, he can state he was responding in character.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 8:22am

This was reported on this board already but as a much, much funnier anecdote.

He stayed in character the whole and "Who is das Neil?" Then he turned to Yitzhak said "I don't know any Neil--do you?"

And then he turned to the person in the audience and said--as HEDWIG not as Neil--the line in the gossip column.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 8:50am

i had heard he said to Yitzhak "You better not be named Neil".

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 8:51am

good publicity. as if any is needed.

[tazber]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 9:00am

Apparently he talks to the audience quite a bit. Here's another example:

Over the last few weeks of preview performances, Messrs. Mitchell and Trask said they have watched Mr. Harris grow into the part, which calls for both vulnerability and Borscht-Belt sensibilities. On a recent night, a heavyset patron arrived late, and according to Mr. Trask, Mr. Harris didn't let it go unnoticed, quipping "You couldn't make it on time? You had to order dessert?"

[TimesSquared]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 9:21am

Hedwig always improvises and interacts with the audience. Ad libbing and script revisions to suit the venue are reccommended in a note from John Cameron Mitchell in the published script, big chunks of which consist of banter with the audience.

But you're right, it's all good publicity for the show.

[mrsyaj]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 9:25am

It must be so hard to go to the theater when you're a narcissist. Having to sit still and be quiet and let somebody more famous and talented than you are get all the attention. The impulse to do something, anything to make it all about YOU must be irresistible.

And of course talking and eating and moving around during the performance as though nobody else's comfort or need to concentrate exists is another aspect of the me me me personality.

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 9:28am

Talking to the audience is part of the show. My favorite was when Michael Cerveris was Hedwig. One night the audience was pretty dull and unresponsive. Finally Cerveris called out, in German accent, "Is there a doctor in the house? No one seems to have a pulse here."

[haterobics]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 12:28pm

If they're going to report every ad-lib, Hedwig will get a lot of ink.

[Idiot]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 12:34pm

Mrsayaj above makes a very interesting point about why people disrupt shows. Food for thought.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 1:15pm

Four tiny paragraphs about a non-event. Gotta love the NY Post!

[OperaBwayLover]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 2:51pm

Good for him. I just hope this doesn't start a 'trend' or something where people try to interrupt just to get a reaction out of NPH. Sounds stupid, but we all know there are people dumb enough to try such.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 3:17pm

His response was much better and classier than Patti Lupone's. No shock there.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 3:22pm

^^^ Apples and oranges. Hedwig speaks to the audience all the time. LuPone did not have the luxury of responding in character.

In any case:
NPH responds.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 3:46pm

This happened at the performance I was at, too. It was definitely very funny and lighthearted as the 2nd article says.

I know "all press is good press" and everything, but it also kinda irritates me how dumb little gossip sites like that look for the tiniest little thing and call it news, even if it completely sends the wrong idea about someone.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 4:07pm

Blame the people who read those dumb gossip sites and make a huge deal out of nothing. Whoever leaked this to the Post didn't understand the show at all...

[mamaleh]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 6:04pm

Sounds like Harris is wisely taking a page from the Jackman-as-Peter Allen playbook to interact with the audience--except for Harris' four-letter word rejoinder. In any case, he's certainly succeeded in creating a buzz.

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 6:14pm

Similar things happened during his run in Cabaret. Someone yelled out "Hey Doogie!" and he said "Jah, haven't heard zat vun before."

[elphaba.scares.me]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 6:36pm

I wouldn't be surprised if the show's publicist planted the story specifically for the free press.

[rjm516]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 7:54pm

Lolol I love this. I want to yell it all the time.

[haterobics]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 11:49pm

"I wouldn't be surprised if the show's publicist planted the story specifically for the free press."

To help them sell tickets to a sold-out show?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 11:57pm

^My exact thought.

[lovebwy]

Posted: 4/21/14 at 1:19am

PICTURE IT- 1996 at the Lowes movie theater in Century City CA.

I'm in the restroom when in walks Neil Patrick Harris. He's using the urinal and someone goes "HEY! I know you!" to him. He zips up and goes "I'm Neil" and the guy goes "I know! Oh my God. How's Doogie doing?" and NPH goes "Well, I haven't played him in quite some time so I don't know".

Poor Neil.