Patti LuPone - Gypsy (that one literal showstopping performance)

[Theatricality]

Posted: 4/25/17 at 1:40pm

https://youtu.be/WruzPfJ9Rys

I'm pretty sure a lot of you remember this gem. For some reason, I thought about this today and had to listen to it again, which prompted me to ask this question:

At 1:20, after Patti's been told the patron who kept taking pictures is gone, she says "Thank you. Alright, so you know what we're gonna do?" followed by thunderous applause. My question is does anyone really know what happened in that moment? Was anyone here at that performance or know someone who was that can answer this for me?

My apologies if this has been answered before, I tried to look it up, but BWW isn't exactly mobile friendly from my iPhone or the app. 

Updated On: 4/25/17 at 01:40 PM

[Skip23]

Posted: 4/25/17 at 1:51pm

Yeah, I was there.

She gestured that she was gonna start again.

I.was pissed.  I sat through Patti doing Rose 4 times (including Ravinia) and I wanted to see her once more before she closed to see if she finally got it right.  And she did.  And I was going to have a big gay thrill after she completed Rose's Turn.  And then she did this.  Ruined the whole performance.  Sometimes, you just have to shut up and do your job.

[Theatricality]

Posted: 4/25/17 at 2:01pm

Skip23, thank you for your reply! I should have known that was it, I was just always curious and I guess decided today would be the day to seek out the answer. 

I was getting ready to filter through some sarcastic responses to this question, like someone saying she took her top off to get all that applause or something like that. 

Updated On: 4/25/17 at 02:01 PM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/25/17 at 2:15pm

It was a New York Magazine photographer and below is from FlyingMonkey1223: 

The reporter worked for New York Magazine and was given permission to take pictures. The cast was told there would be a photographer in the orchestra. Patti was under the impression that the photographer had left at intermission, and when she saw the focus light on the camera go off a few times she got pissed and threw a fit. The photographer was ejected, and paid some money since they were not able to get all the pictures they were given permission to get for their article, as well as compensation for Patti's behavior if they promise not to bad mouth her. New York Magazine even ran a story about this, but failed to mention it was their photographer, and made it sound like it was just some rude audience member. Patti is now being fined by Actors Equity for her outburst, which went against some stipulation in her contract, and will have a hard time finding work again after the producer, and others, basically cut ties with her for her odd, rude, diva-like behavior during the entire run.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 4/25/17 at 2:29pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "It was a New York Magazine photographer and below is from FlyingMonkey1223: 

The reporter worked for New York Magazine and was given permission to take pictures. The cast was told there would be a photographer in the orchestra. Patti was under the impression that the photographer had left at intermission, and when she saw the focus light on the camera go off a few times she got pissed and threw a fit. The photographer was ejected, and paid some money since they were not able to get all the pictures they were given permission to get for their article, as well as compensation for Patti's behavior if they promise not to bad mouth her. New York Magazine even ran a story about this, but failed to mention it was their photographer, and made it sound like it was just some rude audience member. Patti is now being fined by Actors Equity for her outburst, which went against some stipulation in her contract, and will have a hard time finding work again after the producer, and others, basically cut ties with her for her odd, rude, diva-like behavior during the entire run.

 

"

Yet she worked on Broadway 4 times after that production...

BTW: Brody my comment is no way directed towards you.

Updated On: 4/25/17 at 02:29 PM

[PatrickDC]

Posted: 4/25/17 at 2:58pm

Well, as Paul Harvey said, "And now you know ... the rest ... of the story." 

 

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/25/17 at 5:18pm

I'm not sure that story was ever officially confirmed.

[binau]

Posted: 4/25/17 at 5:21pm

I didn't even realise there was a cynical version LOL. 

[Babe_Williams]

Posted: 4/26/17 at 6:20am

Patti sounded like a crazy person. 

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 4/26/17 at 9:30am

I've often wondered how Patti would have felt if another member of the company stopped the show like that.

[BenjaminNicholas2]

Posted: 4/26/17 at 1:02pm

But without that incident, we never would have gotten this...

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5Wh6DAFpW4&t

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 4/26/17 at 1:45pm

One of my favorite YouTube videos of all time!!

[fbueller]

Posted: 4/26/17 at 3:43pm

I've said this before...Patti should have been fired on the spot!