Patti LuPone argues with anti-masker at Company talkback- Page 7

[ATerrifyingAndImposingFigure]

Posted: 5/15/22 at 12:34pm

Anyone who argues on end in the defense of someone refusing to follow mask protocol fits the mold of a Karen.

[joevitus]

Posted: 5/16/22 at 4:28am

ATerrifyingAndImposingFigure said: "Anyone who argues on end in the defense of someone refusing to follow mask protocol fits the mold of a Karen."

You and other are literally going for the "I'm rubber, you're glue" argument. But no, responding to comments that applaud wrong behavior and disagreeing isn't being a Karen. Calling someone a Karen isn't being a real Karen. Very weak attempts at gaslighting, folks.

You don't hurl abuse at people for doing what you yourself aren't doing (like not wearing a mask).  You don't effectively deal with the situation by detonating and dropping F-bombs. It's a classless move that clearly embarrasses the other people on the stage with her. It's wrong. That you enjoyed it doesn't make it right.

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 5/16/22 at 7:09am

“You don't hurl abuse at people for doing what you yourself aren't doing (like not wearing a mask).”

What you seem to be intentionally going out of your way to not understand is this: She is not asked, nor required to wear a mask when performing. The audience is, however. It’s a rule for the safety of other patrons as well as the performers on stage. Audience members do NOT have to provide proof of vaccination or even a negative test anymore, they can just walk into a show fully positive and no one would know. This cast has suffered enough when it comes to having to be out of work for several days because of positive cases and the company having to scramble and get creative with coverage. People wearing their masks properly helps avoid those situations.

She’s not breaking a rule and then shouting at someone for doing the same. That patron was insistent on not just ignoring the rules but blatantly disrespecting the performers and everyone else around them. 

[John Adams]

Posted: 5/17/22 at 7:54am

I can see joevitus' point and I don't believe he's going out of his way to not understand anything. There is a double standard being applied, and just because there is a "rule" in place doesn't change that.

For myself, I chalk this discussion up as having to continue to suffer through this COVID nightmare. everyone wants Broadway to be re-opened, but realistically, it's still not safe yet to do so.

GuantsInTheSky2's post points up the double standard.

GiantsInTheSky2 said: "It’s a rule for the safety of other patrons as well as the performers on stage."  Technically/realistically, the performers onstage should be 6 feet from the audience, so there should be less risk to them than for audience members who are in closer proximity to each other. Still, I would offer up my odd "claim to fame anecdote" re: Bernadette Peters and myself during a performance of Into the Woods. She was singing "Children Will Listen" and a drop of spittle projected from her mouth to land on my bare arm. She noticed it onstage, looked me in the eyes, and very slightly raised her eyebrows to acknowledge it. 

I proffer that anecdote to demonstrate that unmasked actors are capable of spreading COVID as much as audience members. Giants also acknowledges the risk when he writes:

"This cast has suffered enough when it comes to having to be out of work for several days because of positive cases and the company having to scramble and get creative with coverage. People wearing their masks properly helps avoid those situations." Given that that's true, it would have been better (in this talkback scenario) had the actors also been masked.

GiantsInTheSky2 also said: "She’s not breaking a rule and then shouting at someone for doing the same. That patron was insistent on not just ignoring the rules but blatantly disrespecting the performers and everyone else around them."

Again, the "rule" seems inconsistent; a double standard to my mind, especially since the performance was over, and the cast was engaging in conversation with the audience. I *could* argue that the cast was being disrespectful to the audience by not also being masked - but I definitely won't. 

To joevitus' point, I agree with him that Patti LuPone's reaction (IMO) was an over-reaction and unnecessary.  These are *very* difficult times, and some compromise needs to be enacted in order to keep Broadway open, as well as to keep actors and other theater folks working. 

IMO, the audience member was unnecessarily rude (and misinformed as well), but so was Patti LuPone.