Patti LuPone out, Linda Balgord on today, Sat Nov. 22 Matinee- Page 2

[legally_popular]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 9:38pm

Yeah, I'm wondering how full the theater was with Patti not there.

I'm so happy for Linda though!

[antiandrewx]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 9:38pm

I was there the first time she was out and the show did NOT start 45 minutes late. It started on time.
Updated On: 11/22/08 at 09:38 PM

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 9:43pm

Just wondering... but would anyone care to surmise how much advance notice Linda Balgord got that Miss Patti would be absent? As soon as L.B. got her notification, what would she do specifically to prepare for the show? from RC in Austin, Texas... where it's a cool 59 degrees (cool for us).

[sbflyfan]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 9:45pm

Lenora Nemetz was Patti's first understudy? I saw her in "Hello Dolly" in Pittsburgh, and all I'll say is, her Mama Rose must have been rather, erm, interesting...

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 9:51pm

I'm curious as to what Linda's costumes and wigs were like. were they similar to (or the same as) Patti's?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 9:54pm

LuPone's missed a performance?

Will she have to give her Tony Aard back?

[CarolynaGirl]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 10:00pm

Of course she will have to return her Tony.
Patti isn't allowed to be sick. She's supposed to be super-human.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 12:21am

I saw Linda Balgord on for Rose this evening (I rushed the show with a friend from out of town this morning before anyone knew what was going on.)

The scene outside was very awkward to say the least. They had huge signs saying Patti was out and people from the house staff were also handing out elaborate fliers at the door explaining how to go about getting a refund, though it looked to me (at least from the orchestra) as if most people just saw the show as is.

As I was waiting in line to get in, I overheard someone who'd bought their tickets between shows today complaining that the person at the box office who handled them said Patti wasn't scheduled to be out tonight and didn't tell them she'd been out at the matinee. The staff member they were speaking to rebutted that Patti didn't call out for tonight's performance until 5pm, so it looks like she's going on a show-to-show basis with whatever illness has sidelined her.

I thought Balgord was terrific in a completely different way than LuPone (who I've seen in the role twice, once at the very end of previews and once again back in August.) She was much more emotionally vulnerable, which made her moments of anger and frustration that much more volatile.

Her singing was great (though her tendency to close her vowels made her sound shrill at times,) and she wore the same wig and costumes Patti does. She didn't get all of the laughs, but I think that had more to do with the audience than her delivery (since they didn't laugh at much else either, save for "You've Gotta Get a Gimmick" in the second act.)

Knowing that her first time on was only this afternoon, I was particularly impressed with how great her chemistry was with Boyd Gaines and Laura Benanti, both of whom are still turning in stellar performances that only validate their Tony wins. The dynamic is different, but it still works beautifully.

If you do end up seeing Balgord (which I don't imagine will happen often from now on,) know that the role is in good hands.

Updated On: 11/23/08 at 12:21 AM

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 12:23am

Wow! I hate to say this but I hope Patti's out again soon so I can see Linda. Thanks for your thoughts!

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 12:42am

I'm going to try and get over there tomm. morning. I hope it's not all for nothing!

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 12:59am

Oh, yeah because getting to see Patti again would be soooooo terrible.

[Parks]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 1:16am

I might try to see it tomorrow as well! I'd love to see Patti's understudy!

[Q]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 3:33am

Patti being 'out' would be the only way I'd sit through this.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 12:23pm

so any word on whether Linda is on again today?

[RyToast1]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 12:39pm

I saw the show yesterday afternoon. I liked Lenora better than Linda.

Linda wasn't bad though, not at all.

[CarolynaGirl]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 12:49pm

Telecharge customer service said Patti is performing today.

[nybearhugz]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 12:55pm

Has anyone been to box office? I am sure telecharge really has a good handle on who is in and out.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 2:03pm

Word is that Patti will be back this afternoon.

[BroadwayBelle2]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 4:57pm

Yay!!!

[nybearhugz]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 8:45pm

Patti was on and she was FINE:

[Magica]

Posted: 11/24/08 at 1:05am

saw patti today. she was great. jon voight and kelsey grammar were in attendance.