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Patti LuPone was in Les Mis?? (Lady With The Tuba)

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#1

Patti LuPone was in Les Mis?? (Lady With The Tuba)

Posted: 4/25/06 at 4:28pm

http://www.playbill.com/features/article/99298.html

She was in Les Mis?
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
#4

re: Patti LuPone was in Les Mis?? (Lady With The Tuba)

Posted: 4/25/06 at 4:31pm

Are you serious?

She originated the role of Fantine at the Barbican (RSCo.) in London. She did not come with it to the US because she felt that the production was perfection and couldn't be topped.
"For me, THEATRE is an anticipation, an artistic rush, an emotional banquet, a jubilant appreciation, and an exit hopeful of clearer thought and better worlds." ~ an anonymous traveler with Robert Burns
#6

re: Patti LuPone was in Les Mis?? (Lady With The Tuba)

Posted: 4/25/06 at 4:33pm

Yes. She was in the original London cast and can be heard on the OLCR.

Loved the article. Thanks!
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.
#7

re: Patti LuPone was in Les Mis?? (Lady With The Tuba)

Posted: 4/25/06 at 4:34pm

Yes, she did indeed.
"For me, THEATRE is an anticipation, an artistic rush, an emotional banquet, a jubilant appreciation, and an exit hopeful of clearer thought and better worlds." ~ an anonymous traveler with Robert Burns
#8

re: Patti LuPone was in Les Mis?? (Lady With The Tuba)

Posted: 4/25/06 at 4:36pm

Am I the only one who thought this was a huge "Duh!"?
"If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it." -Stephen Colbert
#9

re: Patti LuPone was in Les Mis?? (Lady With The Tuba)

Posted: 4/25/06 at 4:37pm

She tells a funny story in one of her shows about missing her cue as Fantine when she enters for Valjean's death. She was in her dressing room reading an interview with Madonna, and the guy that played Javert comes in and says "LuPone, you're on". She says she grabbed her wig and costume and ran down three flights of stairs, and had to enter with Eponine. Funny story when LuPone tells it.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
#10

re: Patti LuPone was in Les Mis?? (Lady With The Tuba)

Posted: 4/25/06 at 4:41pm

Some people just have never been over exposed to Patti and her lips.
"Isn't it strange that we spend most of our time learning to do what they put people in asylums for." - Jane Fonda on Acting
#11

re: Patti LuPone was in Les Mis?? (Lady With The Tuba)

Posted: 4/25/06 at 4:44pm

Saw her in it, back with the show wasn't yet a "megamusical", at the Barbicon. She was most effective, since in England she wasn't a star, and she melded in with the company.

And: in the initial staging, Fantine had to double as other roles. It was RSC policy, there were no stars. I think -- someone, correct me -- that Fantine stopped doubling when the show left the Barbicon and went to th Palace. Did Randy Graff and followers double in roles??
"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling
#12

re: Patti LuPone was in Les Mis?? (Lady With The Tuba)

Posted: 4/25/06 at 4:49pm

Somebody posted the story the other day. Fantine was supposed to double in roles throughout the show, but Patti managed to duck out during most of the blocking. But one actress pointed her out when she was slipping into the theatre during the rehearsal for the barricade scene. So since then, Fantine has always appeared only in that scene as double. Or something like that.
#13

re: Patti LuPone was in Les Mis?? (Lady With The Tuba)

Posted: 4/25/06 at 4:51pm

Fantine only doubles as a "Barracade Boy" now.
"For me, THEATRE is an anticipation, an artistic rush, an emotional banquet, a jubilant appreciation, and an exit hopeful of clearer thought and better worlds." ~ an anonymous traveler with Robert Burns
#15

re: Patti LuPone was in Les Mis?? (Lady With The Tuba)

Posted: 4/25/06 at 5:53pm

She did indeed win her Olivier Award for Les Miserables. But it was also a "shared win" with her performance in Cradle Will Rock. I thought everyone knew that Patti was Fantine! Check out the OLC if you can. Its rather different from what the show is like now. Plus if you are like me you need to hear that 80s synthesized sound rather than the Tenth Anniversary Full Orchestra (as amazing as that is!)

You guys all know that she created Norma Desmond in London right? :-P
#16

re: Patti LuPone was in Les Mis?? (Lady With The Tuba)

Posted: 4/25/06 at 5:58pm

She also bared her boobies in Summer of Sam.
"Isn't it strange that we spend most of our time learning to do what they put people in asylums for." - Jane Fonda on Acting
#18

re: Patti LuPone was in Les Mis?? (Lady With The Tuba)

Posted: 4/25/06 at 7:10pm

Did anyone know that Patti LuPone was in ANYTHING GOES at Lincoln Center? She was really good.
"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)

Updated On: 4/25/06 at 07:10 PM

#21

re: Patti LuPone was in Les Mis?? (Lady With The Tuba)

Posted: 4/25/06 at 9:00pm

Patti who? I don't know whom you're talking about.
"It does what a musical is supposed to do; it takes you to another world. And it gives you a little tune to carry in your head. Something to take you away from the dreary horrors of the real world. A little something for when you're feeling blue. You know?"
#23

re: Patti LuPone was in Les Mis?? (Lady With The Tuba)

Posted: 4/25/06 at 10:53pm

I bought the OLC after the seeing Les Miserables on Broadway in 1988. And discovered Michael Ball as Marius and learned that Patti Lupone created the role of Fantine.

About doubling in other roles - I think that is true, because I recall Michael saying that he was also cast as part of the convict chain gang singing at the beginning of the show.

Can't believe that is almost 21 years ago. Maybe Michael and Patti can be part of the 21st Anniversary celebrations?

#24

re: Patti LuPone was in Les Mis?? (Lady With The Tuba)

Posted: 4/25/06 at 10:58pm

Many principle roles double in the show, as many of them are not seen until about 1/2 way or more through Act One. Cosette and Eponine, for example, double as prostitutes in "Lovely Ladies" and other stuff. And yes, Fantine DOES double as a barricade boy.
"Sing the words, Patti!!!!" Stephen Sondheim to Patti LuPone.
#25

re: Patti LuPone was in Les Mis?? (Lady With The Tuba)

Posted: 4/25/06 at 11:05pm

I missed seeing her in it in London by just a few weeks. It still pisses me off.

I've always thought that it is unfair to the actress playing that role that at the end, when she comes back to guide Jean Valjean to heaven, that she has to have the ugly hacked-up hairdo.

You would think that a loving God would let you have nice hair in Heaven....
"A coherent existance after so many years of muddle" - Desiree' Armfelt, A Little Night Music "Life keeps happening everyday, Say Yes" - 70, Girls, 70 "Life is what you do while you're waiting to die" - Zorba

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