Patti LuPone: A Memoir (spoiler alert)- Page 3

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 9/15/10 at 10:18am

I had been scanning at that point and had to go back and reread it. Total shocker.

And, yeah, for someone to be so open about her professional life and never mention a big personal thing like that is very interesting.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 9/15/10 at 10:20am

Here's what I'm curious about. What actually happened with Noises Off?

[sabrelady]

Posted: 9/15/10 at 2:03pm

Could you be a leetle more specific? ( searched for the threads from the revival but they are gone) Are you refering to the hissyfit when the performers collected money from the stage(!) for BC/EFA? and she was "sick" for a few performances after? That's about the only thing I heard about.

[backwoodsbarbie]

Posted: 9/15/10 at 2:35pm

Patti actually doesn't talk much about Noises Off at all.

[Derrickg]

Posted: 9/15/10 at 3:12pm

"And I hope Patti tells the story of her telling someone (me) about getting cast as Norma Desmond in a drag bar bathroom. She told me years later that I was the first person she 'announced' it to."

She does say that! And it's hilarious.

It's a fun book. While she leaves out plenty and obviously we're only getting her side of the story, I actually felt like I understood some of her "diva" behavior I've heard about more. Screaming and throwing things is a type of behavior I'll never really understand in a professional setting, but she's hardly alone in having a temperament like that. Lots of people, not just in show business, behave that way professionally. And at least LuPone has had pretty clear provocation. Particularly in the Sunset case.

One part of the Sunset story I had not heard before was that after Patti found out she was fired, ALW wrote her a letter asking her to replace Close in the LA company when Close went to Broadway!

But it was interesting. I sort of feel like I get what happened on Sunset now. ALW was used to his shows as global brands, and he was not going to let one actress make or break his show. So he was hedging his bets from the beginning. There were rumors of Streep taking it away from Patti before London, then came the Streisand recordings, then he announced that Close was going to open the American premiere in LA, prior to the Broadway opening. All this before LuPone had played a single performance.

In the end, Close got the better reviews and that was ostensibly why she went to NY. But why the LA production in the first place? He wanted options. Close was likely to be a bigger draw, act the hell out of it, and was a real live movie star, and the show is, after all, about the movies. But they didn't know if her singing would be good enough. LuPone was going to sing the hell out of it, and she came with a strong acting pedigree too, but she might not be a huge draw, and ALW had seen her fail to get raves from the critics in Evita twenty years earlier, and he was likely afraid of that happening again. So, he was hedging his bets and Close won. And while he knew he'd have to pay a hefty price if they went with Close, he probably thought he'd have another global franchise on his hand and Patti's settlement would just be a drop in the bucket. Though of course, in this case, it didn't really work out for him.

But it's hard to imagine the sense of insecurity and fear one would experience in LuPone's position during that whole saga.
Updated On: 9/15/10 at 03:12 PM

[Brick]

Posted: 9/15/10 at 3:49pm

^And ALW was the producer, that's the real kicker. The producer's job, among many other things, is to support the artists. Sadly, when you're dealing with a bad producer, they can instead wreak havoc and cause everyone to feel terrified and secure about nothing.

[AMWB]

Posted: 9/15/10 at 4:07pm

TheatreDiva90016: Ha! yes, and it's such a great story! How awesome that you were the first to hear it! I talked to her shortly after she did the Sydmonton Festival performance of SUNSET, but I don't think she'd been officially hired yet.
: )

I have loved the book -- so fun and detailed, and I think she is as hard on herself at times as she is on some of the alleged jerks she has worked with over the years.

I was a little surprised how few personal stories she actually shares, but I suppose it's also nice that she keeps it about her working life mostly.

I agree with the others, I was SHOCKED SHOCKED SHOCKED at her revelation about breast cancer, and immediately grateful that she's been okay now for 10 yrs.

I am also curious why there is NO mention of "Noises Off"... especially since they were in previews when 9/11 happened, I would think there would be good stories to share. yes, there was controversy, but that certainly didn't stop her from telling some of the other stories! Hhhmmmm...

[backwoodsbarbie]

Posted: 9/15/10 at 4:31pm

Oooo what was the Noises Off controversy? Tell me more!

[PattiLover]

Posted: 9/15/10 at 5:03pm

I'm assuming the controversy AMWB refers to is the event with BC/EFA when she wouldn't collect donations at the end of the show and was screaming at the stage manager. Michael Reidel called her out on it. It was very embarrassing.

Whatever you think of Patti, there's always something interesting going on with her...

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 9/15/10 at 6:05pm

If anyone wants to download the audio version the Ben and Dave podcast is offering a free audio book download through audible.com. All you have to do is go to audiblepodcast.com/sixpack and sign up for a free 14 day trial and they'll give you one credit which is enough to download the book. Make sure you cancel your subscription once you finish downloading and they won't charge you the $14.00 monthly fee.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 9/15/10 at 8:19pm

Yes, sabre, I was referring to that.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 9/15/10 at 8:21pm

CATSNYrevival--

Thank you so much for that info! I just downloaded the audiobook and listened to both chapters on Sunset Blvd. It was incredible. I can't wait to listen to more.

[AMWB]

Posted: 9/15/10 at 11:28pm

Regarding NOISES OFF and the BCEFA controversy...

Patti does a LOT for AIDS charities and has since the 80's. However, she didn't want to participate in asking the audience to donate for the simple reason that they were already paying $100+ tickets to be there for the show, and she just wasn't comfortable asking for more. She also didn't want it to look like she was the ONLY one not going on-stage at the end, so the cast AGREED that just a couple of castmembers would go out after the show to mention the collection baskets.

One night, however, EVERYONE except Patti did go out on-stage, and she was pissed and felt betrayed. Should she have yelled at the stage manager while the audience was still in the room? Probably not. But she was hurt and she reacted...

So, there you have it.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 9/15/10 at 11:42pm

So who is planning on braving the crowds at B&N tomorrow night for the signing?

[ActingFreak1012]

Posted: 9/16/10 at 12:11am

I know this seems strange, but I just got my copy in the mail today and noticed the edges of the page aren't even. Like, they aren't cut all the same width. Is anyone else's copy like this, or did I get a weird copy?

[CockeyedOptimist2]

Posted: 9/16/10 at 12:16am

I can't decide yet if it's worth it to go to the signing at B&N tomorrow. It's right on my way home from work so I think it might just draw me in. I'll report back if I do go.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 9/16/10 at 12:18am

I was waffling on whether or not I wanted to go, but decided it might actually be worth it. My professor gave me a guilt trip when I gave him the lame excuse that I had a doctor's appointment. whoops.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 9/16/10 at 12:20am

I would think it's blown over since then because in a piece Playbill did with Katie Finneran after she won the Tony, she said that Patti was the performer she'd drop everything to see. It probably means nothing but you never know.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 9/16/10 at 12:47am

I know this seems strange, but I just got my copy in the mail today and noticed the edges of the page aren't even. Like, they aren't cut all the same width. Is anyone else's copy like this, or did I get a weird copy?

That's how they all are, for some reason.

[wonderwaiter]

Posted: 9/16/10 at 12:51am

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/deckle+edge

[sabrelady]

Posted: 9/16/10 at 1:26am

I was acquainted w Peter Gallagher at that time(Noises Off!) and I heard it was a bit more than yelling at the SM. Objects were thrown (A hairbrush was one item I seem to recall) and they hit their mark. The SM COULD have had her up before Equity for that. Lupone was out "sick"( hey I never saw the MD's letter!) for about 4-5 perfomances and there was some tension afterwards but it seemed to gradually relax after a bit.

[AMWB]

Posted: 9/16/10 at 1:48pm

I like the uneven pages.... I think it's neat. I have a few other books that are like that. I also love the brown book color. Just different, and I like that. : )

Did Patti and Peter Gallagher ever patch up their long friendship? I hope so.

[jv92]

Posted: 9/16/10 at 2:51pm

They should! Ten years from now when Patti is 71 and Peter is sixty-something, I plan on having them star in a musical with a score by me. Kidding, of course, but it's nice to dream.

[morosco]

Posted: 9/16/10 at 3:16pm

I like the uneven pages.... I think it's neat. I have a few other books that are like that. I also love the brown book color. Just different, and I like that

I'm returning my Kindle. I miss things like that.

[aliceripleystheshiz]

Posted: 9/16/10 at 5:12pm

Could we get a link to the Ben and Daves page? Not finding anything anywhere...sorry Ive heard of audible, but Ive yet to use it.
EDIT: I mean by this that the link before that wasnt direct didnt lead to anything for me.
Updated On: 9/16/10 at 05:12 PM