Patti LuPone- Project "Dear Patti,"- Page 2

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 1/3/12 at 11:40am

Here is something to settle down some of the meanies. Tinkerbell (and a little fairy magic) to the rescue! from RC in Austin, Texas

Updated On: 1/3/12 at 11:40 AM

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 1/3/12 at 12:21pm

Well, since we're on the topic...

What *is* it about this woman that everyone finds so awe-inspiring? I saw her in SWEENEY and thought she was walking through the role. Then I figured okay, maybe I missed something, so I went to YouTube and found a clip of her singing "Best Pies in London" — and left it feeling exactly the same way. She hits the notes, but she just hits. Them. All. The. Same. It's just a bad copy of Lansbury's original, all the way down to the gestures.

Her turn in CANDIDE with the Philharmonic was even worse, sorry. She incessantly mugged at every opportunity and, frankly, was flat on more than one occasion.

So what am I missing here, folks? It seems like people laud her for just being her, not because of any major talent on her part. Her singing is okay but nothing special. Her acting really needs some work. She's just... La LuPone. Is that seriously all you need these days to be a diva on Broadway?

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 1/3/12 at 12:28pm

Obviously, it's a question of preference. At some point, even Patti herself has mentioned: "They either love me or hate me." She is talented, there's no question about that. She's just not "everyone's cup of tea." from RC in Austin, Texas

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 1/3/12 at 12:59pm

I neither love her nor hate her. I find her easily dismissable.

As for talented... eye of the beholder, I suppose. I loved her earlier in her career. Now she's just time-stepping.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/3/12 at 1:27pm

Patti's talent has always been that of a belter. She was the successor to Ethel Merman in a time when there wasn't a belter on every street corner. Now that all Broadway scores are written for belters, she's a dime a dozen.

And I'm amazed that she got through Juilliard. Grant it, it was the first drama class, but still, her diction has always been atrocious.

[broadway_baby1986]

Posted: 1/3/12 at 2:06pm

This post was not created to debate whether or not Patti is a great performer. It wasn't even created to ask if making something like this for Patti is a good idea or not. Why are so many people depicting Patti as a monster? She is not. If you would like to contribute like so many that have sent in their kind words, that is all I ask.

This is a chance for any and all of the fans that never got to say thank you, never got to say I love your work, never got to meet her, etc. to let their voice be heard. Everyone on here has had to be inspired by some broadway performer/show/playwright/so on. Why are we here? Because we love the arts and at some point in our lives we were brought here by something. I would never go around bashing any reason for anyone to come to love the arts like I do even if I didn't like the show or performer.

So please, just respect what and who this is about. Her influence may not have saved your life, or made you want to be a performer, or had given you one of the most awe inspiring nights on broadway, but by reading some of the letters- IT HAS TO SOMEONE!

Show some love and respect. It's what the world needs now.

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/3/12 at 2:35pm

So what am I missing here, folks? It seems like people laud her for just being her, not because of any major talent on her part. Her singing is okay but nothing special. Her acting really needs some work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXl10a9gJwA

Can you watch this performance and still make those statements? This clip not only displays major talent, I'd say it's extraordinary talent.



Updated On: 1/3/12 at 02:35 PM

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 1/3/12 at 2:40pm

I have to say there is an awful lot of people here who either love her or hate her. I’ve never said she was the best singer or actress, but, I love a woman who doesn’t have any B.S. about her, and Patti has that in spades. She also doesn’t suffer fools lightly. I found that most people who have something nasty to say about her, have been on the receiving end of her ‘No B. S.’ policy, by not putting out 100 like she does, all of the time.

Or, they have just never met her and delight in perpetuating stereo-types.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 1/3/12 at 2:48pm

>> Can you watch this performance and still make those statements?

Hate to say it, but yes.

I've seen probably six major actresses performing this role. Hers is no better nor worse than any of them. And her acting, in this scene, no doubt makes the flats shake in fear of being consumed: look at the first few minutes — she goes from down here to way up here in intensity without so much as a graceful transition, then she plays it up there without a break. Yes, to a certain point, the script requires that, but I've seen other performers make the rise a little more gradual, with a lot more build, and it works far better.

Just my 0.02. As I say, I find her dismissable. YRMV.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 1/3/12 at 2:56pm

I actually have to admit that I'm more surprised you seem to be kind of neutral on her, since I don't think I've heard that a lot. I [obviously] love her but can almost* always understand why people don't.


*The only time I've walked out of a performance of hers thinking there was no way people didn't like her was when I saw Seven Deadly Sins. I thought it was one of her best technically sung roles. And yet the people sitting behind us didn't seem to be the biggest fans.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 1/3/12 at 3:14pm

As I said, I loved her earlier work. She brought a real excitement and energy to her roles. But now? It's just more of the same: Patty playing Patty, I guess. Obviously ahe's doing something right, because she keeps getting the offers. But I dont find her as big a draw as I might have before.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 1/3/12 at 3:48pm

Two things:

Back when I was naive enough to do such a thing, I sent Patti a drawing and a letter backstage and within 48 hours got one of the loveliest notes I've ever received.

As regards the "only plays herself" thing, I can't argue it, but for me it's not really true--or at least not the point. But the more I think about it, the more I think it's at least as true of most star performers. Angela played Angela in both "Blithe Spirit" and "Night Musica"--and I really wouldn't have it any other way. So I guess I can see that it's true of Patti as well.

(Though I have to confess it baffles me when folks say that about Meryl Streep--and they say it a lot.)

Updated On: 1/3/12 at 03:48 PM

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 1/3/12 at 4:18pm

People who say that about Ms. Streep havent seen a lot of her work. It speaks well for itself.

And yes, at a certain point, I think all theatre actresses (and plenty of movie ones) fall back on playing themselves in every role. Lansbury does it. Peters does it. Patti does it. It's nothing unusual, I suppose.

[blaxx]

Posted: 1/3/12 at 4:24pm

Successful or not, I'd say that I always see Bernadette Peters try not to play herself. In fact, I think that she'd be much more popular if she would just give the performance everyone expects her to.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 1/3/12 at 4:24pm

For me, the question is: Are they really "falling back on playing themselves" or is it that their forceful personas simply assert themselves? The former seems lazy; the latter doesn't.

Of course, everyone gets to decide for themselves. Ultimately it probably just comes down to how much you like a performer and whether it works for you as an audience member or not.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 1/3/12 at 4:48pm

>> Are they really "falling back on playing themselves" or is it that their forceful personas simply assert themselves?

Well, to that, you raised the idea of Meryl Street. Definitely a forceful personality. But anyone who's watched her go from MOMMA MIA to JULIA AND JULIA to now IRON LADY would be hard-pressed to say she's just playing herself. She may very well be the exception that proves the rule. After all, how many Jennifer Aniston films have we all had to endure with the good lady playing herself over and over and over (and over.....)

[PattiLover]

Posted: 1/3/12 at 7:13pm

Hey SeanMartin, here's an idea, butt out. Nobody asked your opinion. As a matter of fact, the OP didn't ask anyone's opinion about Patti LuPone as a performer or as a person. Obviously this is a pet project created by someone who really cares about something...unlike you, who felt the need to crap all over this thread and take away somebody's joy. You've got some nerve.

Maybe YOU should try to do something special or different for someone or something you care about, then you wouldn't be such a c u next tuesday.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/3/12 at 7:27pm

SeanMartin is actually award winning actress Tovah Feldshuh so you need to show a little more respect.

[random person 112]

Posted: 1/3/12 at 7:29pm

^Maybe when she starts showing a little less vagina jordan.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/3/12 at 7:44pm

Wow....over-react much. Sean didn't bash anyone, he asked a simple question and engaged in a discussion about it.

It doesn't MATTER what the intent of the thread was, this is the direction the conversation took...as do disucssions....they move and become something else.

I found Sean's comments about his OPINION of Patti to be respectville and well written.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 1/3/12 at 8:00pm

I commend your scrap book Idea. I am sure Ms LuPone will love it! Me? I take pride in Patti's success. We both come from Northport, went to the same High School shared some of the same teachers (although 4 years apart, I actually saw her perform at Northport High School and in the lunch room of Northport Jr High promoting her shows)! Ha! she also baby sat for a couple friends of mine way back when! A girl from my home town who has made good! You go Girl! Keep giving them hell! Keep Demanding 100%!
I try to see everything she is in and relish in the tales of her "Babe from LI takes no BS" tales!

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 1/3/12 at 8:15pm

>> Hey SeanMartin, here's an idea, butt out.

I see the children putting their two cents in.

As for Maybe YOU should try to do something special -- I have. And I continue to do so. Are we to start waving resumes about? If so, please begin. I await your notifications of service with bated breath.

Updated On: 1/3/12 at 08:15 PM

[broadway_baby1986]

Posted: 1/3/12 at 9:56pm

SNAFU- I would love for you to share your story and experience if you are willing!

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 1/3/12 at 10:17pm

Now, let's get back to the actual topic at hand. I personally would love to hear stories about the first time people met Patti LuPone. That would be "swell." from RC in Austin, Texas