I became a card-carrying LuPonista after seeing Patti in "Gypsy" but wasn't aware of any of the "Sunset Boulevard" stories until recently. What went on there? It sounds like Andrew Lloyd Weber belongs in the support group for "Bully Broads"!
"Omigod, it's the Queen of Rumania!" --from "Mame"
http://harmoniousglitter.blogspot.com/
When the London production opened, it was reviewed by Frank Rich for the New York Times. His review was unfavorable for the show and he didn't care very much for LuPone's performance. Here's a link to the review:
Then Glenn Close starred in the Los Angeles production that opened prior to the Broadway production. The show was revamped and apparently improved for that production. It was reviewed in the Times by Vincent Canby, who not only raved about Close but even said that Close's triumph complicated the question of who should play the role of Norma on Broadway. Here's a link for Canby's review:
Btw, though I don't think it's ever been confirmed, it's been rumored that Rich lost his drama critic job thanks to pressure from Lloyd Webber, who'd requested that the Times not review the London production. Lloyd Webber threatened to pull all advertising for his shows, which does provide the Times with a pretty penny, especially since Cats was still running at the time.
As part of the settlement for being fired, LuPone got $1 million, some of which she used to build what she called the "Andrew Lloyd Webber swimming pool" at the house she was living in at the time.
Here's a Times story on the whole situation, including a discussion of the Faye Dunaway debacle:
Haven't you heard the "I WILL NEVER DO A LLOYD WEBBER SHOW AGAIN!!!!" lyric in Forbidden Broadway? (Don't remember which cast recording that was, though.)
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
For what it is worth, I asked how valid the media photographer story was on another thread here regarding the same incident. It was "confirmed" by several members, though no source could be given. According to the story, the photographer was paid off so as not to bad mouth Patti or the Production.
it was me. I was sitting in 2nd row with my sony little mermaid picture camera and it kept playing "under the sea" everytime I snapped a shot. I understand her anger of not getting Ariel but, she didn't have to embarrass me in front of a bunch of swedish tourists.
Nobodyshome, I love it how in the Washington article Patti describes the part of a southern belle she plays as "an eastern diamondback rattlesnake." I'm going to use that one on a few people!
"Omigod, it's the Queen of Rumania!" --from "Mame"
http://harmoniousglitter.blogspot.com/
I hope Patti verbally drop-kicked Andrew Lloyd Weber right into another week when he pulled this ridiculous stunt!
I just found an article from 2001 with this gem: "It was very hurtful," LuPone said. "It affected my entire life. People would ask me what I'd do if I ever ran into Lloyd Webber, but the real question is what my husband would do to him if he ever ran into him!"
so hopefully more than one member of the family verbally drop kicked Lloyd Webber.
When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain.
-Kad
Does anybody remember SPY Magazine? It was hilarious, and for those that don't remember, it was a magazine that spoofed current events, life in New York, and also made a lot of valid points about the state of our culture using humor. Sometimes they'd organize a "SPY Prank." After the Chinese went ape-**** against the brave kids who had been protesting in Tianamen Square, SPY wrote up a a whole outraged page, translated into Chinese, the headline of which, in Mandarin, said, "'Scuse Me, But, YOU'RE REPREHENSIBLE!" And knowing SPY, God only knows what else they wrote on there. The readers were then instructed to fax this lovely little complaint document to the Chinese government. SPY provided a list of the relevant fax numbers. The idea was to jam their trigger-happy fax machines with our objections to the way the kids had been treated and thus drive them nice and crazy.
Why am I bringing this up? Well...does Andrew Lloyd Webber have a fax number?
"Omigod, it's the Queen of Rumania!" --from "Mame"
http://harmoniousglitter.blogspot.com/
So Andrew welched on his promise, because the New York Critic didn't like Patti and loved Glenn, and it cost him a million dollars. That's show biz. Hardly a reason to kick him in his manhood. Frank already did that for her. The show tanked, and Patti made more money than anyone else.
"It was Beirut from my dressing room to the stage" The only Divas are in Opera, hmmmmm.
Why am I bringing this up? Well...does Andrew Lloyd Webber have a fax number?
maybe you can poke him on Facebook.
When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain.
-Kad
Patti and ALW are at least cordial now. My friends and I were chatting with a few of the house staff at the St. James before Gypsy closed and they said that ALW had been there to see Gypsy and Patti.
It seems to me that Glenn Close did the same thing during Sunset, albeit without as much temper flying. She made her entrance down the staircase and the flashes were so thick you'd swear it was it was a lightning storm! From what I am told, she walked straight downstage center, motioned for the conductor to cut off the orchestra and then admonished the audience by saying "we can either have a photo call or I can continue with the show but we are not going to have both". Can anyone verify that story?
Whoever it was, I would kill to see what the picture looks like...she must have been peeved already from the two previous pictures that he or she took and I hope they caught her about to pounce. That would be a great shot. HA
Whoever it was, I would kill to see what the picture looks like...she must have been peeved already from the two previous pictures that he or she took and I hope they caught her about to pounce. That would be a great shot. HA
The thing is, she would have looked "peeved" anyway because this number she's supposed to be distraught. I was there the evening this event occurred and I was completely enthralled by her performance. I didn't even notice her noticing the camera.
As for a flash, I did not see one. That doesn't necessarily mean there wasn't one but who knows.
Patti still bashes ALW in interviews. Are you sure they're cordial?
She tells the truth about how she felt during the Sunset Blvd fiasco, but she doesn't rag on him like she used to (for ex, that one article from 4 years ago when she made fun of him by saying he looked bloated). If he had the balls to visit her at Gypsy then they're at least cordial now. That doesn't mean anything but civil and gracious.
I don't give a flying f*ck who the photographer was and if/when Patti will have work again. The world keeps spinning...
What I DO give a damn about is this terrifically constructed YouTube "Patti LuPwned" video featuring audio from the incident and original lyrics and funky beat!