The New York Times Moulin Rouge and COVID

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 1/21/21 at 12:56pm

A fascinating read

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/21/theater/moulin-rouge-broadway-coronavirus.html?action=click&module=Editors%20Picks&pgtype=Homepage


 

Updated On: 1/21/21 at 12:56 PM

[binau]

Posted: 1/21/21 at 1:58pm

Incredible, thanks!

 

"BURSTEIN I was in the shower, and I started coughing up blood, and I thought, “This is bad.” My son walked me over to the hospital. I was there six days, and one of the days in the middle was particularly difficult — I’d made peace with dying, because I felt myself going there. I couldn’t breathe. I asked everybody in my texting family to send me jokes, because I felt the curtain closing, and I thought the only way I could combat it was with humor."

Updated On: 1/21/21 at 01:58 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/21/21 at 2:08pm

This is masterfully constructed. If anything, I hope however we come out of this, we've left behind the "go to work sick" mentality — both onstage and off.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 1/21/21 at 2:22pm

This is a very good group insight from the Times. I will admit that I had minimal interest in seeing Moulin Rouge! live before the shutdown (the video footage I saw was underwhelming), but I just feel terrible for a large portion of this company in particular suffering through so much more than a lost job.

In the end, I think Alex Timbers said it best: Rouge! is about the resilience of show people, and it will hopefully make a triumphant return to the Al Hirschfeld Theatre later this year.

[Tag]

Posted: 1/21/21 at 3:19pm

LizzieCurry said: "This is masterfully constructed. If anything, I hope however we come out of this, we've left behind the "go to work sick" mentality — both onstage and off."

THIS.  I thought the same thing while reading the article.  The culture of "the show must go on" can be dangerous.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 1/21/21 at 3:40pm

Tag said: "LizzieCurry said: "This is masterfully constructed. If anything, I hope however we come out of this, we've left behind the "go to work sick" mentality — both onstage and off."

THIS. I thought the same thing while reading the article. The culture of "the show must go on" can bedangerous."

I completely agree with both you Lizzie and Tag. My next thought is of the rush of threads coming when show open up about who is frequently out, and all the Scrooge McDucks on here lamenting over the attendance of a performer.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 1/21/21 at 3:50pm

Great article, thanks for sharing! 

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 1/21/21 at 11:30pm

Michael Paulson did such a terrific job capturing the roller coaster of emotions the cast and creators of ''Moulin Rouge!'' has been on. It must be so surreal to part of that season's new musical blockbuster hit - something I imagine most everyone dreams of - and then to be hit by the virus and suddenly shut down. I'm glad to hear that everyone there who had COVID has recovered. I can't wait for these ''Moulin Rouge!'' folks to return as soon as they ''can-can-can.''

As for those who questioned whether the Tonys should go on, I was gratified to read Aaron Tveit's response: ''I was so happy [the Tonys] decided to go forward with [the nominations]. It was a strange year and a shortened season, but there was a lot of great work done. I've tried to think of my nomination as recognition of my work and the performance. And I did reach out to ['The Lightning Thief' actor] Chris McCarrell, who was the other person who could have been nominated - I've had a couple of difficult Tony mornings, so I understand what that feels like.'' Aaron's such a class act.

Updated On: 1/21/21 at 11:30 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/22/21 at 12:27am

Yes, fashionguru_23! I am so, so tired of "the show must go on" justifying unhealthy behavior. Max Clayton's comment about not wanting to seem weak was just crushing. I'd rather see an understudy at 100% than a star who pumped themselves full of just-legalized OTC medication and then spent intermission staring at the porcelain god. I'd rather see a fleet full of swings than a handful of ensemble members who are completely miserable.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 1/22/21 at 3:48am

It will be interesting in the new world to see how "the show must go on" because I think most actors will continue to insist on going on that performance even if ill, simply because too many people out and not enough covers will mean a cancelled show. I do wonder where performers, and producers, tipping points will be.

[Philly Theater Girl]

Posted: 1/22/21 at 7:21am

As far as 'the show must go on attitude', part of it may be not wanting to be perceived as week and another is that the stars/principals in a show don't want to let the audience down. I've read several articles where the performer went on while they were sick because of the 'audience is paying to see me and I don't want to disappoint them' mentality. 

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 1/22/21 at 9:06am

I am diverting a bit from the article,  but I think The show must go on has changed somewhat over the years. Actors now take lead roles with a guarantee that they will be able to take 1 or 2 shows off a week. And swings and understudies can easily cover cast members who call in sick or need to tend to family issues. I think audience members now go to the theatre holding their breath that their favorite performer will not be out for the show they are attending. But I agree that many performers feel a responsibility to the audience given ticket prices and the fact that they have come from all over the world.

 

 

 

[Mm882]

Posted: 1/22/21 at 10:29am

Also, when a show first opens and all the pressure is there for the leads to be on no matter is so high! They know others are rehearsed enough/don’t have costumes/wigs, they have the pressure to be on for the critics before opening night. Then once that’s done, they have the pressure to be there for Tony voters! It’s so much