The New York Times Moulin Rouge and COVID

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

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 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.

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

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.

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.