Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin delivered exactly what was expected last night at the Ahmanson Theatre. Read my review of their concert.
No, LuPone didn’t throw any tantrums.
But she did respond to Dave Itzkoff’s post Monday on the New York Times’ Arts Beat blog about her recent rant in Las Vegas. LuPone stopped her concert when an audience member was doing something that offended her — the second time she has brought a show to a screeching halt for that reason.
Here’s LuPone’s letter — as stirring a condemnation of rude audience behavior as I’ve ever read:
Dear Dave Itzkoff,
Your story about my stopping my concert in Las Vegas on the New York Times ArtsBeat blog was forwarded to me.
I found the tone of your report very snide and feel compelled to write you to ask – what do expect me, or any performer for that matter, to do?
Do we allow our rights to be violated (photography, filming and audio taping of performances is illegal) or tolerate rudeness by members of the audience who feel they have the right to sit in a dark theater, texting or checking their e-mail while the light from their screens distract both performers and the audience alike? Or, should I stand up for my rights as a performer as well as the audiences I perform for?
And do you think I’m alone in this? Ask any performer on Broadway right now about their level of frustration with this issue. Ask the actor in “Hair” who recently grabbed a camera out of an audience member’s hand and threw it across the stage. Or ask the two Queens in “Mary Stuart” (Harriet Walter and Janet McTeer) how they react to it.
I find it telling that my story elicited 47 comments from your readers while a few other stories on the blog elicited a handful, with many getting 0 comments. It certainly touched a chord with people, almost all of whom sounded like audience members, who share in my frustration with what threatens to become standard behavior if no one speaks out and takes action against it.
This has been going on in my career for 30 years since I starred in “Evita,” and, you’re surprised I stop shows now?
Sincerely,
Patti LuPone
Good for her!!!!