After the disaster that was The Anarchist and Women on the Verge, can we put this argument to rest? Patti LuPone has immense talent but her name above-the-title means nothing in terms of ticket sales. She's not a "star", but rather a very well known, talented Broadway actress. Stars sell tickets. Patti doesn't.
No. But if not overexposed, she's now a New York theater perennial, along with Peters, and their mere presence in any material isn't reason alone to buy a ticket. Theatrical consumers likely sense that Lupone will return at the very least every other season. She's decidedly a welcome contribution to an attractive package of collaborators, but by now her name alone doesn't spell "event." I believe she was a big factor in the SWEENEY revival's success, and obviously GYPSY's (relative success), but in both cases her role, the material, and the chance to see her in something iconic made the combination unmissable. Must she sing? It helps. I doubt she made a big impact on NOISE'S OFF sales, after the first few months anyway (I preferred Jane Curtin).
Curiously, I think she would've been (even more)effective in Chita's role in EDWIN DROOD, and proved a big draw there. She's a star of musical theater.
I don't know how fair that is. I mean, Jane Fonda and Susan Sarandon both had shows that didn't do too well recently (both in FAAAAAAAR better shows) but in other roles/shows that appealed to a broader base, I'm sure they would have been sell outs. A name alone doesn't ensure a sold out run (with very few exceptions like Hugh Jackman).
Curiously, I think she would've been (even more)effective in Chita's role in EDWIN DROOD, and proved a big draw there. She's a star of musical theater.
I've been wanting to see Patti as Princess Puffer ever since I first saw Drood five years ago.
Patti needs a role that she can sink her Patti teeth into and make it a Patti role. There's nothing wrong with that but when you try to restrain her and put her in a role where she doesn't get to "do anything", it's like going to see Gallagher without watermelons.
I contemplated adding a detailed, semi-ranty rant on Lupone, then sneakily shoe-horning Les Mis somewhere within the body of that dissertation. And then, briefly considered how I'd tell anyone who claims my rant was "in response to a troll" to lick donkey balls, or something vulgar like that. But then I decided that would be soooo last week, and so I didn't.
And decided it would be funner to post this instead!
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joined:12/9/12
Posted: 12/9/12 at 10:58pm