MUSIC:

See a real talent. But for your own sake, ditch the cell phone.

By Joe Brown (contact)

Thursday, June 18, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Chris Morris

Who: Patti LuPone, “The Gypsy In My Soul”
When: 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Where: Orleans Showroom
Admission: $33-$60.50; orleanscasino.com or 365-7075

Patti Lupone yells

Patti Lupone remix

Q+A: Patti LuPone

In a world where merit equaled mass popularity, Patti LuPone would be headlining at Caesars Palace along with Bette and Cher. Instead, LuPone — the Broadway star’s Broadway star — headlines Saturday and Sunday at the Orleans Showroom, where she’ll debut her new solo show, “The Gypsy in My Soul.”

LuPone, 60, is notorious for being as passionate, fearless, frank and funny as the characters she’s created on Broadway in “Evita,” “Sweeney Todd,” “Les Miserables” and “Gypsy.”

Her YouTube moment

So if you’re going to be in her audience this weekend, you had better be on your best behavior. LuPone became an Internet sensation this year when she literally stopped the show — her penultimate performance as Mama Rose in the Broadway revival of “Gypsy,” no less — and royally chewed out some jerk who was taking flash photos during her big song.

LuPone’s ferocious tirade was seen by hundreds of thousands on YouTube, and a “remix” video quickly followed.

“It’s a serious problem in New York — everywhere, really,” LuPone says, referring to audience rudeness. “Just recently it happened again. (Actress) Janet McTeer was doing a scene in ‘Mary Stuart’ — she was at the final scene where she’s going off to be beheaded, and a cell phone goes off.”

LuPone says she received support and applause from the acting community after her outburst.

“Of course, people know who I am, so it wasn’t unusual that I would do it,” she laughs. “Everybody’s angry about it, and I voiced it, because I was sick and tired of it.”

Popularity Boyle-d over

LuPone found herself the unlikely beneficiary of another recent pop cultural juggernaut: After Susan Boyle sang “I Dreamed a Dream” from “Les Miserables” on “Britain’s Got Talent,” sales of the show’s original cast album instantly shot up, putting a few royalty coins in LuPone’s pocket — she originated the role of Fantine in the show.

For her Vegas visit, LuPone is interrupting her concert tour with Mandy Patinkin, which reunited the lifelong friends for the first time since they originated the roles of Che Guevara and Eva Peron in the 1979 Broadway production of “Evita.”

LuPone played the Suncoast two years ago, just before she did “Gypsy” in New York, and sold out with a piano-and-voice show. With Scott Whitman, her director “and conceptualist, if there is such a word,” LuPone put together a new show, cherry-picking songs from her stage career. She’ll meet her 10-piece Las Vegas orchestra when she flies in today.

So what kind of trouble is LuPone planning for her next big YouTube splash?

“God forbid,” she says, laughing. “I don’t want to be on YouTube. But it’s a double-edged sword: If I’m on YouTube, and I’m introduced to a whole group of people that have never gone to the theater, then it’s great.”

Discussion: 3 comments so far…

By willowcab

6/18/09 at 5:42 a.m.

Suggest removal

I attended Mary Stuart the night the cell phone went off as Janet McTeer was going off to be beheaded. She stayed totally in character. Later, when she emerged from the stage door she asked in her best New York accent whose phone it was and stated with great wit, "...at that point in the play, if it isn't bringing a reprieve I don't want to hear a phone ringing!" During another performance this past weekend, at a dramatic freeze frame moment for Janet, a cell phone started ringing to the tune of When the Saints Go Martching In. Again, Janet McTeer never broke character, which is a momument to her professionalism. Everybody in the theatre knew she would have loved to belt out a primal scream, but to quote Mary Stuart, "It is beneath me. I would be diminished by it; demeaned."
By I_Love_Las_Vegas

6/18/09 at 2:36 p.m.

Suggest removal

The remix sucks. Why do we need a remix?

Oh, I know, it gives the 14 year old kid who lives in his parent's basement something to do besides hack credit card numbers.
By brunopupmd

6/22/09 at 3:57 p.m.

Suggest removal

Unfortunately, it appears as though Janet McTeer is more or less endorsing bad behavior because it is beneath her. Patti Lupone has absolutely the correct thought process. Is there no end to the rudeness in today's society because of all of the electronic devices that are used inappropriately? If people have to text during a concert or play, or talk on a cell phone then they shouldn't be there to begin with. Or, go to the lobby, or just leave. Hats off to Ms. Lupone. She's just the only one brave enough to do something about the rudeness and stupidity of the American public. Thanks Patti!