MUSIC:

We warned you, but did you listen? No.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009 | 2 a.m.

She did it again.

Broadway star Patti LuPone hadn’t even finished lowering her arms in the iconic introduction to the song “Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina” when she waved to her 10-man orchestra to stop the music. LuPone was already at the lip of the stage, chewing out some doofus in the third row, who was brave and foolish enough to be caught using an electronic gizmo during her show at the Orleans Showroom.

“What were you doing?” LuPone demanded of her captive. “I promise not to be mad at you. Just tell me, what were you doing — videoing? Taking photos? Texting? I really want to know.”

No answer — who would be brave/foolish enough to then sass back at the woman who so ferociously played such man-eaters as Eva Peron, Norma Desmond, Mama Rose and Mrs. Lovett?

Eyes blazing, LuPone stalked the stage and went on about the rudeness a bit further to herself and to the rest of the audience, threatening the offender that she’d have him or her tossed out if it happened again. The crowd applauded with loud approval, and the bond between performer and audience seemed even stronger as LuPone picked up the “Evita” number again from the beginning, working through a bravura suite of songs from “Anything Goes,” “Oliver!” and her recent revival of “Gypsy.”

LuPone, who has starred in movies and TV as well as the stage, became an Internet sensation this year when she stopped the show during her penultimate performance as Mama Rose in the Broadway revival of “Gypsy” and freaked out at some jerk who was taking flash photos during her big song. LuPone’s tirade was caught by hundreds of thousands on YouTube, and was applauded by many of her fellow performers, who suffer such indignities daily, but may not have LuPone’s, um, guts.

Discussion: 3 comments so far…

By VegasSmitty

6/23/09 at 7:18 a.m.

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Now I know why I don't go to her shows. Who pays good money to see a biatch?
By billsail

6/23/09 at 7:38 a.m.

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Divas gone wild.. it seems like the only "jerk" at the show was her...
By sheilacatherine

6/23/09 at 9:14 a.m.

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Thank you, thank you, thank you Ms. LuPone for trying to reinstitute appropriate behavioral expectations when one is at a live performance. The announcements are made before the show to please refrain from flash photography, video, etc. but some people, some egocentric "it's America and I can do what I want when I want" imbeciles, always feel they are above any such restrictions....Now if you could just work on those who talk throughout movies, dance recitals, choral performances, the "Pledge of Allegiance", etc.?!