Jeremy Piven Mocked By Former Castmates

Almost a week after Jeremy Piven abruptly pulled out of Broadway's "Speed the Plow" citing a high mercury count, the story continues to develop.

Piven's theatrical castmates Raul Esparza and Elizabeth Moss have now joined playwright David Mamet in making fun of the "Entourage" actor and implied they are happy he is gone.

Fox News had a spy at Sunday's matinee and reports:

Sources say that when the matinee was finished yesterday, Esparza suddenly addressed the audience...

According to those who saw this, Esparza -- famous for being outspoken -- reamed Piven while Moss, my sources say, "sobbed."

"'He said, I'm sure you've read the headlines about the silliness in our show.' Then he said, Today was the first time I really enjoyed playing this show.' I hope you weren't expecting a big TV star." It was pretty emotional."

Esparza has a reputation for being lively -- and much of a diva himself.

Meanwhile actor Fisher Stevens has come to Piven's defense:

"I believe him. His numbers are off the charts," Stevens, who suffered from mercury poisoning this year, told Page Six. Stevens says that while he was producing his upcoming Sundance entry, "The Cove," a documentary about the slaughter of mercury-loaded dolphins in the Far East, he ate fish four or five times a week. "I started feeling really sluggish and had no energy. It turns out the larger the fish, the higher the levels. I only eat small fish now."

Comments

[Jupiter86]

Yeah, there is something else to the story. The only sickness Piven is suffering from is "Sick of being out acted by Raul Esparza"

Trust me, I saw the show just a few weeks before Piven made his exit. I was in the 5th row from the stage so I could clearly see pain on his face of being out shined by Esparza. It was abundantly clear who the star of that show was, and Piven was not he.

[stagebandman]

And Raul Esparza is who?

[jackstpaul]

I'm missing something, as I think we all:

Piven claims to have a serious illness, med records affirm (however valid they are?), and yet he's slammed in public by Mam et et al.

Why? What are they accusing him of, what makes them think he's faking it? Does anyone have evidence to the contrary? I know someoe who had major mercury poison issues that went on for years.

What is are the behind the scenes info that Mamet et al. aren't speaking? I just hear bashing.

[Xela]

There must be more to this than that. If you get food poision or something and don't have the tenacity to go in, let the understudy do it and then you're back. To quit a show because you got sick! There must be more behind the scenes. But with that said, if I had to suffer through one of the actors making a speech about another actor after the show I'd ask for my money back. That's equally unprofessional as far as I'm concerned.

[alreadyfamous]

i agree. the idea of a curtain speech saying anything bad about another actor is cheap and tacky and immature.

[SkippyFlipjack]

Mercury poisoning isn't like food poisoning; you don't just puke for a day and then feel better. It can affect your nervous system and your senses, and can stick around for a long time.

[cblcar]

Having been an actor early in my life, I believe they would have had to drag me off that stage in a dead heap before I would have given up such an amazing opportunity as to star on Broadway.

[unfettered]

You know you're in trouble when Fisher Stevens comes to your aid.

[ChangeNeeder]

AN actor of class, stays quiet and goes on with the show knwowing what goes around could come back around.

[brownswan]

True, and I am a bit surprised that Mamet would bother to chime in on this, publicly. O'Neill had many bouts with actors, but face to face; he never took it to the public.

Besides, it is only a loss to those who went to see the TV star rather than the play. There are a thousand fine actors in NYC who could play the part. And the other five thousand aren't
too bad, either!

[Fletch17C]

Piven may very well be a pain in the neck and he may deserve all the mockery he receives. Still, as much as I respect Esparza as a talented actor, this behavior was completely out of line. If Esparza wants to go out on the street and gossip his face off to all the columnists from Page Six or Inside Edition, he is perfectly within his rights to do so. However, cackling like this from the stage of the Barrymore Theatre is downright crass. People don't pay $80+ per ticket to hear someone complain about a coworker. They can stay home and complain about their own coworkers. Besides, Esparza should have enough respect for the theatre as not to turn the stage into a lowbrow reality show.

[SteveDenver]

In a related story, sales have plummeted post-Piven, so I guess Raul isn't the draw. Ouch.

[alreadyfamous]

i agree here too. well said.

[sparklspd]

Finally! A moment of actual honestly from someone in the entertainment industry. We have all hated a co-worker at some point. Every day at work for of us is not a pleasure. Yet those who work in movies and TV would have us believe they love and adore and joke with each other all day. It's not only boring it's dishonest.

[oicnow]

another reason I don't eat Sushi

[SouthpawSass]

I read the article. I'll never again get that time back...

[SeaBlood]

Instead of salmon or tuna, try sardines. Although slightly fishier tasting, they are absolutely delicious on toast with a little mayo; the skinless/boneless variety is better. These small fish have hardly any mercury, yet provide as much of the healthful Omega-3 fatty acids that we eat fish for in the first place. Although I'm not sure, sardines being so small, there is probably much less chance of our overfishing them; it takes years to grow a prime, sushi grade, tuna, but only a couple of months to grow a sardine.

[litebug]

Stephanie Miller, of the Stephanie Miller radio show, has had a serious case of mercury poisoning from eating too much fish. This is indeed a real medical condition and it is occurring with increased frequency. Anyone who suggests that there is no such thing, or that it is not a very serious matter, is ill-informed.

[Liberalicious]

Didn't Joan Crawford pull this same kind of stunt when trying to get out of "Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte"? I course she was trying to with good reason get back at Bette Davis. Still the similarities are there. But I do enjoy Piven's works, even if he may be a pain off camera/stage. Still even bad publicity is good publicity.

[Orphie]

I'm sorry, Jeremy, the people have spoken. As you can tell they simply don't like you and have been waiting for the right opportunity to register their distaste. And recent events have caused the mere thought of you to provoke outright, prolonged anger. So, with great regret this holiday season it is our duty to inform you that your services will no longer be necessary. We would greatly appreciate it if you would kindly just disappear. Checkout time is 11am tomorrow; please leave your Actor's Equity, SAG and AFTRA cards at the desk.

[UsofA]

Or as Snagglepuss once said: "Exit, stage left."