What the World Needs Now is Patti Lupone

Before I get into Obama, the SAG strike and renewable energy, I wanted to talk about Patti LuPone. Yeah. That's right. Patti LuPone. What the world needs now is Patti LuPone. I have worked in my business since 1980 and I have seen a lot of changes. One thing that hasn't changed is Patti.

That year, the year I started, Patti won the Tony for Best Actress in a musical for Evita. And now, more than twenty-five years later, Patti is as heartbreaking and wicked and volcanic and gorgeous as ever. Maybe more so. Go see her in Gypsy on Broadway. Surrounded by Boyd Gaines and Laura Benanti (both also Tony winners for this show), Patti makes the story of Mama Rose worth seeing again and then some.

Where movies today all too typically use the name of a big star to draw you into a theatre, only to have special effects people take over, what happens at the St. James theatre is live. Real. It is a stage covered with remarkable actors, directed by Arthur Laurents himself, breathing new life into an old story. And, it is Patti. As I left the theatre. a young man turned to me and said, "I liked that a lot and I normally don't go to musicals." Another woman near us smiled and said, "That was no ordinary musical. That was Patti." I told the young man to consider himself lucky. "You're not likely to see that again on Broadway for a long time."

Go see Gypsy. Go see Patti LuPone, one of the great actresses of all time, give the performance of her life

Comments

[Guitarsandmore]

Alec,

Everyone should go see "WALL E" and then go buy some plants and trees!

If you can believe the movie, each person needs 7 trees to soak up the carbon dioxide expelled.

I bought a patio tomato plant and some flowers right after the movie. Plan to put more stuff in the ground later this week.

Best Regards,

G&M

[joeytomatoes]

Patti LuPone rocks. She is the one that tells the fat lady when to sing.

[balakovsky]

Alec, You are right about Patti. Glad you are enjoying the summer.
Would you kindly post some thoughts about the SAG and the FISA controversies? Having a bit of a problem wading through these issues. Have had many dinner party conversations about Obama's choice to refuse public funding. Where do you stand there? Just when you get a minute, no rush. Thanks.

[RichDavid]

Mr. Baldwin,

You must also remember...."Gypsy " is one of the ALL time great musicals! Maybe the greatest..so many great numbers..But I agree....I love Patti too....

[monty]

Last time I saw Patti Lupone live on stage was in Anything Goes at Lincoln Center. She was amazing! She also portrayed the role of Evita Peron with fire and ferocity, like no one else who's played that role.

Unfortunately, I saw this new production of Gypsy when it opened a few years ago with Bernadette Peters. It was all wrong. A Betty Boop voice coming from Mama Rose??? Patti Lupone, however, would be perfect in that role.

[lizjaye]

Mr. Baldwin:

This is a very classy thing for you to write. I agree that Ms. LuPone is a wonderful talent. I hope I get to New York in time to see her in this show.

[ranchobob]

100% true - she is brilliant

[bigflanman]

My earliest memories of theatre involve the advertisements for Evita that was playing on Broadway starring Patti Lupone and beret wearing Mandy Patinkin. They both came on, she sang the "don't cry for me Argentina" line and then he responded with "You were supposed to be immortal"...still gets me every time I think about it.

[Rotcod]

Thanks for the advice. If I get to Broadway, though, I'll be playing it.
Sorry your brother won't see any more Broadway shows after November though.

[FirstShirt]

I bet it is thrilling to get Alec and Stephen in the same room together.

[WorldsGreatestActor]

Simply Supercalif­ragilistic­expialatro­cious...

[alsm9]

I saw Patti Lupone in Sweeny Todd a couple of years ago on Broadway. I was in the third row. I felt kinda privledged. She's the best. I hope I get the opportunity to see her in Gypsy. I saw her performance on the Tony's and it was fantastic!

[moober]

Sure, you can go see Gypsy if you want to sit through 3 hours of The Patti Lupone Show. Or you could catch other actresses doing amazing work where they actually act and sing on pitch, like Jenna Russell in Sunday in the Park with George (already closed) or the cast of Adding Machine (closing July 20, so hurry and see this amazing show).

[Dolphin]

I can think of a few more things that the world needs now, regardless of that I quote what I heard the other day about the problem impersinators have finding good material among the actors today. Even I can pretend to be for instance Humphrey Bogart or Bette Davis and get away with it. It would be worse with, say, Keanu Reeves and what is the reason for this? Not that actors today are not wellknown to the crowd, no, it is because they have never been on stage.

A good thing you are on stage once in a while!

Maybe that is what gives Patti LuPone an advantage, the ability of coming close to her audience thanks to the theatre as such and, of course, her personality. If you have no carisma no stage or screen in the world will ever save you for the future actor history books.

[centralprkwest]

Alec,

Loved you in Miami Blues----who knew that you're ensuing body of work would prove even more brilliant! Best, cpk

[chattypatra]

Patti LuPone is so magnificent in her role as Gypsy that, after we watched her perform at the Tony Awards broadcast, my friends and I actually stood up and yelled '¡Bravo! (Spanish is our L1). You are truly blessed to be part of the Broadway community, Alec. Many others who are talented as well never make it to NYC. I was wondering when you would post in this blog again. Thanks for paying tribute to a Master of your class. You sure know how to give people you admire their due - this is not the first time you honor someone like this. I really admire that quality in you.
Oh, to be able to see all those plays and musicals! Sadly, I live too far away.

[livesbythec]

Thanks Alec. I always look forward to hearing what you have to say!

[Levittown]

What about Obama, the SAG strike and renewable energy ? Not a word.. Good pitch for a good show. You sound like an investor/PR man.