Patti LuPone in London

[Stewart A]

So Patti Lupone is performing in concert in London for a week in June (16 - 23). I'm a bit hit and miss with Patti but I may venture down to London to see her. I saw her in Sunset Blvd nearly 20 years ago and then in 2008 in Gypsy on Broadway and she was good in both shows. I have a couple of her live CDs and they are brilliant. This concert sounds like it will be songs that she is known for from her career so could be worth seeing.

[Phantom of London]

There was I all excited, thinking she be in the next Sunset Boulevard revival!!!

I also saw her 20 years ago in Sunset Boulevard alongside Kevin Anderson, who has sunk like a ship.

[sparepart973]

Just like a geek, I bought a ticket already for the final show, first row, smack in the centre.

[philitalia]

I agree with Stewart on LuPone.
This could be really good - I just hope she doesn't start whining about ALW.

POL, don't agree with you on K. Anderson though. Best "Joe" for me would be either him or A. Hanson (based on the ones I've seen).

[Posner11]

Any hints on best seats to go for in this theatre - as its seems only to be stalls is there a decent rake or is it best to get as close as possible?

odd to see a show time start early at 7 most nights as presume show is around or less than 2 hours as the two shows on Sunday only has 2.5 hours between show times. -

Will be great to hear her sing Evita after playing the Broadway original cast cd for many years

[philitalia]

According to Broadway.com it's a 75 minute show.
Tickets are between £40 and £65.
It's a very small theatre (260 seats or so). I prefer sitting in the centre (even if it is a little further to the back).

[sparepart973]

Oh, you bet she will talk about the Sunset saga. She just can't let go.
I think this show will pretty much be based on their PTown concert they did in July 2012.

[jaqs]

I really like the leicester square theatre seats, very roomy.
There is a slight rake but sightlines are good.
The cheaper side seats are not great as they really do face the audience.

[mallardo]

Kevin Anderson is alive and well, Phantom. He lives in LA and works quite a bit. I saw him there last year in a Neil Labute play and he was terrific.

[theatrepaul]

I've booked my tickets - am very excited

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

If it is the show like in Provincetown (available on SethTV), then Seth is the one who brings up topics and Patti comments on them. She is entitled to her opinions about ALW..detestable person that he is. from RC in Austin, Texas

[sparepart973]

She indeed is, but it's also hypocritical when she yaps about how horrible he is, then segues into Rainbow High.

[TBFL]

Especially after all the noise she made about never singing ALW again after the Sunset business, and rightly so. but dont then go back on your word, just to try and sell your own show.

[Stewart A]

I guess it's a fairly standard ticket price for London but it seems a bit pricey for 75 minutes. If Patti is answering questions too I wonder how many songs she will fit in. I think ALW's behaviour over Sunset Blvd was very bad but he's never been known for his loyalty - he's a businessman as much as a composer. I think as Patti is best known for Evita and Sunset her audiences probably expect to hear her sing songs from those two shows and would feel a bit robbed if she didn't. I haven't decided whether to go or not and wonder how quickly the tickets will sell - can I risk leaving it too long, especially as I will probably have to go on a weekend.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

The show will be composed of Seth Rudetsky being the moderator and posing questions to Patti. She doesn't take questions from the audience, as far as I know. I very much doubt that she'll sing anything from "Sunset". She doesn't sing any of the two ALW "arias" in her concerts. It's possible that the last time she performed AIWNSG was in her 1997 concert in Palm Springs, California. from RC in Austin, Texas USA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=echvx-rAGwo

[Stewart A]

Quote from musical theatre news website,

Songs performed will include music from Evita (which she last performed live 30 years ago) Gypsy, Company and Anything Goes. LuPone will also share anecdotes throughout the night.

So Evita might be in but no mention of Sunset or Les Miz surprisingly.

I still think a career spanning all those years warrants more than 75 minutes.

[philitalia]

The statement that she last performed songs from Evita live 30 years ago is incorrect.

[MusicalBoy]

^ I took that to mean the last time she performed them on stage.

Also, the same concert is available for purchase on Seth Rudetsky's website, listing its running time as 104 minutes, which is a bit more like it (I imagine that the 75 minute running time excludes a few encores).

[Stewart A]

I might just have to download the concert for $10.00 instead.

[songanddanceman2]

Can't stand this woman

[bob8rich]

She's blown me away every single time I've seen her on stage (Les Mis, Sunset Blvd, Sweeney Todd, Gypsy, Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown, Patti & Mandy concert). Gutted I won't be able to see this (just can't get to London that week.)

[Mister Matt]

Her concert at the Donmar in 1999 was fantastic. The woman commands attention from the moment she steps on stage and has the audience in the palm of her hand, whether in a full musical with a large cast, or just a piano in concert.

[songanddanceman2]

I guess with me it's more to do with her attitude, I found her rude and obnoxious. Also if I'm honest I did not like her in Gypsy and thought Betty and Glenn were far better in Sunset

[Princeton Returns]

I agree her diva attitude is unappealing but to me its her voice thats issue, is that actually singing?! i guess it is but to me she unlistenable

[bob8rich]

I LOVE her voice! So many colours and it's never boring for a second (like a lot of other totally generic MT singers who sound "nice" but are so bland they send me to sleep.) It makes me want to listen to every word she sings and she totally inhabits the lyric every step of the way. I think Lupone's singing is honestly about as good as it gets = apart from Bernie!

[FrontRowDress]

I am with Bob all the way on this one. Have only seen her in Les Mis & Sunset, but have tickets for first night at Leicester Square and cannot wait.