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Inspiring Funny Hot Scary Outrageous Amazing Weird CrazyTheater: "An Evening With Patti
Lupone and Mandy Patinkin"
AN EVENING WITH PATTI LUPONE AND
MANDY PATINKIN ***
ETHEL BARRYMORE THEATRE
Two current Broadway shows offer the pleasure of major
talents in concert. Hugh Jackman: Back On Broadway
has received all the accolades and it's great fun.
Everyone would enjoy it but I might send tourists toJackman first and the serious theater buffs to Luponeand Patinkin. It's a modest affair, geared to beingperformed easily and simply all over the country in anysort of space, which the two of them have apparentlybeen doing for years. But it offers the distinct pleasure oftwo pros doing what they do best in the company of oneanother.
The stage is scattered with stands topped by bulbs and
on the side are pianist Paul Ford and bassist John Beal (both in sterling support). Front and center are
Lupone and Patinkin, working their way effortlessly through "Another Hundred People" and they're off.It's not strictly a concert and it's not a lazy love-fest or walk through their greatest hits.
The heart of the show are three sections of singing and acting built around three musicals: South Pacific,
Merrily We Roll Along and Carousel . In this setting, it's quite easy to accept Nellie as an older, single gal
serving as a nurse in the war and their chemistry is palpable as they dive in and out of dialogue and songslike "A Cockeyed Optimist" and "Some Enchanted Evening." Even better is Merrily and the marvelous
finale built around Carousel .
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In between we get numerous other tunes, with Patinkin reprising his Follies success "The God-Why-
Don't-You-Love-Me Blues" and Lupone delivering a more measured "Everything's Coming Up Roses."
They delight in numerous comic numbers like "Baby It's Cold Outside" and the novelty tune "April In
Fairbanks" (unfamiliar to me, it's from New Faces Of 1956 ). This sort of thing can be tossed together in a
minute but they've crafted it with care. Patinkin subtly and graciously showcases Lupone throughout,
giving himself goofier turns a la "I Won't Dance."
Of course they tackle Evita , done in a smartly straightforward manner. He puts his arm around her and
talks about how they met on that show and became fast friends. Patinkin then turns out a fiery, focused
"Oh What A Circus" while she sits on the side and applauds. They switch and he admires Lupone as sheacts her way through "Don't Cry For Me Argentina." As with several other points in the show, theaudience is raptly quiet when these two command the stage. Almost as an aside, Lupone delivers a nicelymodulated, moving "In Buddy's Eyes" shortly thereafter.
But the finale really is Carousel , in which these two people known so well for their distinctive, career-
making voices remind us what exceptional actors they are. Patinkin is a would-be menacing Billy Bigelow
who can't faze a more world-weary Julie Jordan, as embodied so nicely here by Lupone. Yes, they're
playing kids but the emotions of warily reaching out to another are universal and timeless and for a scene
or two, it works wonderfully.
"If I Loved You" and "You're A Queer One, Julie Jordan" are gems delivered beautifully, but I remember
the emotions they evoke so deftly in the acting moments. Lupone tears up on a dime during Merrily and
here her character's instant ability to see into Billy's awkward, confused heart is quite moving. AndPatinkin delivers the commencement address from the finale of that show; it's advice to students andindeed anyone trying to live their life with purpose and dignity. He captures that moment so simply anddirectly and touchingly, it breaks your heart. It's the greatness of Rodgers & Hammerstein in a nutshell: adisarming truhfulness that slips past your defenses with ease. Corny in the hands of amateurs; moving inthe hands of pros.
Lupone's trumpet of a voice is more muted now; Patinkin's swoops and moans and various voices from
deep bass to high falsetto as familiar as ever. Acquired tastes? Of course, but we've been acquiring thattaste for years. They don't break new ground or work wonders during this low-key, charming evening.
They simply get on stage and perform. It's all they've ever wanted.
The Theater Season 2011-2012 (on a four star scale)
The Agony And The Ecstasy Of Steve Jobs ** 1/2
All-American **
All's Well That Ends Well/Shakespeare in the Park **
The Atmosphere Of Memory 1/2 *
Broadway By The Year: 1997 ** 1/2
Chinglish * 1/2
Crane Story **
Cymbeline at Barrow Street Theatre ***
Follies *** 1/2
Fragments ***
Godspell ** 1/2
Hair ***
Hand To God ***
Hero: The Musical * 1/2
Hugh Jackman: Back On Broadway ***
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What?
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American Idol and X Factor
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Irving Berlin's White Christmas ***
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Lake Water **
Love's Labor's Lost at the PublicLab ** 1/2
Man And Boy * 1/2
Master Class w Tyne Daly ** 1/2
Measure For Measure/Shakespeare in the Park ***
Milk Like Sugar ***
The Mountaintop ** 1/2
Newsies **
Pigpen's The Nightmare Story *** 1/2
Olive and The Bitter Herbs ** 1/2
One Arm ***
Other Desert Cities on Broadway ** 1/2
Private Lives **
Queen Of The Mist ** 1/2
Radio City Christmas Spectacular ** 1/2
Relatively Speaking * 1/2
The Select (The Sun Also Rises) ** 1/2
Seminar **
Septimus & Clarissa *** 1/2
Silence! The Musical * 1/2
69 Degrees South * 1/2
Sons Of The Prophet *** 1/2
Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark * 1/2
Standing On Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays **
The Submission **
Sweet and Sad **
Unnatural Acts ***
Venus In Fur ***
We Live Here **
Wild Animals You Should Know ** 1/2
Zarkana **
NEW YORK MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL 2011
Blanche: The Bittersweet Life Of A Wild Prairie Dame *** 1/2
Central Avenue Breakdown ** 1/2
Crazy, Just Like Me ***
Cyclops: A Rock Opera *
Ennio: The Living Paper Cartoon ** 1/2
F---ing Hipsters **
Ghostlight **
Gotta Getta Girl ** 1/2 for staged reading
Greenwood *
Jack Perry Is Alive (And Dating) * 1/2
Kiki Baby ** 1/2
Kissless * 1/2
Madame X **
The Pigeon Boys ***
Time Between Us * 1/2
Tut **
FRINGEFEST NYC 2011Araby *
The Bardy Bunch **
Books On Tape ** 1/2
Civilian **
Hard Travelin' With Woody ***
Leonard Cohen Koans *** 1/2
The More Loving One **
The Mountain Song *** 1/2
Paper Cuts ***
Parker & Dizzy's Fabulous Journey To The End Of The Rainbow ** 1/2
Pearl's Gone Blue ***
Rachel Calof ** 1/2
Romeo & Juliet: Choose Your Own Ending **HOT ON FACEBOOK 1 of 3
HOT ON TWITTER 1 of 2
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obituary for Tony Scott by@KevinFCorrigan . This one's a gut-
punch: http://t.co/ajVp7K1L
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Yeast Nation ***
Thanks for reading. Michael Giltz is the cohost of Showbiz Sandbox, a weekly pop culture podcast that
reveals the industry take on entertainment news of the day and features top journalists and opinion
makers as guests. It's available for free on iTunes. Visit Michael Giltz at his website and his daily blog.
Download his podcast of celebrity interviews and his radio show, also called Popsurfing and also
available for free on iTunes. Link to him on Netflix and gain access to thousands of ratings and reviews.
Note : Michael Giltz was provided with free tickets to this show with the understanding that he would
be writing a review.
Follow Michael Giltz on Twitter: www.twitter.com/michaelgiltz
Buy a link here Sponsored Links
Woman is 57 But Looks 27
Long Island City Mom publishes simple facelift trick that angered doctors...
ConsumerLifestyles.org
What is Scientology?
Think For Yourself and Find Out For Yourself.
Scientology.org/What_Is_Scientology
Car Sharing New York City
Find Zipcars In NYC. Get $75 Free Driving, Join Today.
zipcar.com
New Policy in New York
June 2012: Drivers w/ no DUIs eligible for up to 50% off car insurance
TheFinanceAuthority.com
More in Entertainment...
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Part of AOL-HuffPost EntertainmentRecency | PopularityComments 0 Pending Comments 0 View FAQ
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Featuring fresh takes and real-time analysis from
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Michael Giltz
Freelance writerGET UPDATES FROM MICHAEL GILTZ
Follow
Video , Entertainment News
4 46 4
0React
Inspiring Funny Hot Scary Outrageous Amazing Weird CrazyTheater: "An Evening With Patti
Lupone and Mandy Patinkin"
AN EVENING WITH PATTI LUPONE AND
MANDY PATINKIN ***
ETHEL BARRYMORE THEATRE
Two current Broadway shows offer the pleasure of major
talents in concert. Hugh Jackman: Back On Broadway
has received all the accolades and it's great fun.
Everyone would enjoy it but I might send tourists toJackman first and the serious theater buffs to Luponeand Patinkin. It's a modest affair, geared to beingperformed easily and simply all over the country in anysort of space, which the two of them have apparentlybeen doing for years. But it offers the distinct pleasure oftwo pros doing what they do best in the company of oneanother.
The stage is scattered with stands topped by bulbs and
on the side are pianist Paul Ford and bassist John Beal (both in sterling support). Front and center are
Lupone and Patinkin, working their way effortlessly through "Another Hundred People" and they're off.It's not strictly a concert and it's not a lazy love-fest or walk through their greatest hits.
The heart of the show are three sections of singing and acting built around three musicals: South Pacific,
Merrily We Roll Along and Carousel . In this setting, it's quite easy to accept Nellie as an older, single gal
serving as a nurse in the war and their chemistry is palpable as they dive in and out of dialogue and songslike "A Cockeyed Optimist" and "Some Enchanted Evening." Even better is Merrily and the marvelous
finale built around Carousel .
MOST POPULAR ON HUFFPOST 1 of 2
Isaac Balloons Into A
Hurricane, New Orleans
Threatened
Limbaugh's Wild Isaac
Conspiracy
FOLLOW US
Celebrity TV Political Hollywood Features Hollywood Buzz Videos
Help Us Write 'The Words'
Quick Read | Comments (26) | 08.20.2012August 29, 2012
Edition: U.S.
John Hillcoat Sen. Ben Cardin
Harry Shearer Jeffrey SachsHOT ON THE BLOG
Like 102
Posted: 11/30/11 11:55 PM ET
SHARE THIS STORY
Submit this storyGet Entertainment Alerts
Sign UpSPONSOR GENERATED POST
Recommend 629
Like 6kElectronic Dance Music Political Hollywood The Avengers One Direction The Choice More Log in Create Account
In between we get numerous other tunes, with Patinkin reprising his Follies success "The God-Why-
Don't-You-Love-Me Blues" and Lupone delivering a more measured "Everything's Coming Up Roses."
They delight in numerous comic numbers like "Baby It's Cold Outside" and the novelty tune "April In
Fairbanks" (unfamiliar to me, it's from New Faces Of 1956 ). This sort of thing can be tossed together in a
minute but they've crafted it with care. Patinkin subtly and graciously showcases Lupone throughout,
giving himself goofier turns a la "I Won't Dance."
Of course they tackle Evita , done in a smartly straightforward manner. He puts his arm around her and
talks about how they met on that show and became fast friends. Patinkin then turns out a fiery, focused
"Oh What A Circus" while she sits on the side and applauds. They switch and he admires Lupone as sheacts her way through "Don't Cry For Me Argentina." As with several other points in the show, theaudience is raptly quiet when these two command the stage. Almost as an aside, Lupone delivers a nicelymodulated, moving "In Buddy's Eyes" shortly thereafter.
But the finale really is Carousel , in which these two people known so well for their distinctive, career-
making voices remind us what exceptional actors they are. Patinkin is a would-be menacing Billy Bigelow
who can't faze a more world-weary Julie Jordan, as embodied so nicely here by Lupone. Yes, they're
playing kids but the emotions of warily reaching out to another are universal and timeless and for a scene
or two, it works wonderfully.
"If I Loved You" and "You're A Queer One, Julie Jordan" are gems delivered beautifully, but I remember
the emotions they evoke so deftly in the acting moments. Lupone tears up on a dime during Merrily and
here her character's instant ability to see into Billy's awkward, confused heart is quite moving. AndPatinkin delivers the commencement address from the finale of that show; it's advice to students andindeed anyone trying to live their life with purpose and dignity. He captures that moment so simply anddirectly and touchingly, it breaks your heart. It's the greatness of Rodgers & Hammerstein in a nutshell: adisarming truhfulness that slips past your defenses with ease. Corny in the hands of amateurs; moving inthe hands of pros.
Lupone's trumpet of a voice is more muted now; Patinkin's swoops and moans and various voices from
deep bass to high falsetto as familiar as ever. Acquired tastes? Of course, but we've been acquiring thattaste for years. They don't break new ground or work wonders during this low-key, charming evening.
They simply get on stage and perform. It's all they've ever wanted.
The Theater Season 2011-2012 (on a four star scale)
The Agony And The Ecstasy Of Steve Jobs ** 1/2
All-American **
All's Well That Ends Well/Shakespeare in the Park **
The Atmosphere Of Memory 1/2 *
Broadway By The Year: 1997 ** 1/2
Chinglish * 1/2
Crane Story **
Cymbeline at Barrow Street Theatre ***
Follies *** 1/2
Fragments ***
Godspell ** 1/2
Hair ***
Hand To God ***
Hero: The Musical * 1/2
Hugh Jackman: Back On Broadway ***
GOP Candidate Compares
Pregnancy From Rape To
What?
MAP: Hurricane Isaac's Path
Aims For Gulf Coast
Sylvester Stallone's Half-
Sister Dies At 48
GOP Approves Abortion Ban
PHOTO: Christina Aguilera's
'Your Body' Dress Doesn't
Leave Much To The
Imagination
PHOTOS: Katy Perry Tries
Orange Hair
The Most Awkward Wedding
Photobombs
DON'T MISS HUFFPOST BLOGGERS 1 of 5
John Hillcoat
Lawless: Reinventing the Gangster
Sen. Ben Cardin
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TOP VIDEO PICKS 1 of 8
MOST DISCUSSED RIGHT NOW 1 of 2Recommend 18k
Recommend 192
Recommend 264
Recommend 7k
Like 195
Like 84
Like 632
Pink's Super Sheer Outfit
Housewives' Clooney
Connection
Christina Milian Is ExcitedFor New Season Of
American Idol and X Factor
Samuel L. Jackson's
Shocking Tweets About
Irving Berlin's White Christmas ***
King Lear at Public with Sam Waterston **
Lake Water **
Love's Labor's Lost at the PublicLab ** 1/2
Man And Boy * 1/2
Master Class w Tyne Daly ** 1/2
Measure For Measure/Shakespeare in the Park ***
Milk Like Sugar ***
The Mountaintop ** 1/2
Newsies **
Pigpen's The Nightmare Story *** 1/2
Olive and The Bitter Herbs ** 1/2
One Arm ***
Other Desert Cities on Broadway ** 1/2
Private Lives **
Queen Of The Mist ** 1/2
Radio City Christmas Spectacular ** 1/2
Relatively Speaking * 1/2
The Select (The Sun Also Rises) ** 1/2
Seminar **
Septimus & Clarissa *** 1/2
Silence! The Musical * 1/2
69 Degrees South * 1/2
Sons Of The Prophet *** 1/2
Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark * 1/2
Standing On Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays **
The Submission **
Sweet and Sad **
Unnatural Acts ***
Venus In Fur ***
We Live Here **
Wild Animals You Should Know ** 1/2
Zarkana **
NEW YORK MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL 2011
Blanche: The Bittersweet Life Of A Wild Prairie Dame *** 1/2
Central Avenue Breakdown ** 1/2
Crazy, Just Like Me ***
Cyclops: A Rock Opera *
Ennio: The Living Paper Cartoon ** 1/2
F---ing Hipsters **
Ghostlight **
Gotta Getta Girl ** 1/2 for staged reading
Greenwood *
Jack Perry Is Alive (And Dating) * 1/2
Kiki Baby ** 1/2
Kissless * 1/2
Madame X **
The Pigeon Boys ***
Time Between Us * 1/2
Tut **
FRINGEFEST NYC 2011Araby *
The Bardy Bunch **
Books On Tape ** 1/2
Civilian **
Hard Travelin' With Woody ***
Leonard Cohen Koans *** 1/2
The More Loving One **
The Mountain Song *** 1/2
Paper Cuts ***
Parker & Dizzy's Fabulous Journey To The End Of The Rainbow ** 1/2
Pearl's Gone Blue ***
Rachel Calof ** 1/2
Romeo & Juliet: Choose Your Own Ending **HOT ON FACEBOOK 1 of 3
HOT ON TWITTER 1 of 2
HUFFPOST'S BIG NEWS PAGES
Snooki
Smoking
Ask The Parent
Coach
Unplug And
Recharge
Chris Christie
Elections 2012
Rachel
Maddow
Republican
Convention
Ann Romney Buy a link here Sponsored Links
Woman is 57 But Looks 27
Long Island City Mom publishes simple
facelift trick that angered doctors...
ConsumerLifestyles.org
What is Scientology?
Think For Yourself and Find Out For Yourself.
Scientology.org/What_Is_Scientology
Car Sharing New York City
Find Zipcars In NYC. Get $75 Free Driving, Join Today.
zipcar.com
MORE BIG NEWS PAGES »
Isaac
Jon Voight Blasts Obama
Administration,
Mainstream Media
Fact-Checking '2016
Obama's America'
WATCH: Raging Grannies
Have Some Words For
Todd Akin
alyssa_milano
RetweetSleep Better: How To Use All Your
Senses To Promote Sleep
http://t.co/1UxSV5oG /via @heykim
pattonoswalt
RetweetOh man. Gorgeous, touching
obituary for Tony Scott by@KevinFCorrigan . This one's a gut-
punch: http://t.co/ajVp7K1L
Robin Williams As
Dwight D.
Eisenhower In...
Fall Movie Preview
2012: 'The Hobbit,'
'Django...
Lynyrd Skynyrd's
RNC Gig Canceled
Amid Hurricane...
Samuel L. Jackson:
'Unfair' Hurricane
Isaac Avoid...2 Burn * 1/2
Walls and Bridges **
What The Sparrow Said ** 1/2
Yeast Nation ***
Thanks for reading. Michael Giltz is the cohost of Showbiz Sandbox, a weekly pop culture podcast that
reveals the industry take on entertainment news of the day and features top journalists and opinion
makers as guests. It's available for free on iTunes. Visit Michael Giltz at his website and his daily blog.
Download his podcast of celebrity interviews and his radio show, also called Popsurfing and also
available for free on iTunes. Link to him on Netflix and gain access to thousands of ratings and reviews.
Note : Michael Giltz was provided with free tickets to this show with the understanding that he would
be writing a review.
Follow Michael Giltz on Twitter: www.twitter.com/michaelgiltz
Buy a link here Sponsored Links
Woman is 57 But Looks 27
Long Island City Mom publishes simple facelift trick that angered doctors...
ConsumerLifestyles.org
What is Scientology?
Think For Yourself and Find Out For Yourself.
Scientology.org/What_Is_Scientology
Car Sharing New York City
Find Zipcars In NYC. Get $75 Free Driving, Join Today.
zipcar.com
New Policy in New York
June 2012: Drivers w/ no DUIs eligible for up to 50% off car insurance
TheFinanceAuthority.com
More in Entertainment...
Advertise | Log In | Make HuffPost your Home Page | RSS | Careers | FAQ
User Agreement | Privacy | Comment Policy | About Us | About Our Ads | Contact Us
Copyright © 2012 TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc. | "The Huffington Post" is a registered trademark of TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
Part of AOL-HuffPost EntertainmentRecency | PopularityComments 0 Pending Comments 0 View FAQ
Comments are closed for this entry
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