Broadway legend Patti LuPone recently sat down with The New York Times to talk about her storied career and, in typical Patti fashion, she didn’t hold anything back when asked for her opinions.
During the interview, LuPone talked about her role as Eva Perón in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s monster hit Evita. And it turns out, she’s not a fan of the show that won her her first Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. And she’s definitely not a fan of the man who wrote it.
Here’s some of what she had to say…
On the iconic song “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina”:
How about we take this to the next level?
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I was going, “What the hell is this song about?” I understand exactly what you’re saying. I never wanted to do “Evita,” because it was the most bizarre music I’d ever heard. You’re raised on Rodgers and Hammerstein, Meredith Willson, Lerner and Loewe, and then you hear that? I heard the “Evita” concept album, and I went, “Ow, my ear.”
On Andrew Lloyd Webber:
He’s a jerk. He’s a sad sack. He is the definition of sad sack.
On the music in Evita:
I thought “Evita” was the best thing he and Tim Rice did. But the rest of it is schmaltz.
This isn’t the first time LuPone has had some rather harsh words for the show that helped turn her into a Broadway superstar.
In the past, she trashed Madonna‘s portrayal of Perón in the film adaptation of the musical, though she also admitted in the same breath that she never actually watched the movie.
Last year, LuPone told Vulture that she was approached to play Evita’s mother in the film, but she turned down the offer.
Related: Patti LuPone took everyone to queer church last night and gay Twitter is having a religious meltdown
Imjustsaying
Damn, must be sad living your whole life so bitter. No one is a bigger legend than she is in her own mind.
Smith David
You know, I never understood the hype behind Ms. Lupone. Her voice is very basic. In fact, out of all the broadway legends, i’d consider her a basic bitch. Anyway, I love you Patti.
jsmu
You know very little about voices, singing, and skill. LuPone may be a bitch in some ways, but she is a remarkable singer and performer. there is no better diction in ANY Broadway singer of the past thirty years. not even close.
Jon
I have watched Lupone perform live in several Broadway shows, she is one of the most talented musical theater artists alive. There are actors who are amazing dramatic actors while others are powerful singers. Lapone is the rare performer with a powerhouse voice who can give an equally powerful acting performance while singing. I have seen many top artists perform in Gypsy and Lupone was by far the best because of her acting chops and a voice that shook the walls.
Kangol2
Patti LuPone can sing her behind off, are you kidding?
You should see (or have seen) her in Anything Goes, in which she hits every note so crisply it sets the standard for every subsequent version of the show. Google “LuPone Anything Goes YouTube” and you’ll see clips from the Tony’s presentation of the 1988 show, in which she also shows she can tap dance too. She was stellar in the revival of Gypsy about a decade ago.
KZNBama
She sounds like Donald Trump in a gown.
jjose712
Trashing someone she didn’t watch her performance says a lot about her, and nothing good
neilusd
Why did she do the show if she hated it so much?
nitejonboy
Because she was a nobody at the time and thought it would get her somewhere, and it did, so she should shut the fuk up and be grateful. I’m so sick of hearing her bitch and moan. She needs to go away. However she is right about one thing, Madonna’s EVITA was total crap.
jcoberkrom
Poor Patti. Her time has come and gone.
jsmu
Hardly. She’s rich, famous, and still singing and doing shows regularly. Try again. LOL!
wvrnsson
If she dislikes Webber so much then why has she done several of his shows and even been in tributes to him? I love Patti but something has to be wrong with her to be acting this way.
nitejonboy
She used to love him and kiss his ass, then he refused to give her the lead in SUNSET BOULEVARD and she sued him. Now she hates him. She’s spoiled. And she needs to go away.
Polaro
My first Broadway show as Evita with Patty LuPone. Yes, I’m ancient. I remember it being fantastic. Pretty sure it turned me gay.
Wheelerman
I, too, saw Patti and Mandy in Evita. It was beyond fantastic. One of my top 5 Broadway shows I’ve seen. Her terrific performance belies her now abhorrence of the role. This is disappointing news.
Polaro
I concur fully.
CKNJ
Sure she is really good at what she does, REALLY good, but being c*nty about Evita, which … sorry Patti… IS really good in its own right, just is beneath even her bitchiest hour! What a nasty bitter trade for no reason at all…seems like a very angry person!
johnnymcmxxx
I never saw her in Evita but I must agree with her. It is an awful basis for a musical and the music is terrible. The whole thing is bewildering and laughable.
nitejonboy
Read her book and you’ll see what a bitch she really is, she talks trash about almost everyone she’s ever worked with, talks about how spoiled she is and everything else. I can’t stand that bitch.
JesseBenz22
It’s an absolute shame they gave Madonna to the role of Evita and not her — that was Patti’s definitive performance and I wish that would have been preserved on film. Patti has every right to be upset that Andrew Lloyd Weber gave Madonna, who has limited singing talent, that part. Long live Patti Lupone.
JJinAus
Who forced her to take the role?
JessPH
Meryl Streep also auditioned for the film role and was even quoted that she’d slit Madonna’s throat if she got the role. She should have. Madonna was horrible in that film. Streep would have slayed that role.
Man About Town
Actually Meryl changed her mind after she saw the film; she said Madonna “was born to play it.”