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mimika9's review against another edition
5.0
What a mensch! Loved the book,laughed out loud. And I loved when she raked that utterly overrated creepy Andrew Lloyd Webber over the coals. Ugh.
renaplays's review against another edition
4.0
Extending my memorial to Steven Sondheim, Patti Lupone filled the bill. All that you would expect - wry, blunt, and often very funny.
lizleiby's review against another edition
4.0
Love love love Patti Lupone's writing style. I felt like I was just listening to her tell a bunch of stories. It definitely opened my eyes to a lot I didn't know about broadway and "making it" as an actor.. the sacrifices, the cost, etc.. This is one of the first memoirs I've ever read, and I was not disappointed!
apasc's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. I got to hear all about the behind the scenes drama that goes on for a broadway actress whom I love!!
blueeye217's review against another edition
3.0
It's always interesting to read about being a working actor. It constantly makes me want to be out there performing all the time. I can't tell if Lupone really just had bad circumstances or if she made them herself. Doesn't really help the image of her being a Diva bitch.
mcc's review against another edition
funny
3.0
OK, so I went into this book with a bias of dislike for Patti Lupone. She doesn't start out strong at all by flat out admitting to the fact that in several of the productions that she starred in she didn't participate to sending out opening night cards to the rest of the cast. She then talks about one opening where she is surrounded by an entire entourage - hair stylist, makeup, dresser, personal assistant, friends etc. She admits that she did have her personal assistant send out cards for that show. Well, uh, yeah, when you have that many people surrounding you and catering to you and it's literally nothing off of you to have your staff take care of something, it's literally the bare minimum.
She also repeatedly goes on about cast members 'pulling their weight' and not calling out sick etc because they have to understand that they are part of an ensemble. But she then unashamedly talks about how determined she was in Les Mis to not participate to any of the ensemble scenes. She doesn't seem to see how completely at odds these two things are, because of the simple fact that she really considers herself a star and NOT a part of the 'rest' of the cast.
This is despicable, but she owns it so thoroughly that you almost have to admire it. She is just such a classic Diva that there is something amazing about the way she's been able to pull that off. And it's also understandable how she's gotten to that point of privilege - she's charming and funny and has that charisma. In real life I can absolutely see how people will put up with some of her more off-putting behavior because she is such a gas to be around. We all have that one friend.
tldr; I was amazed at how likeable she was despite the fact that she openly admits to deplorable behavior
She also repeatedly goes on about cast members 'pulling their weight' and not calling out sick etc because they have to understand that they are part of an ensemble. But she then unashamedly talks about how determined she was in Les Mis to not participate to any of the ensemble scenes. She doesn't seem to see how completely at odds these two things are, because of the simple fact that she really considers herself a star and NOT a part of the 'rest' of the cast.
This is despicable, but she owns it so thoroughly that you almost have to admire it. She is just such a classic Diva that there is something amazing about the way she's been able to pull that off. And it's also understandable how she's gotten to that point of privilege - she's charming and funny and has that charisma. In real life I can absolutely see how people will put up with some of her more off-putting behavior because she is such a gas to be around. We all have that one friend.
tldr; I was amazed at how likeable she was despite the fact that she openly admits to deplorable behavior
ryanbensonsmith's review against another edition
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
5.0
annakmeyer's review against another edition
3.0
I almost feel like by not giving this more stars, Patti is going to hunt me down and yell at me. But actually I just wanted more Gypsy stories.
There wasn't enough to what she did tell (about everything, really). I was underwhelmed.
And I will continue to be freaked out that Patti is her mother's maiden name.
There wasn't enough to what she did tell (about everything, really). I was underwhelmed.
And I will continue to be freaked out that Patti is her mother's maiden name.
zeecorster's review against another edition
3.0
While this memoir is filled with some dishy backstage discussions and a huge amount of name-dropping (seriously, I needed a Who's Who of the American Theatre volume of sorts to figure who some of these individuals were), the book on the whole is an excellent account of the life and career of one of Broadway's premier leading ladies. Reading Ms. Lupone's fascinating and pointed insights into Eva Peron, Nellie Lovett and Momma Rose was worth getting through the less-interesting backstage gossip any day, though I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy a few of her better sharp-tongued insults.