"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
Apparently he talks to the audience quite a bit. Here's another example:
Over the last few weeks of preview performances, Messrs. Mitchell and Trask said they have watched Mr. Harris grow into the part, which calls for both vulnerability and Borscht-Belt sensibilities. On a recent night, a heavyset patron arrived late, and according to Mr. Trask, Mr. Harris didn't let it go unnoticed, quipping "You couldn't make it on time? You had to order dessert?"
Hedwig always improvises and interacts with the audience. Ad libbing and script revisions to suit the venue are reccommended in a note from John Cameron Mitchell in the published script, big chunks of which consist of banter with the audience.
But you're right, it's all good publicity for the show.
It must be so hard to go to the theater when you're a narcissist. Having to sit still and be quiet and let somebody more famous and talented than you are get all the attention. The impulse to do something, anything to make it all about YOU must be irresistible.
And of course talking and eating and moving around during the performance as though nobody else's comfort or need to concentrate exists is another aspect of the me me me personality.
Talking to the audience is part of the show. My favorite was when Michael Cerveris was Hedwig. One night the audience was pretty dull and unresponsive. Finally Cerveris called out, in German accent, "Is there a doctor in the house? No one seems to have a pulse here."
Good for him. I just hope this doesn't start a 'trend' or something where people try to interrupt just to get a reaction out of NPH. Sounds stupid, but we all know there are people dumb enough to try such.
His response was much better and classier than Patti Lupone's. No shock there.
"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one".
-Felicia Finley-
This happened at the performance I was at, too. It was definitely very funny and lighthearted as the 2nd article says.
I know "all press is good press" and everything, but it also kinda irritates me how dumb little gossip sites like that look for the tiniest little thing and call it news, even if it completely sends the wrong idea about someone.
Blame the people who read those dumb gossip sites and make a huge deal out of nothing. Whoever leaked this to the Post didn't understand the show at all...
Sounds like Harris is wisely taking a page from the Jackman-as-Peter Allen playbook to interact with the audience--except for Harris' four-letter word rejoinder. In any case, he's certainly succeeded in creating a buzz.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
PICTURE IT- 1996 at the Lowes movie theater in Century City CA.
I'm in the restroom when in walks Neil Patrick Harris. He's using the urinal and someone goes "HEY! I know you!" to him. He zips up and goes "I'm Neil" and the guy goes "I know! Oh my God. How's Doogie doing?" and NPH goes "Well, I haven't played him in quite some time so I don't know".