Thursday, June 23, 2011

Stagehand Overdoses, Play Canceled


Just before Daniel Radcliffe and John Larroquette were due to take the stage last night on Broadway, a stagehand in their show was discovered dead in a bathroom of an overdose. The show was canceled and the audience sent home by Daniel and John. I don't think I have ever heard of that happening before. I have heard of people dying at concerts and while movies are being filmed of course, but never before a Broadway show. How bad must life have been for that pour soul if they could not even make it through a two hour show without using. My thoughts are with him and his family.

21 comments:

PotPourri said...

I don't understand a drug addiction. A food addiction yes, but not drug.

Murphy Brown 2020 said...

That's incredibly tragic, but I have to say that I find it incredibly classy of Daniel Radcliffe and John Larroquette to cancel the show. It exhibits a kind of solemn sensitivity that seems rare nowadays.

Murphy Brown 2020 said...

@Jamie's Girl -- well, if you understand the plight of one addiction, I'd think that you'd be able to empathize with the struggles associated with some of the other kinds.

timebob said...

The show is right across the street from my office I have seen John Laroquette walking/smoking around but not Daniel.

Sad news.

RocketQueen said...

I don't have enough John Larroquette in my life. I really miss him on tv.
As for addictions...the only one I've never truly understood is gambling, and yet it can be so destructive. My sympathies to anyone who struggles. Except maybe Lilo. And yes, I realize how "unfair" that is.

lanasyogamama said...

Very sad. I've been hearing about so much addiction lately, it truly is an epidemic.

cheesegrater15 said...

Poor guy (or girl)'s family. And poor guy. Not surprised they would do something classy and professional like this. John's a recovering alcoholic so I bet he gets it.

Ice Angel said...

While very sad...whatever happened to the show must go on??? Broadway, of all places, typically adheres to that policy.

I know John Laroquette is very tall, but even sitting down makes Daniel look like he's in his first year at Hogwarts.

pwner said...

@Ice Angel: I think the saying "the show must go on" should have small print that states "unless there's a death involved".

you stumble your lines? show goes on.
star gets flu, understudy takes over? show goes on.
you audibly fart onstage and the whole audience hears and roars with laughter? show goes on.

stagehand dies of overdose in bathroom? i don't think a broadway show is more important that THAT.

Murphy Brown 2020 said...

What pwner just said.

SusanB said...

I would assume there were a lot of police/Fire Rescue, etc backstage - perhaps they were physically unable to start the show?

Ice Angel said...

I think of the show must go on, I think of a couple of sceanrios:

Circus continuing on after a trainer gets mauled by a lion

Theaters continuing on performing during war time

Show going on after performer breaks a leg, etc...

I am not sure what the original quote or the original sentiment was, but I always figured the show would always go on. Like it said, it is very sad all the way around.

Ice Angel said...

P.S. I also think of Brett Favre playing in a game the very day after his father passed away.

Sarah J. MacManus said...

John Larroquette and Daniel Radcliffe are both amazingly classy guys. I'm sort of heart-broken that I can't get up to NYC to see this anytime soon.

"The Show Must Go On" is really an opera thing ~ opera people are a bit crazy.

Anothergrayhare said...

I remember the Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette who's mother died as she arrived to watch her daughter in the Olympics. She skated anyway 2 days later and won a bronze medal, along with the hearts of all Canadians.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/SPORT/02/24/olympics.rochette/index.html

Murphy Brown 2020 said...

@Ice Angel -- If a trainer gets mauled by a lion, the circus should examine how they're treating their animals. They should DEFinitely cease the show, in my opinion. But I think all circuses who use animals are evil, so that's where I'm coming from.

I *do* get your point, but that particular comparison fell a little flat for me.

Either way, did they cancel the whole ENTIRE run, or just one night's showing? I can see sitting out one night and letting ticketholders reschedule for another time. It's sort of like a moment of silence -- the acknowledgment that death, even if it's the death of a non-famous stranger, is more powerful than just a couple of hours of entertainment. I still think it's pretty respectful.

RocketQueen said...

@Lynette - I had forgotten about that. I think we all had tears in our eyes.

Ice Angel said...

@Ida-totally on board with your circus thing. I don't go to them and as much as my kids beg won't bring them to one. Totally cruel treatment of animals.

Murphy Brown 2020 said...

@Ice Angel -- you're a good mama. :-) Your kids will totally praise you for your compassion one day, I'll bet.

nataliesinger said...

Circus = NO

Lelaina Pierce said...

How awful, for whoever discovered he/she and their poor families! :(

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