"High mercury levels" force Piven out of SPEED-THE-PLOW- Page 10

[Perfectly Marvelous]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 2:53pm

"Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive."

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 3:15pm

Best,

Really, stop digging.

My sources are correct and by the number of PM's I got, I think I know what I'm doing.

[misschung]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 3:39pm

Woah, this is like the OJ Simpson trial

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 4:46pm

Which one?

I perfer to think of the most recent, where he was found guilty.


Lying will only get you in trouble.

[Guillermo Ugarte]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 6:14pm

High mercury levels? I must remember that one the next time I want to call in drunk for a performance. Seriously I hope the guy is OK. Perhaps he should lay off the liquid silver.

[Perfectly Marvelous]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 6:43pm

Inside Edition was talking about Piven, and his doctor was saying the high levels were caused by consuming large amounts of tuna and sushi.


Hm.

[Morgaine885]

Posted: 12/21/08 at 6:58pm

Okay, guys, chill-out.

We don't need Jeremy Piven to destroy us! We're doing good enough on destroying ourselves!!!!!

[pab]

Posted: 12/22/08 at 9:36am

"Almost a week after Jeremy Piven abruptly pulled out of Broadway's "Speed the Plow" citing a high mercury count, the story continues to develop.

Piven's theatrical castmates Raul Esparza and Elizabeth Moss have now joined playwright David Mamet in making fun of the "Entourage" actor and implied they are happy he is gone.

Fox News had a spy at Sunday's matinee and reports:
Sources say that when the matinee was finished yesterday, Esparza suddenly addressed the audience...

According to those who saw this, Esparza -- famous for being outspoken -- reamed Piven while Moss, my sources say, "sobbed."

"'He said, I'm sure you've read the headlines about the silliness in our show.' Then he said, Today was the first time I really enjoyed playing this show.' I hope you weren't expecting a big TV star." It was pretty emotional."

Esparza has a reputation for being lively -- and much of a diva himself."
Jeremy Piven Mocked By Former Castmates

[wonkit]

Posted: 12/22/08 at 11:46am

If you are a spy for FOX news, do you have to buy your own ticket?

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 12/22/08 at 12:11pm

I find it unprofessional if that is happening with the cast. Granted the first time I heard the reports I thought it was a lie, but the tv show I work for spoke with Jeremy's doctor and it was a lot more serious than most people think.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/22/08 at 12:37pm

Out of fairness, here is the last part of the Fox News article:

Meanwhile actor Fisher Stevens has come to Piven's defense:

"I believe him. His numbers are off the charts," Stevens, who suffered from mercury poisoning this year, told Page Six. Stevens says that while he was producing his upcoming Sundance entry, "The Cove," a documentary about the slaughter of mercury-loaded dolphins in the Far East, he ate fish four or five times a week. "I started feeling really sluggish and had no energy. It turns out the larger the fish, the higher the levels. I only eat small fish now."

I'm just so shocked to find there are so many people here who know Piven personally. And I'm still unclear why those who choose not to jump to conclusions are demanded to explain themselves.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 12/22/08 at 12:44pm

"And I'm still unclear why those who choose not to jump to conclusions are demanded to explain themselves."

Good question. Some folks just like to make their own mind up immediately, instead of waiting for all of the facts to come out.

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 12/22/08 at 1:08pm

The 'facts' are all out already. Ain't nothin' else coming out except spin.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 12/22/08 at 1:10pm

I was thinking along the lines of, "Let's see what Jeremy does in the next few weeks" sort of thing.

THAT will be telling.

[musicnmath]

Posted: 12/22/08 at 1:59pm

So, Norbie starts tomorrow, yes? Anyone planning to go? I had zero interest in seeing this show again...but now I'm considering how I can get back to the city to see it with Norbert. or William H Macy. I'll take either one. Preferably both. :)

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 12/22/08 at 2:58pm

Why do people keep calling him "Hollywood" when his parents were both theatre actors and trained him? He's done a lot of theatre before he made it on TV.

Again, I don't know him at all, but all of the finger pointing and misrepresentaion is a bit overwhelming.

And re-hab, for mercury poisioning? Was he addicted to sushi?

And if Raul DID make those statments at the curtian call, that is SO unprofessional. He should have just kept his mouth shut.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 12/22/08 at 3:25pm

Eek, this is getting ugly. I had thought it would.

However:

And re-hab, for mercury poisioning? Was he addicted to sushi?

lol.

I'm going tomorrow and cannot wait.

Updated On: 12/22/08 at 03:25 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 12/22/08 at 3:36pm

The part that made me laugh was thinking of the Scientologist sobbing while Raul gave the curtain speech.

[nymommy]

Posted: 12/22/08 at 3:49pm

Metal poisoning is very serious, and yes it can take two months to clear your system of the toxins. My daughter had metal poisoning and almost died. She was hospitalized for a week, and it took several months for her to get her strength back, and couldn't dance for 6 months. I feel for Mr. Piven, and wish him a quick and complete recovery.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 12/22/08 at 4:35pm

"I feel for Mr. Piven, and wish him a quick and complete recovery."

Assuming it's true...which pretty much no one working on Broadway believes to BE true...particularly those who work at the Barrymore.

[StageFan2]

Posted: 12/22/08 at 5:17pm

According to this article;

http://www.newyorksocialdiary.com/node/4234

1 in 4 New Yorkers have high mercury levels.

Also from the article:

"So what’s the problem with high levels of blood mercury?
While mercury is an environmental pollutant – high blood mercury levels pose little, if any, health risks for most adults. The problem lies in the increased risk of cognitive delays for children whose mothers had very high mercury levels during pregnancy or while breast-feeding."

While I really don't want to get involved in the does he or doesn't he of JP's 'illness'; I have to wonder about such a questionable excuse for leaving the show. But moreover, I question the doctor who is providing the information. The whole situation seems odd.

[TIGGOSAURUS]

Posted: 12/22/08 at 5:52pm

Honestly? Having seen this show earlier this month and having been totally wowed by Raul's performance and off-stage graciousness (while being so-so about JP on both counts), I have followed developments since with varying degrees of interest, skepticism and amusement.

I don't think Piven has handled this at all well, but I genuinely thought he seemed to gel with his fellow actors when I saw them perform together. I'm disappointed in his apparent disrespect for his producers, co-stars and potential audience members with the lack of direct input he has had into explaining his inauspicious (and seemingly long-foreshadowed) departure.

And if Raul Esparza made an impromptu speech to a matinee audience de-crying Piven's contribution, then I think he is hardly covering himself in glory either.

As it stands I think the play is in VERY good shape. I wish I had the chance to revisit it with Butz and Macy in the role of Bobby Gould. Kudos to them for stepping in at such short notice. I just hope - for the sake of two very fine actors, not to mention everyone else who has been on-board from the beginning of the run - that this controversy can be laid to rest soon.

[SarahNYC]

Posted: 12/22/08 at 6:02pm

The speech was actually a speech thanking Mr. Piven's understudy for having stepped in during a time of turmoil and for doing such an incredible job. There's nothing fun about playing to half empty houses because people were disappointed that a headliner wasn't playing and his understudy was fantastic.

[TIGGOSAURUS]

Posted: 12/22/08 at 6:12pm

I have no problem AT ALL with anything Raul might have said to draw attention to the sterling efforts of Piven's understudy stepping into such a high-profile and pressurized role at such short notice. I think RE deserves credit for giving praise where it's due.

But if he did make disparaging comments about Piven to that audience then I'm not so impressed. I just don't see the need to air 'dirty linen' in public, no matter what the provocation might be. Let the facts / public perception speak for themselves! It's not as if any of it was reflecting badly on anyone else involved in the production. :-/

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 12/22/08 at 7:17pm

Although it is indeed possible that Jeremy Piven pulled a major diva act, it would be incredible if his "high mercury" story turns out to be true? Then, a lot of people would have major egg on their faces. from RC in Austin, Texas.... p.s. with a new avatar (again?)