Mia Farrow and Patti LuPone: pals, and now co-stars on Broadway

Mia Farrow and Patti LuPone have been friends for 30 years. “We’re different,” LuPone said. “I’m kind of, I guess you’d say I’m pepper, he’s sugar. Or agave or honey, and I’m paprika. You know what I mean?”

“I didn’t care about food ingredients, maybe, or spice ingredients,” laughed Farrow. “But it’s not wrong! I don’t know. I see, under the pepper or the honey or the agave, if you will, a human spirit that is immeasurable, and to which I am drawn. I really value Patty as a friend.”

As close as these two showbiz veterans are, they’ve never worked together, until now, in “The Roommate,” a two-man play that opens on Broadway this month.

At 75, Patti LuPone made her Broadway debut more than 50 years ago. He won three Tony Awards for his roles in “Evita,” “Company” and “Gypsy.”

Mia Farrow, 79, got her start even earlier, on the TV show “Peyton Place” in the mid-1960s. She was the first American woman to join the Royal Shakespeare Company, and she achieved cinematic immortality in the horror classic “Rosemary’s Baby.” “To this day, (it’s) the best part I’ve ever been offered,” Farrow said.

Bringing these two legends together took some believability and coordination as the director asked each of them if they would do it.

“We called each other a lot,” LuPone said. “Because I thought it would be so exciting to work with Mia, who I love. Just to hear Mia talk about anything is something I’d rather do than rehearse. I’d rather have lunch. We’re all just her. It’s an amazing experience to listen to.”

Farrow said she decided to do the play first, but it was also up to LuPone. “But they went to Mia first,” Lupon said. “And I’m actually a second choice. I don’t even know what I’m talking about, ‘I’m a second.’ I don’t know if I could be the third choice.”

“I’m really glad that it panned out,” Farrow said.

And who was ahead of the potty? “Annette Benning,” LuPone said.

How is it as an actor? “Well, I’ll tell you! It’s not comfortable,” Lupon said. “You participate because you have to!”

“The Roommate” is a comedy about a New Yorker (portrayed by LuPone) who moves into Farrow’s character’s Iowa home. Lots of mystery and surprises. It’s a set, an act, and 90 minutes of lines to remember, between the two of them.

Playwright Jane Silverman (who calls her show’s stars “icons and legends” as well as “consummate artists”) says “The Roommate” allows viewers to see the richness and depth of “women of a certain age,” who Silverman says are often rendered invisible.

LuPone says, “It’s hard for women our age to play roles. And it’s sad because we bring a certain amount of knowledge (and) experience that’s still sexy. Still very sexy.”

“Why do you find it sexy?” asked Doan.

“Because it is!” Lupon smiled. “Because we bring a force.”

LuPone has used her height in the past Alert audience members who peek at their phones A performance time. “I think we all hate it; I’m just vocal about it,” he said. “It’s confusing to the actor, but it’s worse for the audience, you see, because we’re trying to create a story, weave a spell.”

Mia Farrow’s own life story has always fascinated the public. She married Frank Sinatra at the age of 21. “Like Patti, she was Sicilian,” he said. “But unlike Patti, he had a temper. But Essential was so sympathetic, shy and approachable, more than anyone I’ve ever known. It turned into a friendship that lasted until his death.”

Of course, she is also known for her relationship with Woody Allen. They produced 13 films together. Mia and their adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow, accused Allen of molesting Dylan when he was seven years old. Allen strongly denies the allegations.

Doan asked, “Can you separate the experience as an actor in those films from personal trials and tribulations?”

“Oh yes, yes,” Farrow replied. “And I totally understand if an actor decides to work with him. I’m not one to say, ‘Oh, they shouldn’t’.”

Farrow tells us he’s at peace today, and quite content out of the spotlight.

“A lot of people don’t get Mia’s life,” says LuPone

“I’m old, you know?” Farrow laughed.

“Well, there are a lot of older people who haven’t had the same set of experiences,” Doan said. “How does that factor into the decision to do something like this?”

“It was probably a feeling of, ‘Is this it? Or maybe one last adventure?'” she replied. “You mean nothing more to remind me of my days?”

“Did you think that?”

“Yeah. I can’t do anything,” Farrow laughed. “It’s a gift. I entertain myself endlessly. I have good friends. I have no complaints.”

“I don’t have Mia’s mentality; I want, I’m not good,” LuPone said. no I don’t know what to do in my spare time. I get very depressed because I feel useless.”

Asked to define the measure of success, LuPone said, “I think it’s longevity, I really do. I think if you’re still working, if you’re still important, if they still want you to work at this point, that’s success. “

“I agree,” Farrow said. “We’re working now, that’s success to me!”

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The story was produced by Gabriel Falcon. Editor: Steven Tyler.

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Seth Doane

Seth Doan has been an award-winning CBS News correspondent based in Rome, Italy since 2016. Doan has covered terrorist attacks and breaking news across Europe, traveled with Pope Francis as part of his coverage of the Vatican, and reported on topics ranging from immigration. For climate change.