In the theater page of today’s New York Times, Testament of Mary producer Scott Rudin has taken out a strange advertisement attacking Times theater reporter Patrick Healy:
“Let’s give a big cuddly shout-out to Pat Healy, infant provocateur and amateur journalist at the New York Times. Keep it up, Pat — one day perhaps you’ll learn something about how Broadway works, and maybe even understand it.”-Scott Rudin.
What is this about?
It is apparently a reaction to Healy’s Q and A interview with Testament author Colm Toibin, which begins:
“The Irish writer Colm Toibin was shaving in his bathroom on Tuesday morning, and savoring the news that his “Testament of Mary” had just been nominated for a best play Tony Award, when the telephone rang. The voice on the other end said, “I have Scott Rudin on the line for you.” And so began one of the more surreal phone conversations that Mr. Toibin ever had: He was a freshly minted Tony nominee, but his producer Mr. Rudin was telling him that the play would close on Sunday, after only 43 performances and far earlier than planned, due to poor ticket sales.”
Later on there is this exchange:
Q…[D]id you ask Scott to reconsider closing the show?
A. You know, I really trust his judgment. If he was calling to say that this was the decision he’d come it, then in my view the finances of the show – whether it could run an extra week or not – is of no concern to me.
And then this:
Q: Scott Rudin is one of the most successful and strong-minded producers on Broadway. What was working with him like?
A.The amount of care and work he did was extraordinary. He was around all the time….
Q: Did you two get along well, even when he told you that the play would close?
A. Yes…

I really want to know what “a cuddly shout-out” is. It could be a compliment or not, according to the urban dictionary. http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cuddly
A parody lyric to tune of KYLE’S MOM… –
Cartman’s rendition from Mr. Rudin’s SOUTH PARK film
Weeeell –
Scott Rudin’s rich, he is really rich
There’s no one as rich on the Great White Way
Now he’s found a niche, it’s a big big niche
And the switch makes us twitch and I have to say
Monday he got rich
Then Tuesday he got rich
Wednesday through Sunday – rich, rich, rich
And it happened again, it happened when
His Tonys made him more rich, rich, rich
Will a shrewd David Merrick type feud
Go without a hitch–
And make him even richer, Scott Rudin’s really rich
Oh yeah we mean it
Scott Rudin is really really rich!!!