UPDATE:
The Sun-Sentinel reports that comedian Steve Solomon was treated for exhaustion. He has since been released from the hospital, and is now home.
The Sun-Sentinel reports that comedian Steve Solomon was treated for exhaustion. He has since been released from the hospital, and is now home.
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Broward Center for the Performing Arts canceled the weekend run of My Mother Is Italian, My Father's Jewish and I'm Home for the Holidays, after comedian Steve Solomon succumbed to sudden illness.
Contrary to reports in the Miami Herald, he did not collapse on stage. Of course, they also incorrectly reported that there was no show scheduled at the Broward Center at the time. I guess the Herald staff doesn't read the Herald - the show was mentioned in the Miami Herald's own theatre blog. It was also listed in this weeks' The Scene.
So here's what actually happened:
Prior to opening the show on Friday, he complained about feeling 'unwell,' but performed his one-man show to an audience that gave him a standing ovation. Saturday, he returned for a 3:00 matinee when he ran into problems. About twenty minutes into the show, he "went up," which in theatre parlance means he forgot the next line of the play. After several tries - and after several trips offstage to consult the script, staff announced that he would be taking a brief break to compose himself. He had intended to return to the stage after catching his breath, but the paramedics who arrived strongly urged him to go in for an evaluation. A few minutes later, staff announced that the performance was canceled due to a medical emergency.
Mr. Solomon was taken to a nearby hospital; as he was wheeled to the ambulance in front of the theatre, a throng of patrons who had just left the auditorium applauded him, and called out words of encouragement. "Get better, Steve - take care of yourself!"
Mr. Solomon is resting comfortably, awaiting further tests to determine the cause of his difficulty. He has expressed concern that he let his audience down, and is quite embarrassed about the entire incident.
The Theatre Scene joins the staff of the Broward Center in wishing Mr. Solomon a complete and speedy recovery.
While the Herald obviously screwed up by not knowing that Solomon was scheduled to perform his one-man play, your saying he 'succumbed' to his illness implies he died. 'Succumb' is typical journo-speak for 'died,' and he didn't. Yet.
ReplyDeleteMaybe now he can steal Twain's line: "Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated."
From Merriam-Webster:
ReplyDelete1 : to yield to superior strength or force or overpowering appeal or desire
It doesn't mean "die," it just meant that he couldn't overcome its effects.
One of the paramedics did suggest that he had material for his next show as he was being strapped in the gurney, but Steve didn't seem enthused.