Profile for Sally Durant Plummer

BWAY Baby2 said: "The goal of the color blind casting- so prominent now in all sectors of show business- is to cast someone in a role who can act the role- regardless of their racial identity. Audra is not playing a BLACK woman- she is acting and singing a role as it is written- it is not a story about race and discrimination during the Burlesque era- so why would you expect it to be just because Audra was cast. Race is not broached in Gypsy- and in many shows- but many other subject

CurtainsUpat8 said: "I am a playwright with published works. "Gypsy" was written about the experiences of a white woman in a certain situation in a specific time and place. That experience would be different if the character was Black in the same situation and time and place. It would be written differently. You can't shoehorn the two experiences together. It doesn't do anyone any good.
Write a new Gypsy from a Black characters experience. So many of you are ju

TheOnlyOne, I don’t disagree with the content of what you’re saying, but it does seem like you’re responding to criticism that isn’t there… 

Saying “I didn’t get misogynoir from xy scene” isn’t the same thing as saying “that scene does not & cannot facilitate a conversation on misogynoir.” And while I appreciate hearing other perspectives on how some DO see a conversation about misogynoir in that scene, it shou

corninthesky said: "I would also agree that Audra’s voice will either work for you or it won’t. If you go in expecting Patti, you won’t walk out happy, but this was my first live Gypsy and I thought she absolutely nailed it."

I do tend to agree that Audra’s voice will either work for you or won’t, but I do think it warrants some conversation about this score in particular (and I’m not saying you disagree, cornerinthesky). For m

verywellthensigh said: "People. This is coming from someone who never thought she was the right actor for this role:

It's an early preview.

Audra is not a goddess. She has to work through an actor's process like anyone else.

It sounds like this is on par with Bette Midler in early Dolly previews. She, too, was working through process. Don't like it? Don't go to an early preview."

It doesn’t sound like most po

binau said: "Sorry I know odd to focus on this but I was looking forward to the Gypsy overture and yet they started with the lights on and everyone talked over it. What the ****? Did they just run out of time and start playing it as they had no other option?"

I found the audience last night to be so rude. Talking over the Overture and Entr’acte and the people behind me were acting as if they were at a drag shows - yelling “werk,” “eat it u

QueenAlice said: "Last night, Audra already showed signs of vocal fatigue, and I hope she is going to be up to doing 8 shows a week for however long this production lasts."

I did wonder a few times - mostly during “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” and “Rose’s Turn,” if Audra was a bit under the weather. When those odd key changes came in making the songs go even higher, I felt myself get nervous for her vocally - which i

TheOnlyOne2 said: "For me this was the best part of the song of her performance. The progression of different distinct looks in the history of black women who are musical entertainers. In the "garden of eden" scene they were doing a clear nod to Josephine Baker. Josephine Baker is camp and is strongly identified with her erotically dancing in nature.I loved the perfectly captures the misogynoir experienced by entertainers.Additionally, I also enjoyed that the fact that

KitKatBoy24 said: "I’m glad you enjoyed her performance and you bring up a lot of interesting critiques and points. I, however, don’t agree that all voice types are fit for all scores. Just like all instruments aren’t fit for all songs. Imagine if Gypsy’s score was played on only cowbells and clarinets. Or Rent was played without a single electric guitar or drum set.Audra is obviously an incredible vocalist, this is not a discredit to her talent. But a lot of

GYPSY!

What. A. Night.

I had a whole bunch of intermission thoughts (as a first preview, the intermission was easily 20+ minutes) that basically summed up to saying “it’s not there, a lot hasn’t been figured out, everyone involved is talented, but it’s underwhelming.” And then Act II happened…

Act II through the “Mama, I’m a pretty girl” scene was pretty much perfect. So effortless, so funny, so emotional&

Jacob, I was just re-reading the Shuffle Along thread (this thread had put it back in my mind) and remembering my experince seeing that first Sunday matinee when it was still 3+ hours. I wish I had seen the first preview - I remmeber what i saw was a mess but a brilliant mess. An unsatisfying theatrical grab brag of genuine brilliance.

And now I'm watching a boot from the late previews (the first time I've revisted the show since 2016)... and goddamn if it isn't on