New "Gypsy" very underwhelming

[RadioTV2]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 12:42am

Just returned from the Sat. evening performance of "Gypsy". Let me preface all of this by saying I love the musical "Gypsy" and I love Patti LuPone. However, I do not love Patti Lupone IN "Gypsy". The production itself was all over the place and while it certainly had its good moments, for most of the show I was simply praying for the show to end quickly. For me, one of the biggest problems with this production was that all of the tactics that comprised Herbie and Rose's relationship seemed to be played at the audience instead of at one another. Boyd Gaines does a decent job, but truthfully his entire performance was forgettable. Laura Benanti was the standout tonight and I believe she deserves a Tony for her turn as Louise. She gave a first-class performance and had me from the moment she stepped onstage (and even with that ridiculous stuffed lamb). Tony Yazbeck is a great dancer, but lacked any kind of charisma. The three ladies playing Mazeppa, Tessie Tura, and Electra all did wonderful jobs and "You Gotta Get a Gimmick" was one of the highlights of the show for me.

Now, onto Mama Rose. Patti LuPone is a wonderful actress, but she brings absolutely nothing new to the role. Having seen many regional and collegiate productions in addition to the Broadway revival with Bernadette Peters, I kept waiting for Ms. LuPone to do something to distinguish herself, and she really didn't. Her "Rose's Turn" is very good, but she has to tone down her gesticulations and lean-backs because she seems to do one every ten seconds. I did enjoy the new interpretation of the ending, and I am pleased to see a new take on that.

Let me add that I sat next to a man who said he had seen the Broadway production with Patti (on Broadway, not at City Center), three times previously. So, obviously there are some who find it enthralling, but maybe I simply had too high hopes for this production. All in all, I think this revival is a big mistake and after this production, I don't think we'll see another Broadway incarnation for at least twenty years.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 12:51am

Ditto
with one exception.

[being.jeremiah]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 1:20am

CPD, is it on this statement: "I don't think we'll see another Broadway incarnation for at least twenty years," yes?

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 1:43am

After seeing Bernie play Rose, Patti can only be a huge improvement!

[alterego]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 8:31am

Bernadette is that you?

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 12:28pm

Do I have to post a "Leave Bernadette ALOOOONE!" YouTube video? Can we just celebrate Patti playing her destiny without bashing Ms. Peters in the process? Please?

[SNAFU]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 1:20pm

So, they are still using the stuffed lamb and the puppet? Boy was that a bad idea at City Center!

[antiandrewx]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 1:29pm

^ They are, and it's equally excruciating to watch now as it was at City Center.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this production. For me personally, this is one of my favorite things that I've ever seen; however I do love hearing everyones opinions on it - good and bad.
Updated On: 3/16/08 at 01:29 PM

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 5:10pm

If they ever do it again, it needs to be done with midgets.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 5:48pm

I saw it Thursday evening, and I was disappointed. I liked what I saw at City Center over the summer, but something has happened since then.

First off, I wish they would cut the smock that Patti wears before, "Roses Turn". It's too distracting because it logically does not make any sense. In Act I, yes, in Act II, NO!!!

Her acting was all over the place. I really liked Laura Benanti up until the screaming match with Rose at the end. It was way over the top.

I saw the Tyne Daly production 9 times and loved it each and every time (including with her understudy, Jana Robbins). Somehow the magic is gone. Don't know how else to put it.

On a side note: What is it about this show that is bringing some freaks out of the woodwork (This is in reference to the guy sitting in front of me who would snap at people if they put their coats in the empty seat next to him. Literally he started yelling at people in the middle of the show. Every so often he would say an exasperated, "oy" very loudly in response to some of the proceedings on stage.)

[puppetman2]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 7:42pm

One reason for the toy lamb may be that a real one is not available. When I was Herbie in a local production, we could not find a real lamb or even a small adult lamb. We ended up using one of those dogs that look like a lamb. It was OK until the blasted aminal started barking at the orchestra.
It would be very interesting to know the reasoning behind using the toy lamb. Could Laura be allergic to real wool?

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 8:37pm

$$$$$

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 8:43pm

I pretty much agree with everything the original poster said. Thank you for your honesty!

[scaryclowns223]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 9:24pm

Apparently a trained lamb is difficult to come by. They poop and make noises at inopportune moments.
Also, they grow quickly and have to be replaced often.
(This is according to something I read in another thread, so kudos to whatever poster shared that with us.)

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 9:46pm

So even though the idea of the stuffed lamb might be "excrutiating," it is really more practical than having a real lamb. Besides, the lamb isn't even in the a major part of the show, so why go through the trouble with a real lamb?

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 10:23pm

I liked what I saw at City Center over the summer, but something has happened since then.


I'm seeing the show tomorrow night, but I don't have the benefit of having seen the City Center production.

Is anyone who saw both productions able to shed light on what exactly has happened? I'm amazed that this show, which got so many raves last summer, is getting so throughly trashed thus far. I just don't get it.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 10:31pm

The show has not been trashed so far. There have been lots of raves on here and on ATC. Like any production, there will always be naysayers. The critical reviews are bound to be great.

[antiandrewx]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 10:33pm

In my opinion, the only thing that happened is that the show is even better than it was this Summer - especially Miss Patti.

[Not Barker, Todd.]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 10:36pm

"If they ever do it again, it needs to be done with midgets."

So you're saying it needs a twist?

Three words.

Anika.

Noni.

Rose.

(In x# of years, of course)

Updated On: 3/16/08 at 10:36 PM

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 11:12pm

omg Anika Noni Rose as Rose in 30 years would be incredible.

Come to think of it, I would probably sit through a production starring Audra McDonald, with Noni Rose as Louise.

I just saw the Broadway production of Gypsy. I did not see City Center, but from what I've seen on the unmentionable site, Patti's performance has only improved ten fold. I agree that Patti does not bring anything "new" to the role, but she, imo, is the ideal Rose in that she masters all of the qualities that have been previously discovered by past Roses and balances them into a very nuanced, pretty perfect performance. She's also the best sung Rose since Merman, and supported by a spectacular cast who are uniformly pretty srong actors. A previous poster said Gaines' performance was unmemorable, but i think his performance is pretty awesome - it's not really a "memorable" role, per se, and his choices all serve the story, character, and his fellow actors very well.

I dunno, I enjoyed the production very much, and even though it was a tad low budget for Broadway, I think it's exceptionally well directed and performed and is highly enthralling, entertaining, and cathartic.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 11:27pm

Anika Noni Rose as Louise...now.
Anika Noni Rose as Rose...later.
Anika Noni Rose as ANYONE...ANY TIME.

[H.Higgins]

Posted: 3/16/08 at 11:48pm

I have trouble with the notion that LuPone hasn't brought anything new to Rose. Not only is her performance nuanced and striking, in my opinion, but she's unlike anyone else who's played Rose. Like her or not, her Rose certainly isn't a repeat of any of the major players who've taken on the part. That in itself makes her performance NEW.

I'm surprised by the few negative comments regarding Boyd Gaines' work in this production. I thought he was perfect in the role and the most effective Herbie I've seen.

Updated On: 3/17/08 at 11:48 PM

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/17/08 at 12:07am

I saw both the City Center production and have seen the Broadway production twice now, and both were magnificent achievements.

Patti's performance has only been honed, and fine tuned since the summer, and she makes a remarkable Rose. She is supported by a pitch perfect group of supporting players, in Laura Benanti, Boyd Gaines, Leigh Ann Larkin, and Tony Yazbeck. This is an *ideal* GYPSY cast, and this production is not to be missed.

Come to think of it, I would probably sit through a production starring Audra McDonald, with Noni Rose as Louise.

Unless Audra's Rose gave birth to Anika's Louise when she was two years old, that would never work.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 3/17/08 at 12:11am

I don't mean to change the subject, but Not Barker Todd, do you think you can shorten your signature? Every time I click on a post that you have posted in, it stretches the page a bit.

[DickonDefysGravity]

Posted: 3/17/08 at 12:12am

I think Bernadette Peters was sublime in the role and Lupone has got nothing on her in this show.