Life After Patti?

[SirNotAppearing]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 10:18am

Patti LuPone is bound to leave Gypsy at some point, probably in less than a year. Since it's "Patti LuPone in Gypsy", do you think the show can survive without her? Who else do you think could play the role/keep the show going? I think Nancy Opel would be good, but she's not a marquee name.

[zepka102]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 10:24am

The revival will probably close when she's done since it was for her. I doubt they will try and get someone big to take over. If they do, it probably won't last long. I can't think of anyone now who would be fitting.

[haddaddy3]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 10:24am

No, definately not. As you said, she's not a marquee name, so she wouldn't even be considered. I've seen her perform twice and she certainly didn't blow me away either time.

If they're going to replace Patti - and there's a 99.9% chance they won't - it has to be a Broadway star big enough (Nancy Opel is not "big") to capture attention after Patti's leaves or a Hollywood name to sell tickets.

A question comes to mind. Have they replaced any of the Broadway Roses? I know they didn't replace Bernadette, but the other 3 were before my time.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 10:47am

Linda Lavin took over for Tyne Daly.

[Broadway Bob*]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 10:48am

Tyne Daly was replaced by Linda Lavin. The Lansbury production was a limited run deal anyway, and Bernadette's closed before they needed to replace. Not sure about Merman, though. I would LOVE to have seen Lavin's take on the role.

Personally (and I know this is IMPOSSIBLE) I would love to see Bette replace Patti!

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 10:49am

I would also love to see Bette!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 10:54am

Lavin's dramatic moments were gut-wrenching, but like Tyne and Bernadette, she couldn't sing the role.

Betty Buckley could sing the role, but there was no one moment of humor.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 11:09am

With the Peters revival so close in memory, I think they should just close the Lupone revival when Patti leaves and preserve the sanctity and divinity that was Patti's performance. No one can top that transcendant Rose's Turn. The show was opened for Patti, so let's just close it when she leaves and not trot out stunt casting or lackluster Roses.

[MungoGypsy8232]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 11:27am

though I would love for her to have her own production, Christine Ebersole would be an ideal replacement!

[mr.scribble]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 12:11pm

i think Beth Leavel could nail the part but would of course lack in comparrison, but what replacement doesn't to the original

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 12:14pm

I think the inevitable comparisons and the deflation of expectations of trying to replace am immortal performance by Lupone are reason enough to end the run with her. I would hate to see such a glorious revival peter out and die off with replacements.

Updated On: 5/24/08 at 12:14 PM

[into_the_woods2]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 12:14pm

yeah i agree with bettyboy, patti's performance SHOULD be savored (for lack of a better word). THe next gypsy revival should DEFINITELY have christine ebersole as rose!!!

[Mealz1042]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 12:19pm

oh wow yeah, i could definately see Ebersole in that role.
But to answer the initial question, as everyone else said, it will probably close after patti.

[MCfan2]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 12:38pm

"Betty Buckley could sing the role, but there was no one moment of humor."

Betty does one heck of a "Rose's Turn," though.

[zooxanthellae]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 12:42pm

I would love to see Christine Ebersole and Donna Murphy as Rose, at some point!

[esparza 333]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 12:44pm

Even though Ebersole and Murphy could be awesome in the part I don't think we will be seeing a Gypsy revival again for a while. I am sure this production will close with Patti in it.

[jagfkb]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 12:44pm

Though it will most likely close after Patti, I could see the production running for a while in a smaller theatre, copying Chicago's success as a smaller, more intimate production. I would also love to see Megan Mullally star, but the possibiity of her joining seems a little unlikely.

[Ad Lick It]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 12:44pm

Okay, I think it can work.

2 ideas:

Cyndi Lauper

Toni Collette

(and can we please drop the shenanigans of these C List divas like Murphy, Ebersole and Leavel...?)

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 12:46pm

Cyndi would be a revelation and you know she would lose her s#@t during Roses Turn. I would extend the revival for Cyn, and only Cyn. She might jump into the audience and climb over chairs and people during Roses Turn.

[esparza 333]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 12:47pm

Don't call them c list divas. They are brilliant performers.

[into_the_woods2]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 12:49pm

if ebersole and murphy are c list divas, who are A list divas?

[karen24]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 1:04pm

According to the IBDB, there was no replacement for Merman.
It ran for 702 performances in total, in two theaters (the Broadway and the Imperial.)

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 1:09pm

If anyone is going to replace Patti, it should be Loretta Swit.

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 1:10pm

How can you expect someone to be a revelation?
To be a revelation... it would have to be unexpected.

Plus. How can extending the production do anything to Patti's performance? Her performance happened... nothing that follows it can change that... I don't understand this idea that someone else's performance can do anything to a memory. Smells like elitism to me.

kmc

[SirNotAppearing]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 1:16pm

Anyone ever think about a black Rose?
:)