AUDRA GYPSY Reviews- Page 23

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 1/24/25 at 1:50pm

VanillaIceCream2 said: "Has anyone sat in a box for this production? I'm leaning away from purchasing a box ticket because I don't want to be so far to the side, but I'd like to consider all of my affordable-ish options."

I'm going tonight and if I can remember I'll check out the view from the boxes before the show or during intermission.

[TellZ]

Posted: 1/24/25 at 1:57pm

VanillaIceCream2 said: "Has anyone sat in a box for this production? I'm leaning away from purchasing a box ticket because I don't want to be so far to the side, but I'd like to consider all of my affordable-ish options."

If the GIMMICK code is valid for your performance, run that promo code on Telecharge and pick something else. You can get row A or B mezz on the sides for cheaper than a box and a guaranteed better view. The box seats in the Majestic are extreme side views.

[east side story]

Posted: 1/24/25 at 3:14pm

TellZ said: "VanillaIceCream2 said: "Has anyone sat in a box for this production? I'm leaning away from purchasing a box ticket because I don't want to be so far to the side, but I'd like to consider all of my affordable-ish options."

If the GIMMICK code is valid for your performance, run that promo code on Telecharge and pick something else. You can get row A or B mezz on the sides for cheaper than a box and a guaranteed better view. The box seats in the Majestic are extreme side views."

However a lot of this show is staged further downstage, so the view from the boxes is better than it traditionally would be.

[VanillaIceCream2]

Posted: 1/24/25 at 4:51pm

Thanks all! I'm going to opt for a front mezz seat with that discount code since that seems a safer bet.

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 1/25/25 at 10:05am

I saw this last night. I went in with low expectations and somehow was still extremely disappointed. What a tacky, cheap and messy production this was. The sets, costumes and lighting were all hideous and didn't feel period-specific at all. There were also many sound issues especially at the beginning with Uncle Jocko - I think his big collar kept hitting his mic, not sure why there are major sound issues this far into the run. I have no idea why this production insisted on adding boring extended dance breaks that just ruined the pacing of the show. The show is long enough we don't need to extend it! 

I agreed with almost everything negative that has been said about the production but I feel alone in my opinion that Jordan Tyson was horrible. It was the most deranged, over-the-top caricature of Baby June I have ever seen or heard. I felt the same way about the 3 strippers, where it feels like we are at a point where every new production of Gypsy must have more and more deranged and crazier performances from June and the strippers. Now that I think of it, the entire production lacked subtlety except for Joy Woods and Danny Burstein, whose performances were so small they barely registered. 

This production actually really reminded me of the recent Sweeney Todd revival where it felt like there was no director. Every performance and design choice seems to be in it's own world with no consistent vision or point of view. I left really feeling nothing, including from Audra. I think she has all the ingredients for a great Rose (and I actually loved 90% of her vocals) but the production just sabotaged her at every turn. 

[ManOfLaMuncha]

Posted: 1/25/25 at 6:35pm

https://nypost.com/2024/12/20/entertainment/gypsy-review-audra-mcdonalds-broadway-revival-is-a-bad-letdown/

 

I came across this really rude review by this board's favorite critic (haha)  Was a bit shocked.

[hicaesar]

Posted: 1/25/25 at 7:28pm

On my recent trip to NYC I saw this show twice and loved it.  Surprised by the negative reviews on this board. I wouldn't say the production is perfect, the strippers are a bit over the top for example, but it's hard to imagine anyone not enjoying this production and Audra's performance.  From the very beginning, her version of Rose draws you in and you see and understand her flaws but at the same time you are rooting for her! 

[DanS3]

Posted: 1/25/25 at 10:52pm

Does anyone know how I can buy a 14x22 window card for this show?  I found one on eBay but it is $79.  Maybe I need to just buy it at that price?  I also saw one in the Broadway shop across from the Majestic but didn't ask about it since getting it home on the train with our other luggage seemed daunting.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/25/25 at 11:00pm

Audra's Zoe Caldwell story/impression on her instagram is great.

Seems inevitable that someday she will play Callas in MASTER CLASS, given her association with that play, with McNally, and with Kirdahy. 

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 1/26/25 at 10:38am

The reel:https://www.instagram.com/audramcdonald/reel/DFQdnifP1C4/

Or temporary link for those not on IG, or who don't want to give Zuckerberg the engagement: 

https://streamable.com/yn6qbb

[bear88]

Posted: 1/29/25 at 2:44am

Does anyone know if Audra McDonald has any vacation weeks scheduled yet? 

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 1/29/25 at 2:56am

bear88 said: "Does anyone know if Audra McDonald has any vacation weeks scheduled yet?"

If she did it would be listed on the website and telecharge 

[binau]

Posted: 1/29/25 at 1:31pm

I hope to god they have or are secretly recording a cast recording and release it unexpectedly. We need Audra's vocals in a studio ASAP. 

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 2/2/25 at 1:43pm

Finally caught this last night - I am a huge GYPSY fan, and a *HUGE* Audra fan - she is probably my #1 diva - but sadly this did not do it for me. I found it it to be painted in very broad.strokes.

The production overall lacks the specificity and laser focus required to make the show emotionally affecting, and the fault lies entirely with George C. Wolfe. Everyone, with the exception of Danny Burstein, are playing either highly obvious choices (Audra, Joy Woods) or highly isoteric and out-there choices (Jordan Tyson playing June like her very state of being = emotional breakdown) and playing them so hard, it starts to all feel same-y...so the tension and momentum building up to Rose's breakdown falters. Without that support and set up, even a titan like Audra can't bring the tragedy of the story home - so unfortunately, she has to force it.

Again, this is no fault of Audra's, or really any of the actors - throughout, you can tell that Wolfe is focusing on the wrong things. Most glaringly are...

 

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the strange cuts to "All I Need is the Girl" that cuts the section where Louise fantasizes about Tulsa lifting her as he describes his act. If Louise is not given the moment to really fall in love with Tulsa, the tragedy of June running away with him is lost. Something that simple creates tension for an audience to feel the tragedy of a moment. Without it, Audra is forced to literally will it out of herself. She does, but then we're watching *her* feel everything, and the audience doesn't get any room to feel themselves.

And then...

 

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The same thing happens in the leadup to Rose's Turn, where Joy Woods is made to turn Louise's transformation striptease into a big, dance-y production number a la "I'm a Brass Band" in SWEET CHARITY, then is breathlessly thrust into the dressing room scene where she plays the attack, non-stop, the full time - allowing for no peaks and valleys for Audra to build off of. So, Audra is then forced to completely will an emotional breakdown out of herself a second time, pulling on all the empathy she has for her own character to get herself there. She gets there, sure - but it doesn't allow the audience any room to feel, yet again. Worse even, when Woods re-enters for the final scene, she is still directed to be aggressively targeting her mother from the get go - showing no care or empathy - undercutting the show's most gutting line..."just like I wanted you to notice me".

All of the above could be fixed by a sharper directorial focus and knowing when to let the company go full tilt, and when to hold it back (something, all his problems aside, Arthur Laurents did very, very well in the LuPone revival). Somehow Burstein manages to do this despite Wolfe's sloppy hand. The big scenes with Herbie were the most emotionally affecting; Louise's hugging Herbie before "ECUR" elicited a strong emotional response from the audience - as did the breakup scene. But something tells me Burstein got himself there, despite Wolfe.

So, this was a big let down for me. It's a shame, with stronger direction, this would have been a smash.

Oh, but let it be said - the set does not look cheap. I actually found it more effective and opulent than what was used in the LuPone revival. And Audra's singing is sensational - she is very much belting, and yes, also mixing when her voice requires it, but it's a fully effective take on the score and I can't wait to hear her performance (and everyone's, honestly) on recording, where this company will *truly* shine...because Wolfe can't ruin that.

[VanillaIceCream2]

Posted: 2/3/25 at 9:18pm

I actually LOVE Jordan Tyson's choices as June -- driven to madness by her mother, forced to perform girlhood onstage with no end in sight -- but she's certainly taking a big swing and I get why other people wouldn't like it. I particularly love her reaction to Louise saying that Herbie only cares about the act and doesn't want to marry Rose, just absolute deranged disbelief. 

I went back to the show this weekend (inlovewithjerryherman, I think we were at the same performance) and while I think Joy Woods has improved a lot since I first saw it in mid-previews, she just isn't a match for Audra. In the dressing room scene, she powered through her monologue like a steamroller but without feeling like they came from her character, just reciting words she'd memorized, and gave Audra no space to react. 

[Dreamboy3]

Posted: 2/4/25 at 7:43am

Although I think Audra is giving a performance of the ages, the two biggest missteps are, as noted above, All I Need Is the Girl and the Strip sequence.  Not sure anyone could have topped Yazbeck doing the original choreography with Benanti. And has the Garden Of Eden dance sequence new to this production?  I don’t recall it in the LuPone or Daly revivals.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 2/4/25 at 9:38am

I’m really fascinated by the amount of posters who think “All I Need is the Girl” doesn’t work in this production. Kevin Csolak is almost overwhelmingly charismatic in that song (if not technically the strongest singer) and it got the next biggest round of applause after Rose’s two numbers both times I saw it. Maybe because I’m not a Gypsy purist, but I thought it was dynamite and danced to perfection.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/4/25 at 10:07am

@dreamboy3, there wasn't a dance break in the Garden of Eden sequence in the Tyne Daly production of Gypsy.  I just listened to a live recording of it.

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 2/4/25 at 10:09am

I didn’t mind the garden but the ending to the strip was terrible. The audience gave it a timid applause. They were trying to be different but it didn’t work as a whole piece 

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 2/4/25 at 11:59am

ColorTheHours048 said: "I’m really fascinated by the amount of posters who think “All I Need is the Girl” doesn’t work in this production. Kevin Csolak is almost overwhelmingly charismatic in that song (if not technically the strongest singer) and it got the next biggest round of applause after Rose’s two numbers both times I saw it. Maybe because I’m not a Gypsy purist, but I thought it was dynamite and danced to perfection."

He is excellent and the number is thrilling. The problem is that is does nothing to show Louise's desire to be with him (and the girl in his act) so when we find out he has married June in the next scene we don't really feel any sympathy for Louise, as was the case in every other Broadway production. 

[Rentaholic2]

Posted: 2/4/25 at 1:36pm

I wouldn't say it does nothing to show Louise's desire to be with him.  It's very clear she likes him, even though she doesn't pantomime dancing with him like in prior productions (which I agree is a weird choice to cut this).

[VanillaIceCream2]

Posted: 2/4/25 at 2:03pm

I agree it’s very clear that Louise likes Tulsa from the dialogue. She heavily hints she wants to be the girl in his act. I didn’t know that she was supposed to dance in that number and didn’t think it was lacking. 

It would have been fun to see Joy Woods dance more since she has a background in it, but I suppose her holding back in this moment makes the strength of the choreography work better as an emotional moment in the Garden of Eden scene. She’s finally free and unencumbered, or something. I don’t love the choice but I can see why it was made. 

[Sally Durant Plummer]

Posted: 2/4/25 at 4:07pm

Too bad the Garden of Eden sequence doesn't show Louise's talent (or lack thereof), it just marks time without adding anything to Louise's arc (even while shredding her dialogue in the Strip to pieces).

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 2/5/25 at 8:08am

This was low on my list of complaints but I haven't seen anyone else mention it - I found it odd that during the Chinese restaurant scene the waitress was played by one of the white ensemble members. I don't understand why they didn't have Lili Thomas play her since I think she has nothing else to do in Act 1. I know in the past the part was always played by a white actress, presumably because there were no Asian cast members, but if you have someone in the cast who is, I don't understand the decision anymore. 

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 2/7/25 at 1:55pm

I saw this near the end of previews in rear orchestra and gave my review earlier, but what it basically amounted to was that while I enjoyed Audra's performance very much, I found pacing to be an issue and the show overall felt a little sluggish (despite some great musical performances).

This past weekend I got a front row lottery ticket (off to the side) and wow has my perspective changed.  The stage is a great height for being so close, and I really felt immersed in the action and everything felt dialed up a notch.  I'm not sure how much of this is just the time that they had to refine performances and everything and how much was being up close, but I didn't find a single moment that dragged.

Audra is of course Audra, but she's even more magnetic up close, and knowing what to expect, it was fun to watch her before she makes herself known with "sing out, Louise".  But her Rose's Turn absolutely devastated me even more than before, and I thought her relationships with Herbie and Louise felt more genuine and lived in.

To me, it seems like Joy Woods does more nuanced acting up close, so I did appreciate her characterization of Louise much more when I was 5 feet away from her and I felt that I understood her more.  I saw more of her yearning during All I Need is the Girl--they remove the part where Tulsa talks about lifting the girl and Louise imagines herself being lifted, but she does mirror some of his motions and I think it's still clear she's imagining herself to be that girl (though it was far less clear from my first vantage point).  I still wish they could've taken a bit more time to let the strip sequence breathe a bit more, but I think it was easier to see the bridge between Louise and Gypsy Rose Lee.  I found a lot more subtext in the post-Rose's Turn scene and overall found the show to be magnificent.  

I was a bit surprised at how unanimous the raves were when reviews came out, but if all the critics got prime seats in the first few rows, I totally understand why they felt that way now.