AUDRA GYPSY Reviews — Page 38

Kad said: "WldKingdomHM said: "Will the show even survive till then ? They should of let the standby just go on"

Why are people acting like this production has been playing to half-empty houses? It's been consistently clearing well over $1mil weekly. This production will easily last through the summer."

I’ve been confused by that sentiment floating around as well. The production is not struggling.

Mickey3309 said: "Darn.. I've never felt moved by Montego Glover's performances. Was really hoping for Heather. Oh well. $ saved. If anyone involved is reading this - - - any way to still facilitate a Heather stint?? Wishful, fantastical thinking, I know, and imagine she might've already been approached but... just want to put it out into the universe."



I have no inside knowledge, but perhaps Audra vetoed the idea of Heather Headley? Certainly she wouldn't want anyone who might be better in the role than she is?

RE: Grosses, with costs these days, a very large cast, children and a large orchestra in a barn I can't imagine that GYPSY is very cheap to run. I wonder if costs might be around 900k, for example.

poisonivy2 said: "I'm sensing a Labor Day closing if Audra doesn't win the Tony."

Nah. Even a early closing is to exciting for this production. It will close in October and be forgotten by December.

Jordan Catalano said: "Is there a valid discount code for the show?"

Try “EARLYBIRD”

Jordan Catalano said: "Is there a valid discount code for the show?"

Gimmick still works for me.

I heard a recent audio and you're right the performance has definitely changed from previews and it's a bit more unhinged now (not personally saying that's a bad thing for me but it's not the same).

bear88 said: "I respect your responses to shows because they seem honest even when I disagree. In this instance, you’re disagreeing with your own first reaction. I saw the show in early April (deliberately chose a Tuesday night given the vocal demands of the role) and thought Audra McDonald has magnificent - compelling in every way. The excerpts in Ben Brantley’s New York Times story and the cast recording only affirmed my own response.

Did you find her performance off in every way this time, or just during her act closers? It sounds like you think Audra McDonald has amped up her acting choices, throwing off the delicate balance of what I saw her do. I wonder if her performance might have changed in the six weeks between when I saw it and whenever you did or if, as you suggest,she was struggling with her voice and had an off night."

Thank you - I enjoy reading your thoughts as well!

The delicate balance of what I saw her do in November of last year seemed to have been tossed aside at the recent performance I saw. While I understand there are manic aspects to Rose's character, what I saw her do recently was full-fledged hysteria in every scene with very little nuance or subtlety. I was quite surprised at just how different the performance felt and read.

bear88 said: "bwayphreak234 said: "I saw this back in November in previews and really enjoyed it. I went recently for the first time since then, and I feel like I saw a completely different production than the one I saw last year…

Audra’s performance is noticeably (and radically) different than the performance I recall seeing a few months ago. The hysteria has been dialed up, and she seemed to be “blubbering” her way through the role. The Rose I saw Audra give last time was effective and powerful. The Rose I saw today was the opposite - just hammy, out of control, and, sadly, ineffective. Her voice did not sound in great shape either.

I will say that Joy Woods has grown nicely into the role of Louise. Same with Kevin Csolak as Tulsa. I found Jordan Tyson shrill and grating (which I don’t recall during my first viewing).

I know the physical production has gottenpushback on here, but I actually like it. I think it is a well-designed, handsome, and cohesive physical production. The sound mix still doesn’t sound great, but I do appreciate that they are now dimming the lights for the overture!

Maybe I saw an off performance, but I honestly don’t remember the last time a show changed so much for me between two viewings of the same production with the same cast. Almost a total 180 for me.

Also, the mezzanine wasvery empty. Tons of empty seats, and I had an entire row to myself."

I respect your responses to shows because they seem honest even when I disagree. In this instance, you’re disagreeing with your own first reaction. I saw the show in early April (deliberately chose a Tuesday night given the vocal demands of the role) and thought Audra McDonald has magnificent - compelling in every way. The excerpts in Ben Brantley’s New York Times story and the cast recording only affirmed my own response.

Did you find her performance off in every way this time, or just during her act closers? It sounds like you think Audra McDonald has amped up her acting choices, throwing off the delicate balance of what I saw her do. I wonder if her performance might have changed in the six weeks between when I saw it and whenever you did or if, as you suggest,she was struggling with her voice and had an off night."

Erm, she was struggling to sing this score since day 1. That’s the just one of the problems of this production.

Audra is now a bad actor? okay lol!

Saw an interview clip online last night with Michael Feinstein claiming that Jule Styne would burn the theatre down if he were alive because the production changes the meter for the title phrase of “everything’s coming up roses” (he wrote it to be slower, here it’s sped up) and some of the other musical changes to the score. And Styne was persnickety about such things. He says he emailed Wolfe & Einhorn to complain about it

Audra is not alone, tho: Patti and Angela also sang that phrase faster, and Styne didn’t burn down the Winter Garden.

binau said: "RE: Grosses, with costs these days, a very large cast, children and a large orchestra in a barn I can't imagine that GYPSY is very cheap to run. I wonder if costs might be around 900k, for example."

This is correct. Weekly running costs hover just under $1M.

"But of the voters Variety talked to, most of them said they voted for McDonald, and even those who don’t love the overall production of “Gypsy” acknowledge that McDonald is doing breathtaking, ultimately devastating work as Momma Rose. Plus, her profile got a boost in the recent dust-up over Patti LuPone’s controversial comments in a recently New Yorker profile. All of that could mean that this year, McDonald notches a record-breaking, seventh Tony win."