AUDRA GYPSY Reviews — Page 41

DAME said: "pagereynolds said: "Play Esq. said: "DanS3 said: "I was blown away by Audra's performance. I don't understand the naysayers at all. I get it if you don't think she was "right" for the role, but, to say she wasn't amazing? That's just crazy to me. I read a post elsewhere where someone literally said she was "awful". I actually laughed out loud. I mean, "awful"? C'mon. And no ONE is going to remember the Patti LuPone absurdity in a year..except for those of us who read Broadway boards. Patti has always been a b*tch and will always be one and has nothing to do with how good or "not good" Audra was in Gypsy."

She wasn’t amazing. Many of us feel that way. You don’t. Move on."

Many people? It's a handful of people on a smallinternet message board."

No. Sorry. Many people were not into it. I guess you don't follow social media or other boards. "

Yes, Patti was goddamn awful as Mama Rose.

binau said: "I really hope to god they will film Audra - such as the closing performance. Ultimately this is more important than a Tony win over the long term. If I recall we ALMOST had Patti on film but when things went south and they closed early the whole thing was cancelled. Now we're stuck with Imelda Staunton's version which is FINE but I prefer Audra's vocals.”

I am increasingly convinced that getting a show filmed, if done well, is critical to its long-term reputation. The fact that so many of Sondheim’s musicals have been filmed has been so important. So many people fell in love with Sunday in the Park With George and Into The Woods because they were filmed. I first saw Pacific Overtures because it was filmed and finally saw a live production last weekend. I imagine one of the draws for the actors in Here We Are is that it’s being filmed. We’re going to get Merrily We Roll Along too and already have Sweeney Todd and Passion.

But there are still many hurdles to a proper pro-shot, especially in the United States. It’s why the production of Next to Normal most people will see eventually was shot in London. (Fortunately, it’s quite good.) I suspect the McDonald version of Gypsy won’t be filmed although I wish it would be. I’m not sure the demand for a pro-shot is there, even if Audra had won the Tony.

Isaac was a revelation as Tony and I predicted after I saw first preview he was going to win. Alas.

BJR said: "Isaac was a revelation as Tony and I predicted after I saw first preview he was going to win. Alas."

The role of Tony has never been Tony-nominated and I thought this would be the chance but now I think there's actually a curse on it. But I do think he was definitely Tony deserving and it's unfortunate the show hadn't been open for longer for all the voters to see it.

TheOtherOne2 said: "George in DC said: "binau said: "

I also think it's crazy how the competitive dynamics of the Tonys change everything - if Audra was up against Stephanie Block (Cher Show), Adrienne Warren (Tina), Joaquina Kalkukano (Paradise Square), Victoria Clark (Kimberly Akimbo), Maleah Joe Moon (Hell's Kitchen) I think she likely would have won in basically all cases."

Victoria Clark gave one of the best performances in a musical I have ever seen and she would have won against all the actresses you mentioned, even against Ms. McDonalds brilliant portrayal of Madame Rose."

I agree 1000% about Victoria Clark. I don't agree that McDonald, brilliant talent though she is, is giving a brilliant portrayal of Madame Rose. Rose is not meant to be a symbol of the great mothers, black, white, or whatever, that came before us. Gypsy is written as a show about a driven but deluded woman, oblivious to the cost of puttingher love for show business above all else. Audra's interpretation and the foundation of Gypsy'sbook, music and lyrics do not support each other.

"

Your interpretation is lacking and superficial

Saw this on 05/20.

The play is irrefutable, and more than six decades later it is as if "Gypsy" has not aged at all in its relationship with showbiz,. With that in mind, George C. Wolfe's production tells this story in such a classic way that it is almost an uninventive vision of this material. Does everything needs to be edgy? No, but feels simple, yet somehow is a good physical production.

The staging is very central which is not a problem, and some technical aspects, such as scenic and costumes, are rooted in a literalness that is not exactly my preference to revival productions.

I have to say that Camille A. Brown's movement direction/choreography ends up drawing more attention than the direction itself with the replacement of the boys and Tulsa's big number being highlights.

The cast is great, the complains about a lackuster Burnstein was not right in my eyes, he did have quite a presence. Jordan and Lesli were indeed good, but Joy is the rightful best supporting actress of the show - I'll say tho that in her last fight with Rose, she shouted a little bit more than I think she should.

But there is Audra McDonald, a high-voltage Audra as the main character. I just can't fanthom someone complaining about this performance. As a black woman, Audra's Rose gains dimension in her fight with the entertainment world and the feeling that she was not 'something' goes beyond the usual frustration, and reaches very strong sociopolitical layers. And McDonald is not the greatest actress of her generation by default, she builds Rose as a human without losing the immense vigor of the character. It's always present with power, but a vitality impressive in many ways that I don't think Audra has ever done.

And when she reaches ''Rose's Turn'' it is as if the world stops, and through acting (more than her vocals, I'll admit that), she encapsulates everything that this piece of work means.

Rose as a black woman didn't have a chance to be a star on stage, but the biggest star of the stage today is a Black Rose. Sublime, absolutely sublime.

SmokeyLady said: "MadsonMelo said: "But there is Audra McDonald, ahigh-voltage Audraas the main character. I just can't fanthom someone complaining about this performance. As a black woman, Audra's Rose gains dimension in her fight with the entertainment world and the feeling that she was not 'something' goes beyond the usual frustration, and reaches very strong sociopolitical layers. And McDonald is not the greatest actress of her generation by default, she builds Rose as a human without losing the immense vigor of the character. It's always present with power, but a vitality impressive in many ways that I don't think Audra has ever done.

And when she reaches ''Rose's Turn'' it is as if the world stops, and through acting (more than her vocals, I'll admit that), she encapsulates everything that this piece ofwork means.

Rose as a black woman didn't have a chance to be a star on stage, but the biggest star of the stage today is a Black Rose. Sublime, absolutely sublime."

While I do disagree with you on everything you wrote here ( I thought the whole production was dull).. I got a giggle out your "And McDonald is not the greatest actress of her generation by default,". Not sure what you are saying. But Audra is not her generations greatest actor. I don't know where your getting that or how one comes to that. Love her. Will see anything she is in. But, COME ON!"

Should I have written IN MY OPINION to make clear?

sure, Janet

The way people are denigrating Nicole in some sort of warped proxy battle for politics (which have been refuted anyway) and after Patti said what she said, people all of a sudden turned their ire toward Nicole. The same people who were gagging over her performance when they saw her in previews now trying to say she’s untalented…it’s just absurd.

A lot of people like Audra’s Rose. GREAT! At the same time, a lot of people had a very tepid response to her performance. The production itself was widely regarded as just fine in amongst industry people. So a lot of rewriting history going on with this response to Nicole’s clearly deserved win.

I just looked at ticket sales in telecharge 15 minutes before tonights show and I would say only about 50% of the house is sold. How long can this last?

Just took a quick glance at the Telecharge seating chart for this weekend, and sales are looking pretty rough...