I know I am going off topic, but here are some random thoughts about the various productions of GYPSY:
Merman was spectacular in the first, Jerome Robbins directed GYPSY and was, IMO, the definitive singer of the score. And, Sondheim or Laurents notwithstanding, Sandra Church was a very fine Louise, very much a child in the first act, and a beautiful, take charge Gypsy Rose Lee in Act Two. Merman reportedly didn't like her, perhaps because Church spent a lot of time with Jule Styne. During the run, she was replaced by Julienne Marie, who later was in DO I HEAR A WALTZ?
Lansbury was a wonderful Rose and interestingly played and sang "Rose's Turn" differently in London and New York. In London, she played and sang it "straight"; in NY she hammered the part so hard, to let the audience know that she was indeed having a nervous breakdown. I personally thought her NY performance of "Rose's Turn" was like hitting the audience over the head with a frying pan; it was overkill to me.
I liked Tyne Daly very, very much, despite the fact that she was not the greatest singer of GYPSY. She had warmth as well as egotism, and she had tremendous stage presence, which is such a gift for an actress to have. Like Sada Thompson, I could watch and hear Daly sing the telephone book. I saw Linda Lavin in the role of Rose, in the same production and, for me, she just couldn't cut it. Lavin was a major disappointment.
Bette Midler appeared in the TV version of GYPSY and that production was very faithful to Broadway. Bonnie Walker reproduced the original Jerome Robbins choreography, and the supporting cast was very good, especially Peter Riegert as Herbie. I liked Midler a lot--I thought her "Everything's Coming Up Roses" was not as good as it should have been, but her "Rose's Turn" was fine. And that was Christine Ebersole as Tessie Tura! I like the idea of being able to put GYPSY on the TV whenever I feel like watching those wonderful vaudeville routines, especially the farmboys singing "Broadway, Broadway, I miss you so..." LOL
Bernadette Peters sang and acted well, but she was somewhat adrift in a generally cold and unlikable production. Jerome Robbins could have made a big difference here. Sam Mendes didn't give the production the right thrust.
I saw Patti LuPone on May 2nd and loved her in the part of Rose. She had the voice and had the dramatic skills to really bring the show together. Her supporting players, especially Laura Benanti as the best Louise I have ever seen, and a superb Tulsa in Tony Yazbeck, helped the show so much.
Throughout this "survey" of the different productions of GYPSY, the one common denominator is the quality of the overall production which helps to promote or detract from the impact that Rose can make on the audience. Lastly, I have left out mention of the Rosalind Russell film--I find it unwatchable, except for Paul Wallace re-creating his Tulsa from the Original Broadway Cast.
"Madam Rose...and her daughter...Gypsy!"