Everythings Coming Up Roses- Brava Bernadette!

[Corine2]

Posted: 2/4/04 at 7:50pm

I went to Gypsy today expecting to hate it and hate Bernadette in the role of Rose.
I was shocked. I thought she was incredible in the role. She made the role hers and added sex appeal to Rose. I do not understand why Michael Riedel hated her performance. I saw Tyne Daly in the role and Ethel Merman in clips.
I loved Merman but I loved Bernadette.
Actually i loved everything about Gypsy especially little Baby June and the Strippers. (My favorite the one with the trumpet.)
What a brilliant performance by the entire cast.
I was deeply moved and I am sad that i did not see it sooner.
Why is this show closing.
Michael Riedel was way off on this one.
Bernadette- You were incredible! I have to say that i loved Bernadette in this role more then any other i have seen.
And your Rose's Turn- It was really moving. BRAVA BERNADETTE! Updated On: 2/4/04 at 07:50 PM

[Hello Gorgeous]

Posted: 2/4/04 at 7:52pm

"Why is this show closing?"

I saw the show last night, and asked myself the same thing. It's obviously not because of a lack of talent, it's there alright.

Damn this bad, bad weather...

[Belasco07]

Posted: 2/4/04 at 7:54pm

"...A mark a yen a buck or a pound... is all that makes the world go round, that clinking, clanking sound that makes the world go round...MONEY MONEY!"

[newyorkuniq]

Posted: 2/4/04 at 7:56pm

I saw the show in Nov. and loved her in it. To bad it's closing.

[Annie Get Your Rose]

Posted: 2/4/04 at 7:58pm

I also saw Gypsy last night and thought it was the best of the three times I'd seen it. It was just so spectacular. Everything went perfect. Bernadette Peter's was amazing(as usually). Can not wait to see what she does next. I still have hope that this show will not close Feb. 28th but will be extended. I am hoping this is only to get ticket sales up. I mean the site has just been re-done(www.gypsythemusical.com) and has clips of some of the songs. I dont kno what to say other than I LOVE THIS PRODUCTION OF GYPSY AND DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY SOME PPL(ha one of the songs) HATE BERNADETTE

[Corine2]

Posted: 2/4/04 at 7:59pm

Do not close this show!
Riedel needs some soap.

[broadwaysweetheart]

Posted: 2/4/04 at 8:08pm

Why is it closing? I went to see it in December and I LOVED EVERY SECOND OF IT. I think Tammy Blanchard was totally amazing as Louise and Bernadette, welll, she is Bernadette Peters! I wish they changed their minds and it could go on!

[Corine2]

Posted: 2/4/04 at 8:13pm

Oh yes Tammy was wonderful and so was Herbie (John wow he is a stunning man eye candy for sure)

[thirdrowcenter]

Posted: 2/4/04 at 8:22pm

Corine you went to see the show, prepared to hate it and to hate Bernadette Peters' performance?

[newyorkuniq]

Posted: 2/4/04 at 8:25pm

yes, isn't she optimistic! lol

[Corine2]

Posted: 2/4/04 at 8:25pm

Yes because of Michael Riedel.
I thought Bernadette was a goddess. Genius!
I loved the show even though i had nose bleed seats in the balcony.
Whatever you do don't sit in the BALCONY. I was row a center but really i was so high up i got altitude sickness. LOL. Updated On: 2/4/04 at 08:25 PM

[LA Guy]

Posted: 2/4/04 at 8:30pm

Okay, I hate the be the lone voice not in agreement, but I did not like this revival, nor was I blown away by Bernadette (who, when I saw the show, seemed unsure of herself [this after getting the NY Times rave]), not to mention flubbing and forgetting lines in "Everything's Coming Up Roses."

I was saddened by the show because so many people declare it to be one of the best musicals ever written. What I saw on stage, however, didn't seem to justify that praise. AND, before you jump on me, I actually didn't mind (and somewhat appreciated) the Brechtian tones of the production.

If anything, I felt it was too pantomine - want to make you happy - sort of show. Everyone seemed to be trying way to hard to please - as if the whole cast were Baby June (sans the 3 strippers - their scene and song goes into the "great moments" in theatre). Updated On: 2/4/04 at 08:30 PM

[moljul]

Posted: 2/4/04 at 9:15pm

Unfortunately one of the reasons it is closing is because too many people listened to Reidel and others who thought Rose had to be done like Merman did it. Too many people "expected to hate it and Bernadette" and never made the effort to go to the show. Corine2, I'm glad you finally decided to go and even though you had expectations going in, your mind was obviously open enough to potentially enjoy the show. If more people like you had gone in the last few months, maybe it wouldn't be closing yet. Let's hope many more follow you in the next couple of weeks. This isn't really the type of show that will run for years but it probably deserves a longer run than this.

[Corine2]

Posted: 2/4/04 at 9:18pm

I loved it.
ACTUALLY IT BLEW ME AWAY.
CURTAIN UP
LIGHT THE LIGHTS.
Don't close Gypsy.

[Jack42]

Posted: 2/4/04 at 9:21pm

Dear Lord,

I pray that you protect Bernadette from any stalkers she might now have...

[Hello Gorgeous]

Posted: 2/4/04 at 9:44pm

Wow John has the prettiest eyes. And Tammy definitely improved since the last time I saw her (June)

Posted: 2/4/04 at 9:46pm

LA Guy; you are not alone. There are alot of people out there ( myself included) that hated this production of the show. It is flat and lifeless. And I thought she was horrendous in it. And I usually like her.

[BroadwayNYC]

Posted: 2/4/04 at 10:00pm

Corine2, it's nice to know you enjoyed the show. Yes, I'm one of many who still can't believe its premature broadway ending.

I got tickets to the Feb 25 show so I'll definately post my heartflet review of the performance. I've seen it 3 times since it opened and I still can't stop raving about her performance. I have to say the second time I saw it, I was in the left och. box all the way up front and she felt 10 feet away! I tell you, she looked right at me twice...I smiled back at her, I really wanted to waive! I know, I can't help it, I really admire her!

And the third time I was at the Mezz seats since I went with 2 other people (who, needless to say couldn't afford to pay for better seats!) and I felt so far away from the stage. Everyone seemed small! I hate to pay for bad seats.

Anyway, those balcony seats are just the worst. How do they see from up there?

Yes the whole cast is just unbelievble...I can't say more.

Tell me, how was the audience capacity?

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 2/4/04 at 10:13pm

I think Bernadette ACTS the role brilliantly.

But when she sings, it is obvious she is putting a LOT of effort into it, and and she winds up defeating it.

I went to see it with an open mind, but despite Bernadette making a game effort, she didn't nail it for me.

[LouW95]

Posted: 2/4/04 at 10:15pm

The bottom line for keeping a show going is business-- not whether anyone likes a show or doesnt like it....The decision to close Gypsy (and other shows) is based on poor ticket sales. A show must break even most weeks (as with any business). Ticket sales were not good for Gypsy and have been getting worse. The unusual cold weather simply added to the normal bad days of Jan/Feb ticket sales.

[Corine2]

Posted: 2/4/04 at 10:22pm

Capacity was poor in the balcony. To quote from CABARET i sat in the poor people section. Being in the Balcony took something away from the show but i was first row and could see fine.
The balcony was at about 30 percent if that but it was a matinee.

[broadwaysweetheart]

Posted: 2/4/04 at 10:26pm

I just can say that since it opened I really wanted to see it because it is one of my fave scores and Tammy one of my 2 fave actresses (the other one is Kerry Butler) I'm from Mexico and I'm a poor unemployed actress so a trip to NYC was really difficult for me to get, I got to go, went to see the show and loved every second, I think it's a brilliant staging, Miss Peters was great, Tammy was great, both Kates were great, everybody was great!!! I was lucky to get my ticket on the 6th row center so I really really enjoyed it. I was hoping to see it again, but I guess I wont! Please everybody get tickets!!!
Gypsy Fanlisting

[PJ]

Posted: 2/4/04 at 10:28pm

Ehh, that doesn't sound good. But the balcony at the Shubert was always a hard sell for this show.

[moljul]

Posted: 2/4/04 at 11:08pm

"LA Guy; you are not alone. There are alot of people out there ( myself included) that hated this production of the show. It is flat and lifeless. And I thought she was horrendous in it. And I usually like her. "

Well you are certainly entitled to your opinion. I just think there are a lot of people who decided it was a bad production and that Bernadette was bad in the role and never went to the show to find out if all of that was true. If more people had just gone to the show and made their decision whether it was bad or good based on their own experience instead of the opinion of a "theater critic" and their preconceived notions, I bet there would have been more like Corine2 and probably more like you too. It would have all helped with the box office and given the very hard working and talented cast a fair chance for a more successful run.

[krisjoseph]

Posted: 2/4/04 at 11:16pm

I don't much like the balcony at the Shubert ... Gypsy or not. As for the production: I'm not surprised to hear it's closing, but I was awestruck by Bernadette when I saw the show. A friend of mine summed it up beautifully when he said Bernadette played Mama Rose more like a laser beam and less like (the usual) sandbag.

Her take (or, more likely, her and Sam Mendes' take) was absolutely different; I think the people who disliked Bernadette are generally people who are intimately familiar with other versions of the character (I'd love to hear opinions to the contrary, though).

Ms Peters had me from the beginning: she turned "Ethel Merman as Mama Rose" into a three-dimensional portrayal, and it was heart-wrenching. Her rendition of Rose's Turn stopped the show -- consistently. The recording of it is great, but the live version was pure catharsis.

I never "compare" versions of a role: every actor brings something different to the table. When an actor bites into a role and commits to it, believes it, AND has the ability to communicate that belief to an audience, the result is always magic, no matter how different it is from the person who did the role last time. There is no doubt in my mind that Bernadette approached the role with passion, and I'm extremely pleased to have seen the production. As with all things, YMMV.