GYPSY...controversy?

[Schmack]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 3:28pm

From Broadway.com:

"TOP 10 OF 2003" by Paul Wontorek

6. GYPSY
The most controversial production of the year is also one of the finest. Led by Bernadette Peters, turning in her best stage work since her Stephen Sondheim collaborations in the mid-'80s, director Sam Mendes found the perfect cast, right down to the animal stars like teacup poodle Coco and a rotating crop of scene-stealing lambs. And even if Mendes' production is hardly the revisionist take on the show that many were expecting, it's still a damn good one that hits every high of the almost foolproof script. Beyond Peters' shattering "Rose's Turn," I especially appreciated the tangible chemistry between Peters and her Herbie, John Dossett, the sharp edge of Kate Reinders' June and Tammy Blanchard, who lived up to the hype of her work as Judy Garland on ABC a few years back in her Broadway debut as Louise. Oh, and let me not forget young David Burtka, who has nailed "All I Need Is The Girl" all three times I've caught this reliable production.

*****

Can anyone tell me why GYPSY is the most controversial production of the year?

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 3:31pm

some people think it is a brilliant staging, others think it is a HORRIBLE staging of a brillinat show.... Peter's missed performances at the bigging of the run and the crap she caught from that, the VERY divided view as to whether Winokur should have gotten the Tony or Peters......

shall I go on?

[PJ]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 4:27pm

I throroughly enjoyed Sam Mendes' staging. True, I've never seen any other production of "Gypsy," but I like his less is more approach to directing. I even liked how he made the "stage" smaller for Baby June's number so you could see Bernadette coaching from the wings.
Bernadette caught wayyyy too much slack for getting sick during previews. If that would have happened to anyone else, or anyone else in this particular role, it would not have been such a big deal. Updated On: 1/1/04 at 04:27 PM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 4:33pm

BP got flack for calling in sick because she had done it before. She had a lot of problems with Into The Woods

[PJ]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 4:35pm

Well she's certainly working hard not to miss any performances in "Gypsy." Even if it means she has to go on sick, she's still there performing. That's probably so she doesn't get gossip going around again about how the role's "too difficult" and "out of her range." She's no Merman, who's performance was horrible in the eyes of Arthur Laurents, but I thought she gave a hell of a performance. Updated On: 1/1/04 at 04:35 PM

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 4:42pm

I have to agree with PJ. They are not making a big deal of Donna Murphy.

[BroadwayNYC]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 5:04pm

I believe the Bernadette Peters is very much up to the part of madam rose. It was very unfortunate that she caught the cold which really prevented her from winning the Tony, which she should have won anyway. I think I heard her say that she caught the cold from this lady at some hairstyling place where Bernadette Peters went to prepare for opening night. I was so upset she didn't win, because it is SUCH a great role, and any actress playing Mamma Rose should win period. Also, I have read that she is the only broadway actress who commits herself to long runs in musicals she performs in.
I think such great broadway actresses like B. Peters are deliberatly put down because some people just hate to admit how great they really are. PERIOD.

Gothampc: What problems did she have with Into the Woods?

Updated On: 1/1/04 at 05:04 PM

[Benzy92]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 5:06pm

BP was treated very unfairly. Donna Murphy got nothing from anyone except one article form Michael Reidel, but he nails everyone at some point.

[tpdc]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 6:33pm

First I've heard of absences from INTO THE WOODS. She was in it for such a short time, it seems odd. However, she did miss a lot of SONG & DANCE, including the performance I saw. Her understudy there was again Maureen Moore. Moore was very good. Bernadette did miss a bunch of GOODBYE GIRL performances as well. I think Bernadette has missed fewer performances than Murphy did but you'd never know it from reading Michael Reidel, who takes the opportunity to trash GYPSY agin in this week's "humorous" column.

[BroadwayNYC]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 8:51pm

TPDC....would you happen to know the link to the Michael Reidel colunm...I'm curious and would like to read it.
Thanks!

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 8:53pm

If people like Riedel are so fixated on actresses who miss a lot of performances, why hasn't anyone mentioned La Benanti?

[BroadwayNYC]

Posted: 1/2/04 at 2:25am

Still curious to read about the Michael Reidel colunm regarding
Bernadette Peters & Gypsy...Anyone know the link?

[millmodel]

Posted: 1/2/04 at 4:05am

i dont know the link to his column, but he writes for the new york post. there was an interview by robert diamond that you can see here
interview

[alterego]

Posted: 1/2/04 at 6:57am

To BroadwayNYC,

You say 'any actress playing Momma Rose should win period'. You can't be serious. I'm sure that there are bad actresses the world over up for awards in this show, surely they shouldn't all be granted an award purely because they are playing Momma Rose? Ridiculous.

[BroadwayNYC]

Posted: 1/2/04 at 1:35pm

Thanks MillModel for the link...

Alterego....I think you misunderstood me. "Mamma Rose" can't be played by "any actress." What I meant by any actress, is an actress that is qualified for the role. I'm not talking about any random actress. Those who have played Mamma Rose as we know them, have been very talented and up to the part, Ethel Merman, Bette Midler to name a few. I believe B. Peters has lived up to the expectation of the role and its demands. I loved her performance, both on stage and on the broadway cd. The only other actress who I can't wait to see play this role would be Patti LuPone.

I don't understand why it's so ridiculous to you that I assume this. A challenging role, such as this, is one to be taken seriously and must live up to the expectation of the role. Not everyone can do it. That's why I still stand by what I said before, any actress who plays the role of Mamma Rose should win the Tony. Just my humble opinion. Again, I am referring to a credible, talented broadway actress.

[MusicalComedyMan]

Posted: 1/2/04 at 2:53pm

I WOULD LOVE to see LIZA do Rose.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 1/2/04 at 3:08pm

yes alterego. You don't undertsand. Mama Rose is probably one of the most demanding roles ever for a broadway actress. If a woman is to play her, she has to be qualified. So whoever plays her has got to be great because not just anyone can play her.

[PJ]

Posted: 1/2/04 at 3:24pm

Angela's Lansbury's "Rose's Turn" actually gives me chills. I love Bernadette and her interpretation as well, but Angela just does it for me. God, I would have loved to have seen her in "Gypsy" back in the early 70's. But Bernadette's Mama Rose is the Mama Rose of my generation. And I'm glad she is. She's a wonderful actress.

[robbiej]

Posted: 1/2/04 at 3:52pm

There are lots of folks that talk about the Lansbury GYPSY as being definitive (I wasn't there...I can't make that call).

But anyone ever notice that most of the keys were lowered for her...sometimes even in the middle of songs???

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 1/2/04 at 4:06pm

It's important to note that Bernadette gets more attention because she brings a much higher level of mainstream fame to her roles. Most people know who Bernadette Peters is and her being in 'Gypsy' remains one of the principal reasons the show is selling. No one outside the theater community has ever heard the name Donna Murphy before. It would be like the news covering Emily Skinner's attendance issues, it's not news because no one cares about Emily Skinner, except for theater people on message boards.

[BroadwayNYC]

Posted: 1/2/04 at 4:28pm

Ah, yes I forgot about Angela Lansbury! She is a legend and though I didn't see'hear for myself when she played it, I'm sure she is wonderful too.

Liza Minelli would have been great too! Though I thought she played Mamma Rose, no? I heard her sing "Some People" on a tv concert and it sounded great! Though nowadays, she does have a tremble of some sort in her voice, but I think that tremble would sound great in "Rose's Turn!"

Actually, you could say that Bernadette Peters brings a level of mainstream fame to her roles. I remember during the Gypsy signing, there were many people there roughly between the age of mid 20s - to mid 30s and a bit of an older crowd as well. Like I've said before, I've been a fan of Bernadette Peters for about 3 years now and she left quite an impression on me. Too bad I missed all her other productions (ITW, AGYG). I really enjoy watching her sing and perform. Though her Hollywood career didn't make that much of a mark, I'm so glad she still can do Broadway, and hope she will for years to come. I can't wait to see her next projects!

[PJ]

Posted: 1/2/04 at 8:53pm

Liza Minnelli could have done "Gypsy" back in '89 when it was revived w/ Tyne Daly. I think that would have been the perfect time for Liza to play Mama Rose. But now, she can no longer sing well, she's far too old (in her 60's,) and there's no way she'd be able to do 8 performances a week.

[moljul]

Posted: 1/2/04 at 9:44pm

Actually Liza is only two years older than Bernadette and therefore is only 57 - almost 58. But I agree her time as Rose has passed because of her health difficulties.

[PJ]

Posted: 1/2/04 at 10:19pm

OOPS! My bad, I could have sworn I just read somewhere about her being in her sixties. Oh well...
*Although I know you're right b/c I just checked imdb.com Updated On: 1/2/04 at 10:19 PM

[ShineOn]

Posted: 1/3/04 at 1:37am

I'm just going to bite my tongue about the comment on Emily... wait, no I'm not. She does get a lot of flack *within* the community, but its almost worse because the gossip gets crazy. No, her absences might not make the front page, but its still bad when hosts of benefits are cracking jokes at your expense. I think people just need to back off of all the actors, big names or little names... we're all human and I'm sure they all have their own valid and different reasons for their absences and who are we to judge? The only thing we have right to critcize is what they lay out before us... their performance. What goes on behind the scenes in no one's business but their own and those directly concerned.

But yeah... you may not hear as much about Emily, Laura, or even Donna at this point in the papers, because granted they aren't Bernadette... but god knows they all get their share of bitching and rants through the grapevine. Though not the mainstream, people do care.