GYPSY 2003 Revival Love Thread

[instant karma]

Posted: 7/24/07 at 12:00am

After seeing the City Centers production I took a listen to the 2003 recording. It reminded me of what an amazing production this was. Who can forget walking into the Shubert and being greeted by that purple striped curtain?! I still get chills thinking about the entire back wall flying up at the end of Rose's Turn. What other memories do you guys have of this production?


Updated On: 7/24/07 at 12:00 AM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/24/07 at 12:04am

I remember feeling as if the director not only misunderstood the musical but actually hated it.

I remember wanting to like Bernadette because I had liked her in the past--LOVED her in Sunday in the Park--but feeling sorry for her because she just couldn't hack it.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 7/24/07 at 12:05am

Ms. Peters walked in from the house and from that moment, led us through a great journey.

The overture was excellent!

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 7/24/07 at 12:06am

I saw it three times and loved everything about it. It was perfection. I still miss it.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 7/24/07 at 12:21am

Peters' "Rose's Turn" is absolutely thrilling, watching her perform the edited version at the Tonys gives me chills to this day, I particularly love the audience reaction.
I find her take on Rose to be winning and spectacular.
I'll be seeing LuPone tomorrow but I find Peters to be quite an ideal Rose. I wish her Louise would have been different though.

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 7/24/07 at 1:05am

that production was superior in every way to the city center production - hands down, except perhaps lupone vs. bernadette - but who can compare such amazing talents? If we're strictly talking production values and supporting cast, the 2003 revival wins. Anybody else miss the hot pink palm-tree drop for the strip scene? or the giant glitter apple?

[bjh2114]

Posted: 7/24/07 at 1:10am

Amen PalJoey. Not so good, and Bernadette was so wrong.

[instant karma]

Posted: 7/24/07 at 1:12am

I totally think Bernadette was superior to Patti. I loved the "backstage" feel to the '03 production. The way the curtain came up on the stage, bare except for the ghost light. A stagehand came across the stage and put the card in its holder and you watched as the stage hands lowered the set into place. I also loved the way throughout the show you would see random stage crew (in costume) in the flies that were onstage.

[instant karma]

Posted: 7/24/07 at 1:50am

[sondhead]

Posted: 7/24/07 at 1:53am

I LOVED the Bernadette Gypsy. I thought Peters was sublime and have never understood why people didn't like Tammy Blanchard's Louise. I found it incredibly moving. I've always liked the story but it is Blanchard who made me cry twice (All I Need is the Girl and I'm a Pretty Girl Mama) not to mention being RIGHT there with her as she was doing her first strip... wrenched my heart strings... to each their own though!

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 7/24/07 at 1:55am

Those pictures are great, instant karma.

[rosekwbp]

Posted: 7/24/07 at 1:58am

My memories of Gypsy are Bernadette being absolutely wonderful in the role. Her Rose's Turn was absolutly heartbreaking and beautiful and she took us on a wonderful journey. I saw it twice and it still remains one of my favorite Broadway memories.
Updated On: 7/24/07 at 01:58 AM

[philcrosby]

Posted: 7/24/07 at 8:42am

Lansbury was the Rose of the ages for me. Funny, sexy, and absolutely chilling. Her "Rose's Turn" changed the way that song was sung forever.

[madbrian]

Posted: 7/24/07 at 8:50am

I remember that of all the productions of Gypsy I've seen on stage and screen, this was by far the most disappointing in every aspect.

[AC126748]

Posted: 7/24/07 at 9:42am

Bernadette was superb, and Tammy Blanchard turned in a sensational performance as Louise, but the production itself was seriously lacking. Also, John Dossett's Herbie was disappointing and the strippers really phoned it in.

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 7/24/07 at 9:49am

wow you must not have seen rosaland russel's movie madbrian.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 7/24/07 at 9:50am

If we're strictly talking production values and supporting cast, the 2003 revival wins.

The 2003 Revival cannot be fairly compared in production values to the City Center mounting. The 2003 Revival was a full fledged open-ended commercial Broadway production with a HUGE Broadway budget. The City Center mounting is a 3-week limited engagement put on by a non-profit.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/24/07 at 9:55am

There were a lot of problems with the '03 Gypsy, but it still proved to be a very enjoyable show.

Sam Mendes' bare-bones (yet very set-piece heavy) staging didn't go over well with Arthur Laurents (go figure!).

Kate Reinders tried to play June edgy (by having her pull out a cigg and light up during the 'If Momma Were Married' scene), and failed (successful playing of June edgy: Leigh Ann Larken.)

Dossett and Blanchard were very good, but overshadowed by Peters (who really was, as Ben Brantley called her, "blissfully brilliant"). Superb and sexy, she really showcased why she's a theatrical legend. Too bad that Riedel destroyed her for getting sick during previews.

I had the opportunity to see both Peters and her standby, the great Maureen Moore (who went on for a week or so in previews), and, despite how much I liked Peters later in the run, Moore was better. Moore deserved that standing O after Rose's Turn.

Just as an aside, was the show still running when Bernadette's husband died?
Updated On: 7/24/07 at 09:55 AM

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 7/24/07 at 9:57am

I thoroughly enjoyed the 2003 revival and am glad that someone started an appreciation thread. I am so grateful that I was able to see the show 6 times and witness the brillant performances of John, Tammy and especially Bernadette. They each added something new to the role. I'd also like to add that in my opinion the strippers were much MUCH better than the ones at City Center. Opel's Mazzeppa had no character what-so-ever while Buddeke, Halston and Lee were unique in their portrayals.

Also, I wasn't on broadwayworld.com when the revival was around so any elaboration on how the production itself was inadequete would be greatly appreciated.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 7/24/07 at 10:11am

Yankee, GYPSY had been closed a few years already when Bernadette's husband died.

[broadwayhoney]

Posted: 7/24/07 at 10:11am

I have to agree. Though I am a very big fan of Patti Lupone and I think she does a great job in the City Center Production (her voice is amazing), Bernadette Peters was a force of nature in the 2003 production. She became Rose, she wasn't Peters appearing as Rose! I also agree that the strippers were hysterical in the 2003 production and that the City Center strippers, except for Gansky who has made Electra her own, are conventional and boring! Boyd Gaines is a great Herbie and Benanti is the best Louise I've seen but Blanchard was very moving as Louise as well! All in all, I find lots to admire about both productions.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/24/07 at 10:15am

Foster - that's what I thought. Thanks for clearin' that up.

[instant karma]

Posted: 7/24/07 at 12:40pm

I still can't believe how robbed Bernadette was of a TONY for her performance!

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/24/07 at 12:45pm

i still can't believe how robbed Bernadette was of a TONY for her performance!


- OH JESUS! Not again. This is one of BWW's most over-talked about topics.

I know you're new. So you're excused.

[uhkthxbye2]

Posted: 7/24/07 at 5:08pm

I'm sorry, but I'm just about in love with David Burtka's voice on All I Need Is The Girl. Why do all the hot ones have to be taken ... I would've LOVED to have seen this production, but I've only gotten into the theatre seen really recently.