GYPSY 7/10 and IN THE HEIGHTS 7/11

Hey all -

I'm not going to spend time writing an analysis of each song, etc...

Just wanted to say that I saw GYPSY last night and it was pretty darn incredible. I don't know if there were any flubs or special "Patti moments" because it was my first time seeing the show. As far as I know it all went smoothly - although one of the guys dropped a baton and Patti picked it up and handed it to him as though she was showing him how it should be done. The only thing that made me think that wasn't planned is because I totally saw her laughing in the wings... either way it worked perfectly with her character.

Glad I got to see the shows, isotoners and all! :)

Updated On: 7/12/08 at 07:05 AM

I'm glad you loved it! This show is pretty amazing. I've seen it 5 times already

---

Precisely sn

---

So glad you had fun! Enjoy your time in the city!

---

LOL

---

i was there last night too. first time seeing any production of gypsy ever.

i was kinda underwhelmed. with the show itself, not this production. its hard to complain about how excellently done this entire production is- from top to bottom it was impressive. i just felt act 1 dragged on SO long- i was with a huge group of people and i was not the only one who felt this way.

towards the end of act 1, and for the rest of the show, i was hooked. such a great story, and the performances! out of this world.

I am surprised Boyd Gaines won the tony for what seems like a fairly small role- i thought hed have a big number to sing at some point, but he just got mad and left. i thought leigh ann larkin was fantastic with her deep dreary voice to contrast her fake singing persona.

obviously LaPatti was in fine form- she sounded great, and really really got into the character in a way i am not used to. (i loved her in sweeney todd but it was patti playing patti lovett). this was a whole other league. her Everythings Coming Up Roses was not as powerful as the tonys, and i actually was nervous because she sounded like she was struggling on Some People. But by the second act it was clear she was in good shape and Roses Turn just brought down the house. standing ovations all around me.

my absolute favorite performance though was Benanti. she just grew that character SO MUCH- it was three entirely different performances melded seamlessly together. when she really lost her cool at the end- there was an audible gasp in the audience when she pulled that off. just wow. and her "let me entertain you" was fantastic- what a voice! and what a body, by the way.

i just wanna give a special shout out to the girl who played baby louise. WHAT A BRILLIANT LITTLE PERFORMER- i just noticed her early on and watched her along the way... she really can act. i mean WOW.

One question, when Patti gets her ovation during the middle of Rose's Turn (which may not always happen), does she usually break character and blow kisses for about a minute and a half.

she's not breaking character. Rose has wanted to be a performer, and be loved by an audience, for her entire life. "Rose's Turn" is, in part, meant to be her showing that she's "got it". the audience's real response is what the imaginary audience is doing in Rose's fantasy. so, she's not really blowing kisses to the audience in the St. James, but the audience she imagined she just performed for.

I didn't explain that well; it got a bit meta.

---

Yeah. All post-Merman Roses bowed after ROSE'S TURN. It started with Lansbury. I love what LuPone and Laurents came up with.

my heart breaks every time I see Boyd's Herbie tell Rose that he wouldn't marry her even if she got down on her knees and begged. he's...amazing.

---

Yeah, it's really terrific.

---

I saw it last July 5 Matinee... I was sitting at the balcony. Now I understand why people say its a bad sit. But it's the first time I've seen the show and I loved loved it. Having to see Patti, Boyd, Laura, Leigh Ann, Tony and the rest of the cast is such a life changing experience! Congratulations to all of them!

Only thing is, they did not come out to the stage door afterwards.

"Yeah. All post-Merman Roses bowed after ROSE'S TURN. It started with Lansbury. I love what LuPone and Laurents came up with."

It deeply saddens me that this has to be explained, especially to someone who saw the show. (heavy sigh)

i didnt say he didnt deserve his tony, necessarily. he was fantastic in every scene he was in- i have NO complains about his performance, and agree it was pretty heartbreaking. hes a brilliant actor.

i was surprised with the size of the role, the relatively un-meatiness to it. Herbie isnt given all that much to do but stand back and let Rose steal the show- i completely understand that that is the point of his character, but was surprised that the raves of Boyd Gaines centered on such a small role. Not the first time that has happened, I was just surprised.

Benanti, like Boyd, was brilliant in every scene she was in in act 1, but was really allowed a chance to shine in the second act. I was just saying that Herbie's abrupt departure didn't afford Boyd Gaines the opportunity for an extended emotional moment or big number.

Millie, I am pretty sure I could go head to head with anyone here re: dumb comments. I know its hard for the theater crowd to contemplate a different opinion/observation, but I really dont think noticing that herbie is a relatively small role qualifies as "dumb." Stating the obvious- that hes a "featured actor"- in an attempt to argue with my comment, on the other hand...