GYPSY Previews- Page 10

[theatreguy12]

Posted: 11/22/24 at 1:16pm

Sauja said: "Count me among those who thought it was pretty great. A lovely, traditional staging, and indeed much more of a character study than star vehicle than we’ve seen it treated as (also wonderfully!).


As for the lights during the overture and entr’acte, the latter was DEFINITELY a choice. The former? A whole lot of the mezzanine wasn’t seated yet. The staff hasn’t found their rhythm after the long break. They might continue to keep the house lights up, but from my view in the rafters, no other choice was possible last night.



Yes, Audra’s vocal quality is different from what we’re used to in the role, and it can make her sound too posh, but I still thought she was in really good shape for a first preview. I adore Joy Woods, but I felt she has the most room to grow into her role as previews continue.


im excited to go back in a few weeks and see what I’m sure will be a tighter show."

That's interesting to hear.  Since the moment she was cast it has been: AUDRA in Gypsy!  AUDRA in Gypsy!!  AUDRA in Gypsy!!!  ;)  Even before she was cast, many were positing that this could be a role for her in the future.  Then it happened. 

Sounds very star vehicle to me.  Interesting that when you enter the theater it becomes more about character study rather than AUDRA in Gypsy!!!!  

 

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 11/22/24 at 1:26pm

Sally Durant Plummer said:
I found the audience last night to be so rude. Talking over the Overture and Entr’acte and the people behind me were acting as if they were at a drag shows - yelling “werk,” “eat it up,” and countless “YAAAASes” throughout the entire show."

Whoops!  I am so sorry! I just couldn't contain myself. I don't get out of the house often. I will try to be more considerate. 

....just kidding...



 

 

[ChairinMain]

Posted: 11/22/24 at 1:35pm

After sitting with this for a night, I’ve had some time to center my thoughts.

Audra is acting the absolute hell out of Rose, and it’s a deeply felt performance, but she’s not yet accessing the titanic levels of emotional intensity that Rose’s turn needs. Her Rose is charming, forceful, funny, and cutthroat where it matters. Vocally…yeah I have to admit the part is not an ideal match for her sound, but I didn’t have much of an issue with that and many of the choices made to compensate for a lack of a big belt are exciting. But…if you go in with Merman in your ear, you’ll be expecting to hear Merman all night. And I had Merman in my ear. (Well, maybe LuPone). 

My wife made the excellent point post show that Rose is the female Lear, but Lear doesn’t have to sing. I didn’t really have an issue until Rose’s turn, but I was slightly underwhelmed at the end. Frankly, the moment that was heart stopping was being part of the standing O after the number, it felt for a second like I was part of Rose’s fantasy and I Was seated close enough that the sound from the crowd was overwhelming. End of the day, it is  a very different sound in the role than we are used to, and I am still considering if that is a hurdle or if there are gains that will emerge after she has a performance or two to modulate things. 

The production is big, elegant, and takes advantage  of the cavernous depth of the Majestic stage for atmosphere, but plays most of the action front and center. Quite a bit happens on the passarelle, including most of Rose’s Turn, and I am curious as to what the site lines were in the mezz. The racial subtext added by the casting works brilliantly, it’s detailed but never explicit and informs the Rose Audra shapes immeasurably - of course she’s a desperate scrapper, she doesn’t have any other choice. Watching a black woman trying to force her way into white spaces absolutely makes the character more sympathetic. If she’s monstrous it’s because she has to be in the world; there’s a desperation to her that feels driven more by her circumstances than her fixations. With LuPone’s and Staunton’s Rose, only her own obsession prevented her from happiness. Audra’s feels like she has more to lose and a life away from vaudeville feels inherently more unstable. But it feels like a grounded tragedy rather than a heightened drama, and that is a trade off. 

Burstein is excellent; doing a lot of internal work and letting Herbie’s varied control of his emotions guide the performance. His Herbie is a decent man in an impossible situation and his anger is ever present but repressed. Beautiful work. Jordan Tyson’s June is solid, though slightly outsized last night. Some big choices can and should be adjusted in the scene leading up to “if mamma was married”. The production gives her slightly more to do by giving her and Herbie some solos in “Mr Goldstone” which worked well. The Tulsa sells his big number impeccably and I liked him a lot. The strippers nail their assignments, especially Leslie Margarita. 

I really, really liked Joy Woods, in part because she really feels like a kid in act one. It’s a lovely performance before and after the character comes into her own. Unfortunately the production’s biggest misstep, which I think can be fixed only to a certain extent in previews, is that a version of “the Strip” has been chosen that climaxes in a big dance number, rather than a monologue. That’s true neither to the character nor the historical Gypsy Rose Lee. The timing was also off in some of the quick changes and onstage disrobings last night (which absolutely will get fixed). Laura Benanti basically won her Tony for that sequence. It currently hampers woods. 

 

I’d like to see this again after opening to see how it settles. Maybe I’m not as discerning as some or maybe I’m easily influenced by the energy in the room. But it was an amazing night to be part of. 

[verywellthensigh]

Posted: 11/22/24 at 1:36pm

People.  This is coming from someone who never thought she was the right actor for this role:

It's an early preview.

Audra is not a goddess.  She has to work through an actor's process like anyone else.

It sounds like this is on par with Bette Midler in early Dolly previews.  She, too, was working through process.  Don't like it?  Don't go to an early preview.

[sbflyfan]

Posted: 11/22/24 at 2:00pm

Can anyone who went last night (or who goes in the near future) elaborate on the mezz sightlines? I'm trying to figure out if row E center mezz will be too obstructed as far as anything happening on the passarelle.

Thanks

 

 

[Jvj24605]

Posted: 11/22/24 at 2:07pm

sbflyfan said: "Can anyone who went last night (or who goes in the near future) elaborate on the mezz sightlines? I'm trying to figure out if row E center mezz will be too obstructed as far as anything happening on the passarelle.

Thanks

Sat row D, center front mezz aisle last night.

slight lean forward to catch any action on the passarelle

i would imagine row E is as far back as I personally would care to sit unless some of the action is restaged.  Hope that helps!

"

 

Updated On: 11/22/24 at 02:07 PM

[Sally Durant Plummer]

Posted: 11/22/24 at 2:10pm

verywellthensigh said: "People. This is coming from someone who never thought she was the right actor for this role:

It's an early preview.

Audra is not a goddess. She has to work through an actor's process like anyone else.

It sounds like this is on par with Bette Midler in early Dolly previews. She, too, was working through process. Don't like it? Don't go to an early preview."

It doesn’t sound like most posters are complaining that the performances aren’t opening-night caliber. Most mention the fact that it’s a first preview and performances deepen over time. What I see reading these posts - particularly chairinmain’s, which I really loved - are people giving their sincere and well-thought-out opinions on the theatrical event of the season. 

And I don’t think it’s to any actor’s benefit for stans to cloak or deflect any criticism (and there can be good or bad critics and critiques) with “it’s a first preview and obviously it’ll be perfect by opening.” It’s just not a compelling argument 

Updated On: 11/22/24 at 02:10 PM

[Observation]

Posted: 11/22/24 at 2:13pm

I was mindlessly scrolling on Tik Tok and Audra’s “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” from last night popped up. Gotta admit, not my favorite, and she definitely sounds tired at the end of the song, like she’s barely hanging on to keep up. There’s no visual of her, so who knows, maybe her acting choices are supporting this and it’s actually thrilling to see live. 
 

 

[TheOnlyOne2]

Posted: 11/22/24 at 2:16pm

Sally Durant Plummer said: "TheOnlyOne2 said: "For me this was the best part of the song of her performance. The progression of different distinct looks in the history of black women who are musical entertainers. In the "garden of eden" scene they were doing a clear nod to Josephine Baker. Josephine Baker is camp and is strongly identified with her erotically dancing in nature.I loved the perfectly captures the misogynoir experienced by entertainers.Additionally, I also enjoyed that the fact that Baker was replaced by Gypsy Rose Lee in The Follies 1936.

Definitely a highlight in the show."

I don’t necessarily think it’s a bad concept for the sequence - I just literally thought the set and costumes looked cheap. And not in a camp way - in a “we ran out of budget, so wear some cut-out latex with wild animal prints on our and writhe around for 3 minutes” way.

I didn’tget much story from Woods during this part of the strip - though, a quibble I have is that I didn’t get much a journey throughout the entire sequence - and she looked great, but that green costume wasn’t my favorite. I MUCH preferred the red gown that preceded it.

Because of the lack of story in the Garden of Eden, I really didn’t get a comment on misogynior. At all. Not saying that couldn’t be part of that moment, I just didn’t get that from this scene last night. It felt plotless and plodding and the dance sequence wouldn’t end."

There's definitely work to be done for her characters arc. Someone mentioned earlier that they loved her "Little Lamb". I really was disappointed with the moment. I felt it was too precious and only really hit one note emotionally. "Garden of Eden" and "Let Me Entertain You" as a whole is the largest chance she has to wow in the production. They really could play with that more, especially giving a stark contrast to the experience of her being of darker skin tone then her sister June. June is blonde and very pale. She would certainly recieve more social privileges by everything done to make her white passing. The blond wig, the idea that she's "not threatening", the supposed best chance Rose has to create a star. In the end Louise has to take a much more sexualized route for success. She had to give up more of the perceived sexuality of black women in order to find success. 

 

As stated already by myself, that was one of the biggest issues with the production. It was clearly part of the casting process and expected show direction. Unfortunately they didn't lean in nearly enough.

[OhHiii]

Posted: 11/22/24 at 2:19pm

verywellthensigh said: "People. This is coming from someone who never thought she was the right actor for this role:

It's an early preview.

Audra is not a goddess. She has to work through an actor's process like anyone else.

It sounds like this is on par with Bette Midler in early Dolly previews. She, too, was working through process. Don't like it? Don't go to an early preview."

It baffles the mind that people act as if first preview is not a paid performance and should be immune from thoughtful criticism. Absolutely absurd way of thinking.

And no, this is nothing like Bette Midler in early Dolly previews during which everyone pretty much universally loved the production and ate up when she improved a line flub. This is not that. I saw Dolly final dress and that was in an entirely different echelon than this. And by that I mean both Bette and the overall production.

I think a running narrative/comparison to the experience will be Katrina Lenk in Company. That said, Katrina's Bobbie worked for me because her characterization wasn't broad and didn't give the sense that this woman would explode at the end into a belty Being Alive, so it worked for me when her delivery wasn't well..Patti LuPone's Being Alive. Rose on the other hand is a character that has steam pressure building throughout the show building up to Everything's Coming Up Roses and Rose's Turn which should feel like a release of volcanic energy from the woman we've come to know in the preceding scene a legit soprano sound does not deliver on that release. You could almost palpably feel energy leave the room when she had to flip into her head voice. It doesn't help that the biggest moments in those songs seem to be right in or right on the edge of her passaggio. And changing the keys top to bottom desn't fix that because some of Rose's songs go LOW. I unfortuantely think this is just a case of not every actor we love is right for every role we think we'd want to see them in. I kept thinking about other actors who would have delivered on that aspect and Heather Headley and Sheryl Lee Ralph come to mind. 

Don't get me wrong, Audra is doing some fantastic scene work. It's just this is Gypsy and she's playing Rose with two of the biggest show stopping songs in the entire canon.   

[RippedMan]

Posted: 11/22/24 at 2:30pm

Honestly my first thought when this was announced that it was going to be Lenk in Company. I want a rose that’s big belty and messy. Not sure that will ever be Audra’s thing.

[Georgeanddot2]

Posted: 11/22/24 at 2:31pm

I wonder if they should actually RAISE the key on these songs.

And while we're throwing out names of great actresses that would make a great Mama Rose, I'd like to mention Marianne Jean-Baptiste!

Updated On: 11/22/24 at 02:31 PM

[alovingfan]

Posted: 11/22/24 at 2:39pm

"It sounds like this is on par with Bette Midler in early Dolly previews. She, too, was working through process. Don't like it? Don't go to an early preview.""

 

No honey.. Bette was a smash from the first dress rehearsal on.. I was there.  And I am sorry.. A first preview where some tickets were close to $400.??  Let the vultures circle all they want.  They paid for it. 

[OharaFosseWolfe888]

Posted: 11/22/24 at 2:39pm

Impeach2017 said: "It's bizarre that they would stagea production of a classic show that has been done umpteen times just so one particular actress could have her day."

First preview responses aside, please put some respect on Audra McDonald's name. She is not just one particular actress, she is the most crowned actor in the American Theatre ever, in every category. Who also happens to be Black which makes the feat that much more special and historic. The production is clearly done through a Black lens whether that point is done with what hear seems subtle nods and implied pauses to reflect the actors onstage, or whether they try to beat you over the head with Rose, June and Louise are Black women. It obviously by the very nature of the casting will be illuminating for some Black folks, just to see ourselves in this story, and possibly hopefully others as well. 

[alovingfan]

Posted: 11/22/24 at 2:42pm

OharaFosseWolfe888 said: "Impeach2017 said: "It's bizarre that they would stagea production of a classic show that has been done umpteen times just so one particular actress could have her day."

First preview responses aside, please put some respect on Audra McDonald's name. She is not just one particular actress, she is the most crowned actor in the American Theatre ever, in every category. Who also happens to be Black which makes the feat that much more special and historic. The production is clearly done through a Black lens whether that point is done with what hear seems subtle nods and implied pauses to reflect the actors onstage, or whether they try to beat you over the head with Rose, June and Louise are Black women. It obviously by the very nature of the casting will be illuminating for some Black folks, just to see ourselves in this story, and possibly hopefully others as well."

Oh lordy gurl......  PUHLEEEEEEEEEEEZE.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/22/24 at 2:55pm

No honey.. Bette was a smash from the first dress rehearsal on.. I was there.  And I am sorry.. A first preview where some tickets were close to $400.??  Let the vultures circle all they want.  They paid for it. 

I agree, I was at the first preview of Bette’s HELLO, DOLLY! and she and the entire performance were perfect. Her only hiccups were a moment during the courtroom scene when she paused to remember a line and dropping the cane during “So Long Dearie.” She already had her Dolly Levi figured out from Day 1 - she never deviated from it. 

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 11/22/24 at 2:56pm

Audra may be one of the most talented actors to ever grace the Broadway stage but that doesn't mean there aren't roles or certain types of characters that aren't in her wheelhouse. The only other performance by Audra I've seen where I felt like she didn't nail it was in "Marie Christine."  Even though that show was written for her and showcased her vocal strenghts, you never really bought that she was the kind of ruthless, power hungry zealous and unpredictable person who would kill her own children.  Audra is just too even kealed and practical a personality.  And that also a detriment against her being a totally successful Rose. 

[OharaFosseWolfe888]

Posted: 11/22/24 at 3:11pm

Unless we divorce ourselves of the preconceived notions of what Rose is, outside of what's on the page script and score, she surely won't ever be successful in many people's eyes. I think anyone who has followed her, knows she wasn't magically gonna not be her soprano self singing this score. We will not be getting a over the top brassy bulldog of a Rose, the way all of the former white women have played her (Bernadette aside lol). And to that I say, thank you. I don't think it's realistic for a Black woman of that time, to get into the rooms she does and moves how she does, the way previous interpretations have been played. It has to be a different engine and motor, how one moves through those structures for that Black lady, so I say hell yeah to a deep character study THAT is interesting to watch! Honestly, I am a huge Gypsy fan, loved Patti's and Bernadette's interpretations and I look forward to seeing what Audra will do, in a few weeks once George, Camille, Audra and them settle into previews and adjustments. The idea of the show being a star vehicle, and that she is too keen a personality, seems to me a taste issue and again a preconceived notion of what the white Roses have done. Audra's WORK and TALENT is HER personality in this regard. THAT is the star vehicle, as gorgeous as her voice is, that's not actually what I am most excited about when seeing her in Gypsy. I want to see her ACT the hell out of the role, as many posters have said she did. That's the star vehicle for her and always has been. White folks love her perfectly trained classical singing voice, that is not what we are accustomed to hearing in the Gypsy score. ( so do BF too obviously). Again, it was first preview and after hearing Everything's Coming up Roses (where she seemed to be pushing and trying to find the breath, seemed to be nerves and orchestra related if i'm being honest) and Rose's Turn (I thought it was excitingly what I wanted to hear how she sang it, if not rushed in the final phrases again I will chalk that up to nerves and orchestra). I wouldn't say I was worried about her vocally yet or the placement of the mix that she is doing in those songs. It's different, our ears will have to adjust some will hate it always and some will love it. Based on those two songs though, I am hopeful and very excited about what's to come. 

P.S. Also the Rose's Turn from last night, orchestra aside, sounds pretty identical to the version she sang at Carnegie Hall some months ago. That's just her voice yall lol 

Updated On: 11/22/24 at 03:11 PM

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 11/22/24 at 3:23pm

In less skint times I would see this early in previews and later on, since seeing Shuffle Along take shape is one of the more interesting Broadway memories I have. Obviously that is not a direct analog to a revival of one of the most established shows in the canon, but I'm sure the production will evolve during previews more than most revivals. I enjoy all the discussion and of course anyone paying these prices has a right to their opinion, but I am looking forward to more thoughtful readings of whatever this particular iteration is up to as work continues. 

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 11/22/24 at 3:26pm

The reactions have me more excited than anything. Polarizing takes get me intrigued to find out what I think. Like others have said, Wolfe really hones in during previews. I imagine a lot of work will be done and it will take shape and shorten.

[OharaFosseWolfe888]

Posted: 11/22/24 at 3:27pm

And as has been stated many times in this thread any who knows George knows, he is really just getting to the starting line of crafting the production. He uses preview in such a surgical and decisive way. And with Shuffle All Along, he was being director, playwright and dramaturg throughout the process. I have no doubt by the end of the preview process, the entire production team will be quite happy with what they will have crafted. But it definitely will be a different production, if not fundamentally, in consistent differences from what the audience will experience this first two weeks.

P.S. Just saw a front row recording of the standing ovation post Rose's Turn (why do people do this?! Absolutely insane annoyed that my algorithm showed it to me, but H*LY ***T the acting that is happening in those bows, that's what I will always pay top dollar to see. Nobody acts like Audra Ann McDonald. 6 Tonys to prove it too! Ha! 

Updated On: 11/22/24 at 03:27 PM

[morosco]

Posted: 11/22/24 at 3:48pm

Observation said: "I was mindlessly scrolling on Tik Tok and Audra’s “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” from last night popped up. Gotta admit, not my favorite, and she definitely sounds tired at the end of the song, like she’s barely hanging on to keep up. There’s no visual of her, so who knows, maybe her acting choices are supporting this and it’s actually thrilling to see live.

Reminds me of Tyne Daly having a bad vocal night and the show brings in the curtain extra swiftly when Rose usually sustains the last note...

Tyne Daly Everything's Coming Up Ro..


"

 

[pagereynolds]

Posted: 11/22/24 at 3:58pm

Whatever anyone thought of her vocal range last night, she was by no means struggling to keep up.

[pagereynolds]

Posted: 11/22/24 at 4:20pm

With all due respect to Bette, Madam Rose is a much harder role than Dolly Levi.

Which Bette herself well knows.

Updated On: 11/22/24 at 04:20 PM

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 11/22/24 at 4:45pm

verywellthensigh said: " Don't like it? Don't go to an early preview."

Bingo. It is just HIlarious how many people here rush to see the first preview and then are simply shocked and appalled that they found themselves at a.... first preview. Y'all want the excitement of seeing something raw AND the polish of a near-final product and that aint possible sometimes. 

Someone earlier in this thread said they were looking fwd to seeing this show, but based *the conflicting reports from strangers about the first preview performance* they are no longer going to buy a ticket. I'm sorry but that is simply an insane response.