GYPSY moment in THE PRODUCERS?

[daspazoo]

Posted: 12/17/06 at 5:46pm

In his book, A YEAR WITH THE PRODUCERS, Jeffry Denman notes a GYSPY reference that was cut out of Max's 11-o'clock number "Betrayed" when Arthur Laurents wouldn't give permission.

I'm fascinated--anyone know what this was? Any thoughts on why the two moments in HAIRSPRAY got permission and PRODUCERS did not? Or is it just that the HAIRSPRAY creators did not ask?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/17/06 at 5:48pm

Producers was making fun of it, a full blown parody of Rose's Turn was the original Betrayed.
Updated On: 12/17/06 at 05:48 PM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 12/17/06 at 9:36pm

HAIRSPRAY payed homage to numerous Broadway shows, both in scenic references as well as in dialogue.

The two GYPSY references are:

Edna's "...for meeee!" at the end of "The Big Dollhouse" number.

Penny's "...I'm a pretty girl, momma" when Prudy spots her in her new 'look' towards the end of the show.

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 12/17/06 at 10:18pm

Ya know what, I remember both of those lines very well and never even noticed they were from Gypsy! lol.

I would also like to know what he said!

[MrAmySpanger]

Posted: 12/17/06 at 10:24pm

i justtt made the "for me..." connection today when bernie in gypsy was playing on sirius 77 with seth rudetsky. and then i saw this.
the other one i had realized, though.
and i love the kerry butler pictures =]

[leefowler]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 8:26am

Stephen Sondheim had in fact heard the Rose's Turn parody when the show was rehearsing in New York, and had given his permission for the show to perform it (he's a friend of Nathan Lane's). It was orchestrated, and performed in the final dress in Chicago. Then Arthur Laurents got involved. He was miffed that no one had asked his permission (it had never occurred to anyone that it was neccesary, especially since Sondheim had given his okay), and threatened a lawsuit. Knowing Laurents' reputation as a farily cranky guy, this was not regarded as an idle threat. He was invited to Chicago to hear it, and was even offrered a royalty in the show, but he declined.

The section in question doesn't specifically quote anything from Rose's Turn, but it's a fairly direct parody. The lawyers throught that although the show would eventually win Laurents' lawsuit against it, it would still be costly, and it proved easier just to cut the damn thing. The number was a little long anyway, so it probably was better without it.

[Tom1071]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 10:07am

Betrayed is one of the worst moments in the show. It's so long in a show that is already pushing 3 hours. They could have cut that number altogether.

[Buscee]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 10:21am

It's funny though. In Hairspray alot of the younger people feel the "Im a Pretty Girl Momma" is a reference from the movie CARRIE.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 11:55am

Yet another Arthur Laurents story. Why are none of them ever pleasant? Hmmmm.....

[Horton]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 12:06pm

In The Producers there is another gypsy moment in springtime for hitler, there is the lyric "Heil myslef, watch my show. I'm the German Ethel Merman dont you know" and the trumpets have the part of (I had a dream). Its kinda cool.

[BreakingTheCircle07]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 1:31pm

^ ::listens for it:: Hehehe. Never heard that before. Cool!

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 3:36pm

Wow, just listened to that.
SO funny.

[jv92]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 6:13pm

Is Arthur Laurents ever nice or forgiving? I think to waste five minutes on a full blown parody of Roses' Turn in The Producers would be stupid. (Betrayed, an original number, seems like a a much better idea.) However, if Sondheim gave it the okay, why not Laurents? Geez.

[Broadwayboy2631]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 6:18pm

The Producers one was more of a full on GYPSY inspires section of the number, and Hairspray just has a couple of little momentary references that many people wont even catch.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 6:54pm

God, it's almost fifty years ago, Arthur. You're a Broadway god. Stop acting like an unforgiving one.