Good GYPSY Revival News- Page 2

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 11/19/07 at 10:13pm

While LuPone was more consistent and balanced at City Center, am I the only one who found her performance at Ravina much more thrilling?

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 11/19/07 at 10:14pm

Well, I thought Peters managed to effectively play Rose like no one else, got a rave from Brantley along the way, and still didn't get the Tony recognition she deserved.
I'm pulling for Russell or Prince to win this season. I wish GUYS & DOLLS had opened in February as expected, that would have made this race a lot more interesting.

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 11/19/07 at 10:14pm

Well, hold your hats and hallelujah. Happy birthday Glinda.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/19/07 at 10:21pm

I don't think anybody is going to win another Tony Award for playing Rose. The role is too iconic. It's like Hamlet for bitchy show queens. Everyone has their own idea of how it should be played, and so no matter who plays the role - there are going to be dissenters.

And as much as I love GYPSY, its just not a fresh musical at the moment. It would be very hard to get overly excited by even an excellent revival right now.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 11/19/07 at 10:25pm

I don't get it.

When she played the role at City Center everybody was singing her praises saying that nobody could ever beat her for the Tony. Now people are saying she was just okay...

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 11/19/07 at 10:26pm

I think she'll be strong competition for the Tonys. She was phenomenal when I saw her, and got raves from everyone other than Brantley.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/19/07 at 10:34pm

Neddy, not everyone. Alot of people didn't like her in the role, not just Ben Brantley. In theatre circles, I honestly think she had just as many detractors as Bernadette Peters.

I personally think LuPone could be great in the role, but not with the direction Arthur Laurents has apparently given her. Ironically, LuPone probably could have been definitive under someone like Sam Mendes.

[stan39520]

Posted: 11/19/07 at 10:41pm

Good it will be my 1st trip to NYC

[antiandrewx]

Posted: 11/19/07 at 10:46pm

I personally thought that Patti was BRILLIANT. It's one of the best performances I've ever seen... I loved her even more than I loved Bernadette in the role which was a whole lot.

Sooooo excited that this is coming to Broadway.

Also excited to (hopefully) see Boyd Gaines as Herbie again... he was amazing.
Updated On: 11/19/07 at 10:46 PM

[RyToast1]

Posted: 11/19/07 at 10:47pm

Is there definite proof of this happening yet though?! I've read through the whole thread, and didn't read any source of this information.

There hasn't been talk of this at City Center for a few weeks.

[BigFatBlonde]

Posted: 11/19/07 at 11:00pm

I'm not as optimistic as you are MB about LuPone someday deliverying a great Rose. She has been given two shots at the role and judging by her City Center performance, I think she should follow the cow's advice and move over.

After ..good Lord.. decades of seeing LuPone on stage. I've come to the conclusion that is she is too mannered and self-conscious an actress. She can be a trilling theatrical presence at times. And with the right role and director she can tone down her bad habits. But, for the most part, I think she stopped giving interesting singing/acting peformances after Anything Goes.

I will always love LuPone for being a real Broadway Baby. I'll always pay to see her in whatever she does. But like Merman, she is about the pipes more than anything else.

Benanti was the REAL star of GYPSY. She has done the nearly impossible; she made a well known show seem fresh and new. With Benanti we now understand why the show is called "Gypsy" and not "Rose."

*anticipating some show queen's response*

I know that the author's of Gypsy were contractually obligated to call the show Gypsy and not Rose. Thanks in advance.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 11/19/07 at 11:04pm

I wouldn't be surprised if the Nominating Committee just didn't give Patti a nomination. It's not like they are going to have to exactly go out of their way to snub her. There are going to more than enough actresses actually giving FRESH performances this season to take Patti's precious nomination slot away from her.

The Nominating Committee is only 25 people. It just takes a handful to select five fresh performances (many creating new roles) over Patti's rehash performance as herself.

There's Kerry Butler, Faith Prince, Harriet Harris, Jenna Russell, Sutton Foster/Megan Mullally (whichever one ends up in the Leading category), Mandy Gonzalez who has been a replacement for several years and finally has the chance to create a role in an original musical (IN THE HEIGHTS), Sierra Boggess (who I doubt would get the nod over Patti, but look at Laura Bell Bundy's nomination over Kristin Chenoweth last season), and Kelli O'Hara.

Patti's not as much of a sure thing as many people may be thinking. Kristin received more praise for her performance in THE APPLE TREE last season than Patti did as Rose at City Center, many critics saying that she was better than the Tony winning originator, and she ended up without a nomination.

Patti can consider herself lucky if she gets a nomination this season, and personally, I think it would be a shame to take away a nomination from a fresh up-and-comer just to stick Patti in there because she's Patti.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/19/07 at 11:08pm

I don't understand the love for Benanti's performance. She portrayed Louise as if she was mentally challenged up until halfway through the strip. She sobbed through Little Lamb as if the animal had just perished in her arms. Her dressing room scene was shrill and jarring.

LuPone, on the other hand, played the hell out of Rose, finding moments I've never seen anyone find. She's the only Rose I've EVER seen get that final Gypsy/Rose confrontation - the knife-in-the-heart reaction to "Just like I wanted you to notice me, Mama." Not even Daly connected with that satisfactorily.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 11/19/07 at 11:11pm

Well, now, I didn't find LuPone's Rose to be definitive but I did think she gave a thrilling performance. Her "Rose's Turn" was impressive and the dynamics between her and Benanti were genius. However, as BigFatBlonde put it, she's too mannered and self-conscious by now. It is impossible to see her get lost in a role like say Donna Murphy, Victoria Clark, Christine Ebersole, Jane Krakowski, Tonya Pinkins, Anika Noni Rose or other renowned musical theater performers do. Part of it is the way the audience indulges her sometime, part of it is her larger-than-life presence. Whatever it is, I think it gets in the way of her "acting."
I do think she deserves a Tony nod though, the award? That's something else.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 11/19/07 at 11:12pm

I just don't understand how they are planning to fill the St James night after night. They had a lot of trouble filling City Centre.

Also given that most people here never pay anywhere near full price ( which they should not have to ), even if this was limited to 12 weeks. I have no idea how they are going to recoup.

A couple of Million is alot for Patti to buy a Tony, don't you think?

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 11/19/07 at 11:14pm

It's their million.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 11/19/07 at 11:18pm

WannaBeAFoster- Harriet Harris is supporting. Elizabeth Stanley is the lead in Cry Baby.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 11/19/07 at 11:25pm

Great news! I missed the production with Bernadette, so I am looking forward to seeing this.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 11/20/07 at 12:15am

In all fairness City Center is a really large theatre.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/20/07 at 12:23am

"If there was one completely inspired portrayal, I'd say it was hers, along with Benanti."

I love these patented self-contradictory BWW sentiments. Who says Corine "I wish there could be a tie!" Cohen is not this community's role model?

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 11/20/07 at 12:28am

How many seats are in City Center?
Updated On: 11/20/07 at 12:28 AM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/20/07 at 12:34am

Patti's not as much of a sure thing as many people may be thinking. Kristin received more praise for her performance in THE APPLE TREE last season than Patti did as Rose at City Center, many critics saying that she was better than the Tony winning originator, and she ended up without a nomination.

Then again, Patti never went on 700 Club then disingenuously claim she had no idea what the show or Pat Roberston stood for.

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 11/20/07 at 12:44am

Brantley lost all credibility after praising Melanie Griffith in Chicago and raving about Bernadette in Gypsy. I love Bernadette but she was mis-cast and mis-directed in Gypsy.

As for Kristen in Apple Tree, she was very good, but the show's direction by Gary Griffin was completely uninspired and that had hurt Cheno's chances.

[musical_devotee]

Posted: 11/20/07 at 12:46am

What about London?

Any more news about the possibility that Patti will also take her Rose to the West End?

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 11/20/07 at 12:56am

"In all fairness City Center is a really large theatre"


But it was still being billed as the event of the year, they only did 3 weeks and failed to sell out, how do they think, they are going to fill the St James for three months.

I can understand doing this so soon, if the the whole City Centre season was sold out, but really this is only a ego trip for Laurents/LuPone or both!