Gypsy 8/16/08 Evening Performance Review

[theatreguy7793]

Posted: 8/26/08 at 8:09pm

Gypsy, Broadway 8/16/08

Cast:
Rose- Patti LuPone
Louise- Laura Benanti
Danity June- Leigh Ann Larkin
Herbie- Boyd Gaines
Tulsa- Tony Yazbeck
Electra- Marilyn Caskey
Tessie Tura- Alison Fraser
Mazeppa/Miss Cratchit- Lenora Nemetz
Georgie/Mr. Goldstone/Bougeron-Cochon- Bill Bateman

Now I know why this show is so highly acclaimed! It was amazing! I walked into the St. James Theatre and it was much more beautiful than I remembered! (I saw "The Producers" in '06 there with *shudders* Tony Danza) So as soon as I got my playbill and got to my seat, I dropped my playbill only to see a little white sheet fall out. Of course, being desperately in love with Patti LuPone, I assumed the worst. I then proceeded to (audibly, apparently alot of people heard me lol) say "oh ****." then I read the sheet and luckily it wasn't Ms. LuPone, it was for L.A.
Dodged a bullet there haha.

Overture: Man does that orchestra rock! The Overture from Gypsy is probably, if not my favorite Overture, among them. During the middle of the overture my friend turned to me and she said "okay, I'm just about done with the instrumental." haha.

May We Entertain You: I love Sami Gayle as Baby June! She's so adoreable! Of course, as soon as Patti came running up the aisles shouting "Sing Out Louise!" She got a huge applause. Patti demands the stage. I loved when she chased after the girl with the balloon costume with a pin!

Some People: Wow! Patti really showed off her pipes in this song! Every single note was like dieing and going to heaven.

Seattle To L.A.: I loved this scene, when Patti was snatching the little children haha.

Small World: Patti was so funny in this song. Sleak and sexy, and yet charming and sophisticated. I really think Patti and Boyd were perfect for these parts. Although their voices didn't blend perfectly, they were pretty damn close (sometimes Patti's voice dominated over his) but all and all I loved that song!

Baby June and Her Newsboys: I LOVE LOVE LOVE how cheesy they made this scene! I loved the strobe light sequence as a transition for as they grew up!

Have An Eggroll Mr. Goldstone: Patti of course did amazing in this song. Her singing and comedic timing were brilliant! She was so frantic and chaotic! I laughed so hard when she sang "Have A Goldstone Mr. Eggroll". God this woman makes me smile.

Little Lamb: Laura Benanti did amazing in this song! She has such a rich and beautiful voice! Her acting was very good as well. She looked as if on the verge of tears when she sang "I wonder how old I am?"

Danity June and Her Farmboys/Broadway: This scene was also hiliarious! When Leigh Ann almost couldn't burst out through the "hay stack" was so funny! Laura's "Muh-Moo, Muh-Moo" get's me everytime. I loved Leigh Ann's "Iiiiiii'mmmmmm sttaaaayyyyyiiiinnggg a-heeeeeerrrreee-uh" And when one of the boys dropped their hats I loved when Patti ran onstage put the hat back on him, looked at the audience and danced it off like it was part of the act, brilliant :)

If Mama Was Married: Laura and Leigh Ann really shined in this song! You could really tell how annoyed June was with Rose in the way Leigh Ann sang her parts. "I will do some kicks! weee." haha.

You'll Never Get Away From Me: Patti and Boyd have great chemistry! In this song I loved how when moved her bag you could hear all the silverware haha. These two were amazing!

All I Need Is The Girl: Tony is a great singer and boy can he dance! Laura's acting was brilliant, when he was talking about his act she'd pretend that she was the girl, loved it.

Everything's Coming Up Rose's: Hot damn, was this amazing. Patti just blew me away when she sang this song! She pretty much brught the house down with every note she sang.

INTERMISSION: Ugh there were this wicked annoying people from some insurance convention or something and the guy in front of me was one of them and I guess he didn't like it and was all "I guess everything's coming up roses" and then he left after act 1. good thing he did, he had such a humongus head that my friend wanted to complain that she had obstructed view seats :)

Mama Rose's Toreadoreables: I loved this number! Laura Benanti's acting was brilliant! "Hello my name's LouIIISE, whats YOUR'S?" haha.

Together Wherever We Go: The revival cast is the only cast I can listen to perform this song. It puts the rest to shame. I loved when they dropped the plates Laura missed the line "We don't drop our cues"

You Gotta Get A Gimmick: All three of the burlesque dancers were brilliant! "If you wanna make it, twinkle while you shake it, if you wanna grind it, wait til you've refined it, if you wanna bump it, bump it with a trumpet!"

The Strip: I loved Laura Benanti in this song! Her acting in the awkward part at the beginnnihg was hiliarious and as soon as she became confident her acting and singing were just brilliant!

Rose's Turn: Patti LuPone tore the entire block down with this song! It was amazing! She got a standing ovation afterwards that lasted for about 7 minutes plus.

Stage Door: Everyone was so pleasant! Boyd was very nice, and I got a picture with him. But the stage door manager said Patti wasn't taking pictures, which didn't really matter, just as long as I met the goddess that is Patti LuPone. As soon as she came out everyone screamed for her! I recall someone saying, "I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, I'M GONNA BE YOU FOR HALLOWEEN" haha. When Patti came over I was so nervous, all I managed to say was "You did an amazing job tonight, Ms. LuPone." and she said "Oh thank you dear! Call me Patti, please" then she just smiled, signed my playbill and walked away, I almost fainted haha.

Sorry about the quality of this review, I'm not too good at this stuff!

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 8/26/08 at 8:36pm

Thanks for your review! Sounds like you really enjoyed yourself.

[AKDPerformer]

Posted: 8/26/08 at 8:44pm

Awesome! Thanks for your review!

I saw it on Sunday 8/24/08 and it was AMAZING!!!

Especially the chemistry between Patti and Laura in the second act. They were both so magnetic and played off of one another so well. It was like fireworks.

[gypsyrose2]

Posted: 8/26/08 at 8:58pm

Fab review! And I agree completely.

[wicked_beast4]

Posted: 8/26/08 at 9:14pm

AKD Performer, I was there sunday too!!!! It was AMAZING, the WHOLE SHOW!!!!!!!!!

[chino]

Posted: 8/27/08 at 12:02am

1. I love the way you wrote your review, so detailed and it is evident you had a blast! Who would not be? I loved the show as well and am dying to see it again!

2. May I be honest, I really don't like that stage door guy...

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 8/27/08 at 12:08am

Theatreguy, your enthusiasm is infectious! I'm glad you had such a great time. (I did too!)

[ThePinballWizard]

Posted: 8/27/08 at 1:49am

I didn't know Danity June was in the show. Is she in any way closely related to Danity Kane?

[AStack75]

Posted: 8/27/08 at 8:07am

Nice review. I've seen the show twice now (once at CityCenter) and one thing that got me each time is how unbelievable gorgeous Laura Benanti is when the lights come on and you see her standing in front of you all timid to start "The Strip".

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 8/27/08 at 12:15pm

Wonderful review! I'm glad you loved the show!

I adore this production, and I'm so happy that the new cast recording captures it so beautifully.

I encourage everyone to buy the Barnes & Noble version, with an extra disc of eight bonus tracks that help fill in some blanks in the recording that couldn't fit onto the first disc.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 8/27/08 at 1:28pm

GREAT review. Thank you Glad you enjoyed it. I did, too.

[theatreguy7793]

Posted: 8/27/08 at 6:11pm

ANOTHER DISC?! even more than the bonus tracks on the recording already? if so, direct me to it! lol

[je veux te voir2]

Posted: 8/27/08 at 6:42pm

this review...put a huge smile on my face. You're absolutely delightful. Thanks for the review! lol. :)

[americanboy99]

Posted: 8/27/08 at 8:01pm

Great review!

But I wouldn't call Benanti's vocals in the stunning "Little Lamb" rich. I feel that she intentionally makes her voice very breathy and much less pretty than its usual beauty. I think this is a great character choice and adds yet another layer to her brilliant character arc.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 8/28/08 at 8:35am

ANOTHER DISC?! even more than the bonus tracks on the recording already? if so, direct me to it! lol

Yep, the B&N Exclusive CD Set has 8 additional tracks on a second disc.

1- "Let Me Entertain You" Scene, Dialogue and Underscoring
2- "Miss Crachitt" (Dialogue Lines, Scenes)
3- "All I Need Is the Girl" Scene Change Music
4- Entr'acte
5- "You Gotta Get a Gimmick" Scene Change Music
6- "The Strip" Scene Change Music
7- Act 2 Finale Entire Full Scene
8- Gypsy/Exit Music
Buy It Here

Updated On: 8/28/08 at 08:35 AM