Gypsy- Page 8
Gypsy
#175re: Gypsy
Posted: 7/12/07 at 12:33am
I can't believe I forgot to mention the strippers! They were wonderful--especially Allison Fraser, who wrung every drop out of Tessie's lines--and Tessie has the best lines in the show!
Which reminds me of this entry in the "Bitchiest Thing Arthur Laurents Ever Said" contest:
Arthur infamously turned on Sam Mendes during previews for the Bernadette Peters revival, when it became clear what a debacle that production was.
Nevertheless, Sam still wanted to please Arthur and regain his approval, despite the AWFUL things Arthur was saying about Sam all over town.
Sam called Arthur one night after a performance to tell him how well it was going and how much better Bernadette was getting each night. But nothing could ever change Arthur's mind once he decided that someone was "an untalented fraud."
Finally, near defeat, Sam said, "Well, the strippers went over well."
"oh, please, Sam" Arthur said, before hanging up. "ANYONE can make that number work. You could cast Saddam Hussein and his two sons as those three strippers and they STILL would bring down the house. Good NIGHT."
#176re: Gypsy
Posted: 7/12/07 at 12:51amYes Alison was excellent; the only one who fell a little short for me was Nancy Opel as Mazzeppa. And I do agree with Laurents. Te whole "Gimmick" scene and number is written so perfectly it would be almost impossible to screw it up. I think "Gimmick" is the best musical comedy number ever written (my favorite version is the one from “Jerome Robbins Broadway”).
Mutts2
Swing Joined: 7/6/07
#178re: Gypsy
Posted: 7/12/07 at 2:45am
Maybe one of those who dared to find fault with LuPone's Rose was really Rex Reed. He had more than a handful of unkind, if somewhat funny, things to say 3 years ago in his review of her Lady with a Torch show calling her "clueless" saying she, "turned torch songs into dangerous weapons," killed songs "like she was swatting bugs," should be arrested for "committing musical homicide" and worst of all, likened fans to enablers saying, "The louder she screeches, the louder they whistle, yell and stomp their approval."
BTW does anyone know if it's true that less than 40% of the tickets for the run have been sold. I realize that it's the 2700 seat CC, but even transplanted to the Shubert where the last revival was, that come to less than 70% capapcity. It's great for repeat goers that you can get good seats at TKTS, and at just $25 they're basically giving away all 800 gallery seats and half the mezzanine but should LuPone in Gypsy equal fire sale! It reminds me of that scene in Ruthless People where Midler's character exclaims "I'm being marked down" when her husband won't pay the ransom money.
Hopefully the Times won't send Stephen Holden, I can't think of the last time if ever he reviewed LuPone favorably.
fengshuihellnyc
Broadway Star Joined: 3/8/05
#180re: Gypsy
Posted: 7/12/07 at 7:33am
Laura Benanti seems even better the next morning. I'm remembering now that her Little Lamb was the most heartbreaking ever. She wasn't as sexy a Gypsy in the strip scenes as Zan Charisse was in the Lansbury revival, but her final two scenes with Rose were the best acting I've ever seen from a Louise (except maybe for Natalie Wood, but she's in a class by herself).
So I give it up to the Laura Benanti fans on the board.
#181re: Gypsy
Posted: 7/12/07 at 7:44amI found this production of Gypsy to be really refreshing. The pace was wonderful - it moved along at quite a clip, and never felt weighed down to me. I had never seen Laura Benanti, so I was really pleasantly surprised at how well she handled the transition from gawky teen to beauty queen...and yes, her "Little Lamb" was the best I've heard. I was truly touched by that number. Lupone was fantastic as usual, and I really enjoyed the staging. All in all, a great performance, in my book.
"I don't really get the ending,all i can go with is when after several months,Judith saw Pat sang,and later she kissed him on the toilet,after that the story back to where Pat went down from the stage after he'd sung,and he went to the italian lady.I just don't get it,what Judith exatcly meant when he kissed Pat that she had seen,and did Pat end up together with The Italian Lady?Please help me,thank u very much!"
Quote from someone on IMDB in reference to a movie he/she didn't understand. Such grammar!
#182re: Gypsy
Posted: 7/12/07 at 8:32amAfter viewing the first preview of Gypsy with Patti, I was amazed. It was the best production I have ever seen. All the characters made bold choices that weren't the same old choices as seen in the movie, the tv show and in the Bernadette Revival. Laura was the best Gypsy Rose Lee ever. I was amazed after the spat between mother and daughter near the end. And I loved how Patti was mocking the stripping industry during Rose's Turn. It was truly unforgettable. I wish I could see it again. It would be great if they could record it. Maybe they will, who knows. Another great part was the character of Electra who is kind of there so there are three to sing Gotta Get a Gimmick, but Miss Electra was a standout. Loved Nancy Opel too as Miss Cratchit and Mezeppa. It was a fabulous evening.
"Love the Art in Yourself. Not Yourself in the Art." -- Stanislavski
#184re: Gypsy
Posted: 7/12/07 at 11:26amI just found out I am going tonight and I can't wait.
Cheyenne Jackson tickled me. AFTER ordering SoMMS a drink but NOT tickling him, and hanging out with Girly in his dressing room (where he DIDN'T tickle her) but BEFORE we got married. To others. And then he tweeted Boobs. He also tweeted he's good friends with some chick on "The Voice" who just happens to be good friends with Tink's ex. And I'm still married. Oh, and this just in: "Pettiness, spite, malice ....Such ugly emotions... So sad." - After Eight, talking about MEEEEEEEE!!! I'm so honored! :-)
friedrichVT
Leading Actor Joined: 5/4/06
#187re: Gypsy
Posted: 7/12/07 at 11:41am
It seems like they (she) kept any vulnerability from Rose's Turn and saved it for the reconcilliation. She was mocking,angry, monster-like(particularly her final "for me!"...truly intense and frightening) but that moment she shares with Louise, when she finally feels needed ,and for the right reason... It seemed like the culmination of EVERY wrong she ever made as a Mother came to a head. It's a moment of GREAT angst,sorrow and forgiveness. It was an INCREDIBLE MOMENT. So powerful.
Updated On: 7/12/07 at 11:41 AM
oldfashionedboy
Chorus Member Joined: 2/26/05
#188re: Gypsy
Posted: 7/12/07 at 12:00pm
When I was 12 years old I saw Ethel Merman in Gypsy, when I was 27 I saw Angela Lansbury, at the age of 42 I saw Tyne Daly, and four years ago saw Bernadette Peters.
Gypsy is my all-time favorite musical, and last night I saw the new "production" with Patti Lupone.
I hesitate to post a minority viewpoint here as I will probably be called a bitter, sexless old queen.
I found this to be the least satisfying of the five NYC productions that I have seen.
The staging left a lot to be desired - it was something between an Encores concert and a full-fledged production.
Too much screaming from both Gaines and Benanti in their climactic showdowns with Rose (they were otherwise fine), the least funny Gimmick I have ever seen - Mazeppa was truly terrible,
and while Lupone (who I found to be absolutely brilliant throughout Sweeney Todd) nailed both Everything's Coming Up Roses and Rose's Turn, these two songs seemed disconnectted from an otherwise lightweight and all too likeable interpretation of Rose. She was not the driven and demonic character that should be presented.
Am I sorry that I saw it? - absolutely not.
Gypsy Lite is still Gypsy, and even a less than satisfying production of this classic is preferable to anything else that has opened on Broadway this past season.
Let the insults begin!
friedrichVT
Leading Actor Joined: 5/4/06
#190re: Gypsy
Posted: 7/12/07 at 12:11pm
PalJoey,my bad... misunderstood. The moment afterwards I found very moving. I also must agree that Mazzeppa (Opel) was not well cast ...at ALL. From her padded belly to her all to healthy singing voice. Caskey and Frasier were HYSTERICAL. Opel really missed the mark.
Updated On: 7/12/07 at 12:11 PM
#191re: Gypsy
Posted: 7/12/07 at 12:35pm
"lightweight and all too likeable interpretation of Rose. She was not the driven and demonic character that should be presented."
ofb, I courteously disagree about Rose...if she is overly driven and demonic it is impossible to believe that Herbie stays and Louise keeps hoping...she must be likeable for us to care...that's the brilliance of the character, imo...and what Daly and Patti did/do so well...and I assume Lansbury, tho I didnt see her Rose (damngnabbit!)
"Carson has combined his passion for helping children with his love for one of Cincinnati's favorite past times - cornhole - to create a unique and exciting event perfect for a corporate outing, entertaining clients or family fun."
"In Oz, the verb is douchifizzation." PRS
"In Oz, the verb is douchifizzation." PRS
#192re: Gypsy
Posted: 7/12/07 at 12:35pm"oldfashionedboy" i would have to agree with you're comments. I found everyone around me in the theater bashing bernadette (the only other mamma rose i have seen, less you count bette midler); but I found that this production had no where near the emotional impact of bernadette's revival production. I found the sets, costumes and lighting all to be pitiful; there were also sound problems and technical difficulties even getting the set pieces onstage. And for the record, Benanti (while decent) doesn't hold a candle to Tammy Blanchard.
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