Gypsy — Page 8

Yes 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”).

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.

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.

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Updated On: 7/12/07 at 07:33 AM

After 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.

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I just found out I am going tonight and I can't wait.

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I like that moment a lot, too, and agree with Calvin that it provides some interesting business to what is normally a throw away part of the show.

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!

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

"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.

dont think so...she didnt' the night i saw her (the 10th)