Gypsy - Bernadette Peters
Gypsy - Bernadette Peters
#0Gypsy - Bernadette Peters
Posted: 5/18/03 at 6:11pm
I saw Gypsy last night and really enjoyed. I did not like our seats but I did not order them. They were in orchestra but a bit back. I think Bernadette Peters was wonderful as Mama Rose. She really is a talented actress. I liked her better than Tyne Daley. Peters has long specialized in playing darlings of various degrees, and Gypsy Rose Lee and June Havoc say that their real-life Mama Rose was a cutie patootie with killer instincts. So being very tiny and cute, she was dead on to me. Ethel Merman cut the template of Mama Rose as a bulldozer and after her Tyne Daly and Rosalind Russell etc. All formidable woman but I think Bernadette Peters is right up there with them. I like the way they started the show on an almost bare staage. Mendes and designer Ward emphasize the musical's backstage nature by exposing the machinery that makes theater magic. Also, whenever Rose's kids, June and Louise perform theier vaudeville act, a gilt proscenitum arch drops into position, leaving room on the sides to disclose mama egging them on from the wings, amid lounging stage hands and kibitzers.
I would have liked B.P. to have taken off the hat after the first act but wearing a short copper blonde coif, her fragile features powered into a hard white, B.P. reminds me of a young Better Davis. This whole make made her look like she was a handful and someone to contend with. John Dossett's easy going Herbie and Tammy Blanchard's wan and breathy Louise brightens up when she finally becomes Gyspy Rose Lee. Other performers who were notable was the appealing little Heather Tepepe's toe-dancing baby June was very cute but my favorite scene was the hard-boiled hilarity of the three seasoned strippers, Tesie Tura, Mazeppa and Electra; Heather Lee, Kate Buddke and Julie Halston, singing "We Got to Get a Gimmick, to me was a hilarious show stopper.
Waited for autographs and we got quite a few. Bernadette finally came out and was very warm and gracious. She is very petite.
"Life is not measured by the number
of breaths we take, but by moments
that take our breath away."
"Life isn't about how to survive the storm,
but how to dance in the rain."
DoReMi
Stand-by Joined: 5/19/03
broadwayguy2
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/03
#2David Burtka
Posted: 5/19/03 at 5:03pmHow is David Burtka in the show? I haven't been able to find much info on him out there. Most of the stuff I have been able to locate about him have been reviews from 'The Play About The Baby' praising the large, uh, *part* he had in that show. Not too many comment about his acting other than he was 'good enough'.
#4Haven't seen it yet...
Posted: 5/19/03 at 8:36pm
...but well-done on this review of it. I will get around to getting tickets one of these days! 
Rob
#5David Burtka
Posted: 5/20/03 at 3:30pmDavid Burtka was very good as Tulsa, June's boyfriend. He came outside afterwards and was very kind and gracious. Very handsome too.
"Life is not measured by the number
of breaths we take, but by moments
that take our breath away."
"Life isn't about how to survive the storm,
but how to dance in the rain."
BudFrump23
Broadway Star Joined: 5/20/03
#7Bernadette
Posted: 5/20/03 at 9:56pmI'm glad Bernadette's back in the show and that you got to meet her. I've always heard nice things from people who have met her at the stage door. My friend's coming in all the way from Missouri in a few weeks, and though she's really seeing the show for John Dossett, I'd love for her to see Bernadette. Of course, I wouldn't cry if Maureen was on, because after seeing her in Cabaret, I'd love to hear her sing the role of Momma Rose.
"Peace! The charm's wound up."
--Macbeth
#8No
Posted: 5/20/03 at 10:09pmLittle Heather was adorable as Baby Louise. She did come out with her mom and we talked to her. My friend asked her if she was nervous on stage and she said "Not at All". She is cute as a button.
"Life is not measured by the number
of breaths we take, but by moments
that take our breath away."
"Life isn't about how to survive the storm,
but how to dance in the rain."
ShineOn
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/03
#9But darling...
Posted: 5/20/03 at 10:20pmWHY would you want to see Maureen when you can experience the experience that IS Bernadette? :) Ah, perhaps one of those nights when Bernie decides to stay in and help Janie find her dentures, you'll luck out and get to see Maureen. Heaven knows that happens far too often. :) "She's old... she can't help it, you know?" HAHA!
"You! You are the worst thing to happen to musical theatre since Andrew Lloyd Webber! And you, well, I just plain don't like you."
~Stewart Gilligan Griffin
~Stewart Gilligan Griffin
ShineOn
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/03
#13re: perfect all the time
Posted: 5/21/03 at 8:45pm
Sorry I meant Heather was Baby June. I can't be perfect all the time........
I'm sorry if my post came off like that, I was just making a general correction.
"Peace! The charm's wound up."
--Macbeth
#14Heather
Posted: 5/21/03 at 9:33pm
I was not insulted, don't worry. Sometimes I get so excited talking about something, I make goofs. P.S. Which one are you in the picture?
"Life is not measured by the number
of breaths we take, but by moments
that take our breath away."
"Life isn't about how to survive the storm,
but how to dance in the rain."
Updated On: 5/21/03 at 09:33 PM
ShineOn
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/03
#16....
Posted: 5/21/03 at 9:49pm
LOL, yeah... she's the one smooching Antonio. No, wait... that would be me. :)
"Gui-iiiiido! *gasps for air* Ciao!"
"You! You are the worst thing to happen to musical theatre since Andrew Lloyd Webber! And you, well, I just plain don't like you."
~Stewart Gilligan Griffin
~Stewart Gilligan Griffin
CJR
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/14/03
#17:)
Posted: 5/22/03 at 11:15am
I'm seeing Gypsy this weekend -- will post a full review when I return. Yes, that's right... y'all can sit down and die of absolute shock; I'm ACTUALLY seeing something other than Chicago. 
I'm looking forward to it, despite my general dislike for the show. Maybe this production will change my perspective. Aside from which, it'll be nice to be sitting in the Shubert again. That was my home away from home for 3 years... *sigh* lol
"You're every gay man's wet dream!" ~ MA
If in Heaven you don't excel, you can always party down in hell...
#18CJR
Posted: 5/22/03 at 1:05pm
Well blow me down, VK, you are seeing something other than Chicago. I never thought the day would come..Enjoy.......
"Life is not measured by the number
of breaths we take, but by moments
that take our breath away."
"Life isn't about how to survive the storm,
but how to dance in the rain."
CJR
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/14/03
#19heh
Posted: 5/22/03 at 1:10pm
You sitting down Broadwaylady? I'm seeing THREE things that aren't Chicago this weekend! Hairspray, Gypsy and something else I haven't decided on yet. Maybe Movin Out... Of course I am seeing Chicago as well, but yeah -- it's 3 to 1 lol
VK/CJR.... I'm having an identity crisis lol
"You're every gay man's wet dream!" ~ MA
Updated On: 5/22/03 at 01:10 PM
If in Heaven you don't excel, you can always party down in hell...
#20inside jokes
Posted: 5/22/03 at 5:16pmI always love the personal reviews of audiance members, vs the critics. But in this thread in a comment about Bernadette Peters, there was a reference to her staying in to help "Janie find her dentures", who are you talking about? Others here seem to have caught on, but keep in mine a lot of us are not in NYC and don't follow the Broadway gossip as closely as you....?
ShineOn
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/03
#21...
Posted: 5/22/03 at 6:29pmOh, Lordie... that's one inside joke that only the insanest of the insane can get. Our dear Flae does one hell of a Bernadette impression... just so happens that on one of her rampages, she started talking about Jane Powell (who happens to live in the same building as Bernadette)... and somehow dentures were involved, and there were dogs and AMDA children... and the rest is basically history. :)
"You! You are the worst thing to happen to musical theatre since Andrew Lloyd Webber! And you, well, I just plain don't like you."
~Stewart Gilligan Griffin
~Stewart Gilligan Griffin
#22*giggling*
Posted: 5/22/03 at 9:39pm
Daisy threw all caution to the winds when she posted about Jane Powell and the dentures. That is a very inside joke. 
hee hee!
I don't think everyone else understood it, they just skipped over it and forgave our insanity.
"Peace! The charm's wound up."
--Macbeth
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