Gypsy Live At Savoy-Link to Watch Replay Here — Page 7

RippedMan said: "I love when Mamma wipes the makeup off Louis's desk in the dressing room, or when Mamma Rose is reaching for the lights at the end, but the lights are kind of burnt out... Did we need Louis to walk across the stage and have a mirror pop out of the floor for 2 seconds so she could say "I'm a pretty girl mamma" when she just left a dressing room with a mirror? "

the character is called Louise, not Louis.

Whatever. You knew who I was talking about, but thanks. 

"Mama...I'm pretty. I'm a pretty girl mama."

Gets me every time.

best12bars said: "A couple of things I don't get here as far as "free passes" ...

A lot of you are saying, "Well, Imelda Staunton is a stage actress, so she's playing it big because that's her background," etc. She is also a well-established film actress (Oscar-nominated for Vera Drake) with an impressive list of credits. The choice was made to play this filmed performance for the "back row," clearly, and it was a mistake. But make no mistake that Staunton knows how to act for the camera.

Also, I really don't get the "playing for the back row" excuse in general. If you look at the footage of Tyne Daly, you see a subtle, nuanced, energetic, beautifully-timed stage performance captured on (bad bootleg) video. That was also seen by the "back row" and a large audience in a theatre. You don't have to be Godzilla on the stage to get the emotions across. Staunton's Rose was overblown, overcharged, and over-the-top. Daly's wasn't. Both were on stage, both filmed (one professionally, the other not), and there is a clear difference in the style and approach to the role. The "back row" excuse doesn't cut it for me.

"

I'm sure that probably has to do with the director, at least partially. Daly (and Patti) were directed by Laurents. Who directed this London revival and what is his usual "style" when it comes to him / her dealing with the actors?

When I saw those hideous, fat You Gotta Get a Gimmick girls, alls I could think of was Roseanne Roseannadanna. "What are ya tryin' to do? Make me sick?"

I’m with henrik here. Her performance doesn’t require any justifications. The production made its choices, and, for me, they felt of a piece. It wasn't perfect, but I thought Ms. Staunton was terrific, and, on the whole, I found it thrilling.

Wilmingtom said: "And I'll be that guy: It's Momma, not Mama or Mamma.

Don't be that guy. Potay-toe, Potah-to...Tomay-toe, Tomah-to

Whatever...Whatevah 

If anyone is going to be "that guy", it should be to point out that Rose is never referred to as "Momma Rose", but as "Madame Rose" and that, aside from June and Louise, no one ever calls her "Momma". I suspect she would never have stood for being called "Momma Rose".

Guildenstern said: "As a long-time lurker, I hesitate to comment on this - I've admired the show, but I'm not sure I've really ever liked it, but I have somehow managed to see most major productions. And with Staunton, I felt, finally, saw a Rose, I understood, there was no pulling of punches with the character -no attempt to make the audience like the character - she's a monster at the beginning of the piece, she ends as one and probably creates, at least, one other in the process. There's no journey or development - that's her tragedy.

A very difficult process to carry off nightly

"

That's why, issues aside, I found this version fascinating. It's easily the darkest version I've seen of the show, but it's stayed with me like none other. Do I wish act 1 could have been a little funnier and built up to the drama of act II? Absolutely, but I don't know how that would have changed the way I felt at the end. Imelda's final scene left me exhausted and heartbroken in a way I've never experienced with this show before and I've seen some brilliant Roses (Tyne Daly being the best, IMO). No matter what I or anyone else thought about her performance as a whole, her "Rose's Turn" and final scene are the best versions I've ever seen of those particular bits.

Just finished watching Imelda. This show has always been special to me since when I lived in Boston, the pre-broadway "Gypsy" with Angela Lansbury was one of the first shows I ever saw. Some people in this thread have had issues with Imelda playing to the back row. Let's remember that this is a film of a live performance. She "is" playing to the back row. I think her performance was great and her "Rose's Turn" is among the best ever. She has brought a whole new dimension to the role. I also checked out many of the "Rose's Turn" online (and most of them are there). Compare and you'll see what I mean. She really nails it and has made it her own. 

I didn't mention this earlier on this thread but I also saw this Gypsy life and thought it was one of the most exciting performances of a musical I've ever seen. And by far for me the most successful performance of Gypsy I've seen, and I've seen many including Daly, Lavin, Buckley and Lupone.   To me this video captures that excitement to a t.

 But it's hard to say exactly how I would respond to this production and Staunton if the video were my first viewing of this Gypsy.  

Updated On: 1/7/16 at 03:22 PM