Gypsy dispute

[Mutts2]

Posted: 3/29/08 at 2:54pm

Buried in the lengthy Gypsy review thread was a "discussion" of the whether LuPone was supposed to do Gypsy at the Donmar and I came across this old Show People issue from 2003 with an article about Mendes and Gypsy. It says that 6 or so years ago, "Mendes had first thought of reviving the musical at the Donmar with Julia McKenzie the putative star, until he and Laurents jointly decided that London's premiere studio-sized theater was just too small. The article goes on to say that it was Peters' performance of Some People at her Carnegie Hall concert in 1996 that cemented Laurents idea of having Peters play Rose, an idea that "began percolating as far back as 1987 with Peters bravura turn as the witch in Into the Woods."

By 2000, when Laurents was running around promoting his autobiography, it was already being reported that Peters would be starring in a full-scale revival in London directed by Mendes so I don't know how LuPone could have gotten a letter saying she wasn't approved in 2003 unless she was inquiring about being a replacement.



The Times article that Moljul referenced doesn't actually mention LuPone at all. It says, "Roughly five years ago Mr. Laurents talked to Mr. Mendes about directing the revival, and Mr. Mendes said he was surprised by the idea of casting Ms. Peters as Rose.
'My first reaction was, 'How old is she?' ' Mr. Mendes said, thinking Ms. Peters too young for the role. 'And Arthur said, 'Older than she looks.' '

Obviously everything worked itself out in the end and if LuPone was bitter then, she should have no reason not to be a happy camper now.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/29/08 at 2:58pm

A new thread for THIS? We will never now the full story. Unfortunately.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/29/08 at 3:10pm

There are three people who know the truth:

1. Patti LuPone

2. Arthur Laurents

3. Sam Mendes

The only thing we can know for sure is: Each of the three knows a different truth.

[Ad Lick It]

Posted: 3/29/08 at 5:24pm

I can add a few details. Unfortunately, I can't reveal my source, but here's what I know:
Sam Mendes went to see Patti in Master Class in London in 1997. He went backstage and told her that he wanted her to play Rose in his production of GYPSY.
Yes, Arthur had already decided Bernadette was his choice and yes, Arthur already hated Patti (since the Jolson Sings Again snafu in 1995).
I believe the letter Patti refers to came from a lawyer or agent on one side or other of the deal - maybe it was actually a letter from Sam though.
In essence though, my point is that, other than semantically, Patti and Arthur's stories are not contradictory.
Patti continued to cover the role and campaigned Sondheim to convince Arthur to let her do it (circa 2000) but Arthur was dead set against her.
He claimed in his autobio that her diction was the issue, but that's a lie.
But he is telling the truth about Patti never having been connected to the Mendes production because he shot down the idea the very first time it was brought up and he was already sold on Bernadette.

I hope that clarifies things. I don't think I've left out anything I know, but feel free to ask if you have a question.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/29/08 at 6:50pm

A musical-theater Rashomon.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/29/08 at 8:44pm

Though you joined to post that...I really do believe it.

[Mutts2]

Posted: 3/29/08 at 9:43pm

"Arthur already hated Patti (since the Jolson Sings Again snafu in 1995)."

Well if you can believe anything Laurents says, it seems like he wasn't fond of her playing Rose even before that Jolson debacle saying in the Gay City News that LuPone "begged" him to let her do the 1989 revival but he wouldn't let her because she had no consonants and no sense of humor. Since LuPone apparently agreed to star in and pulled out twice from his Jolson Sings, I guess he was ok with no consonants or humor for that part.

[winston89]

Posted: 3/29/08 at 10:50pm

Stupid question. But, if Laurents was bashing everything to do with the Gypsy production in 03 including Mendes and Peters, why would he have Peters be his ideal Momma Rose. And, if he was so dead set against Patti doing it, why is she doing it now?


Sorry if these questions sound stupid. But, it is just a question of logic that is trying to connect these dots.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/29/08 at 10:57pm

Laurents promised Bernadette the role since 1996/1997. He has never said anything bad about her Rose, just the production. He didn't start hating the show until he saw how it was shaping up in previews.

And he changed his mind about Patti after his late partner of 52 years told him to do it with her at City Center. She also made a phone call to him, but he said it was his partner's words who convinced him.
Updated On: 3/29/08 at 10:57 PM