Gypsy last night

[Amneris]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 9:50am

I was offered a ticket to the show last night for my 3rd time. I am sad to report that they closed the entire balcony and 25 people were in the mezz. The orchestra wasn't filled too well either. Everyone was in but Tulsa and Agnes. I really liked Alicia Sable as Agnes. I felt she was much more suited for the part because she was young and naive. The strippers were in top form as always. Just hilarious. I thought the Tulsa u/s was okay. He did his job for me! Patti and Boyd were always brilliant and I really don't know how she does it every single night. Laura was great but at times she seemed a little bored as did LeAnne. I really don't care for LeAnne's Dainty June still. I just think she plays the role like a 50 year old women would play June if she were doing it in Forbidden Broadway. There were times in the evening where I thought a lot of the cast really just wanted to go home but mainly, I was thrilled to be in attendance. The Overture still gets me everytime :) that is my 2 cents. Thanks!
Updated On: 11/21/08 at 09:50 AM

[TheatreLover76]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 12:01pm

Hmm, by the sound of it, closing night might come earlier than Maich 1st.
Well, it might pick up next week for sure, and for the next month, month and a half...I'm thinking Jan-Feb months will be dreadful.

Now I am definately regretting buying my closing night ticket, at full price nonetheless!! I'll just keep a close eye on press releases, and as soon as I hear something about it closing (hope not), I'll run to the box office.

Just curious, why didn't everyone move to the orch if there were seats available?

When the actors sound or look bored as you describe, it doesn't sound too good. I wonder if patti lupone ever looked like she was tired of the role? Is it two years now that she's been associated with gypsy? Has she had any vacation time from this run? I don't think so?

[Parks]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 12:03pm

The women sitting next to me at Billy Elliot last night told me that they closed off the balcony a few nights ago too. :-/

[Parks]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 12:03pm

The women sitting next to me at Billy Elliot last night told me that they closed off the balcony a few nights ago too. :-/

[TheatreLover76]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 12:06pm

Oh, I just wanted to add that Laura's Louise I think, is supposed to kind of look bored. I think the charater is supposed to be portrayed as one that just "goes with the flow" and lacks ambition.

I didn't care too much about this June either...she just comes off as too snobbish and conceited, but then again that's what the charater calls for - but I sympathized more with 2003's broadway Gypsy's June - forgot the actress' name...

[legally_popular]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 12:44pm

The performance I saw last week was very off too. Patti and Boyd were fine. Laura was sick (and still is)... I don't think she was bored, just lacking that energy she usually has. I love Leigh Ann and she is playing June as a bored actress, as Arthur directed her to.

I really hope it doesn't close before March 1st.

Do you know the name of the actor who went on as Tulsa?

[Amneris]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 1:22pm

Well they let us move down. I was supposed to have a bad seat in the mezz hahah and they moved all of us to the first and 2nd row of the mezz which was amazing and so KIND of them. I am not sure the fellas name who played Tulsa as I lost my slip on the floor of the theatre. He was pretty pretty good for a cover. It's just that I remember Laura being more into it early on in the run.

[TheatreLover76]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 1:32pm

Oh, that's right, isn't Tony Yazback (sp), the show's Tulsa, doing another show this week, or something?

[ashley0139]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 1:37pm

Tony is doing On the Town at Encores this week.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 1:38pm

Reminds me of SIDE SHOW, the last few weeks. Everyone used to 2nd act it, and then sneak up into the otherwise empty mezz. The ushers didn't even police it -- they were happy to have the gals play to a bigger house (anyone else remember?) GYPSY won't get to March 1st. It's just a revival too close to the prior one -- which lasted a year.

[BroadwayBelle2]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 1:48pm

How has the stage door been? Does anyone come out since the weather has been freezing?

[TheatreLover76]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 1:50pm

I believe Bernadette's Gypsy lasted a full 12 months, opened in May & closed the May after. Well, that revival got through the Jan-Feb months...and if I remember correctly the economy was not as bad, but it managed a full year....

[Roscoe]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 1:51pm

I caught the show last week and had very mixed feelings. Way too many people had way too sloppy diction: I simply could not understand a word of the conversation between Tessie Tura and that burlesque comic. Likewise the drunken Electra, terribly sloppy.

As for Ms. Lupone, well what can I say. When she remembered that the noises she was making were supposed to be WORDS and that those WORDS were supposed to actually mean something, she was terrific. Way too many lines were just kind of tossed off and slurred together. She managed to rise to the occasion for Rose's Turn and Some People, and she started Everything's Coming Up Roses very well but soon slid into slurry incomprehensibility. She seems kind of bored, there were some moments where she seems to be doing strange unexpected things just to vary the monotony.

I thought Laura Benanti was terrific, as was Boyd Gaines. I wasn't crazy about the production at all. That stupid stunt with the Taymoresque lamb, I mean really. I thought the production itself looked downright bargain basement, and wasn't impressed with the darker than usual vibe of the show. Grimmer isn't necessarily better.

Updated On: 11/21/08 at 01:51 PM

[TheatreLover76]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 2:01pm

The last time I saw it was in early Oct and once the curtain came up for the 2nd act & the girls got into the "toreadorbles" song, PL started coughing, right during that, and she rushed for a drink backstage before the number finished & Louise comes out. So, the sip of water didn't do anything, still cough, cough b/w the lines. Herbie then comes into picture as he does, and how they managed to communicate to each other that "I need a napkin/tissue" or s/th between lines I'll never know! Then Boyd gives her his tissue from the pocket, Patti STILL coughing, now were at the point where Louise says "I'll NEVER be like June," PL slips back stage, come out drinking a glass of water, the audience starts cheering, she then sips a bit more, gives it back to a "hand" that we see extending for the cup, and then they get into "Together." I don't know why but their calm and collective approach to that really seemed so great to watch!

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 2:03pm

"but I sympathized more with 2003's broadway Gypsy's June - forgot the actress' name..."

You are thinking of Kate Reinders.

[Amneris]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 2:23pm

well wasn't it true that during the Bernadette revival she took a huge pay cut to keep the show running ?

[TheatreLover76]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 2:45pm

"well wasn't it true that during the Bernadette revival she took a huge pay cut to keep the show running ? "

Towards the end of the run? Really, hmm...I think that does sound familiar. I think that might have read that too, you might be right. But, still, if it was getting bad reviews (supposedly, I guess), people still went to the show and it did last a year....But, is the the norm for the principles to do that, take pay cuts? I mean, wouldn't it be wiser to just move on to a next project? But, if you're like me & love the principle actor(ress) in any show, I'd much prefer as long of a run as possible...

[TheatreLover76]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 2:46pm

"but I sympathized more with 2003's broadway Gypsy's June - forgot the actress' name..."

You are thinking of Kate Reinders.

Yes! You're right! Thanks!

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 3:02pm

The show hasn't been doing very good business very often in its run. The balcony is closed off frequently and the mezz is a hit or miss as far as attendance goes.

As for closing the show before March 1, I really don't see that happening.

[TheatreLover76]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 3:11pm

Maybe the close off the balcony seats to make more money, as in sell more of the orch/mezz seats first? I'm thinking for every show in general, not just gyspy.

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 4:18pm

Yes, Bernadette did take a paycut during Gypsy from what I remember.

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 4:29pm

What they mean by closing the balcony is this:

If not enough seats were sold on the Mezz or Ochestra (the more expensive seating), to fill in the theatre more evenly, people with seats on the balcony are moved to a lower level. They don't close the balcony from ticketbuyers.

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 4:56pm

See, but I purposely bought a ticket in the first row of the balcony because I did not want to sit behind people. I will actually be annoyed if they don't allow me to sit in the seat I purchased.

[TheatreLover76]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 5:30pm

"Yes, Bernadette did take a paycut during Gypsy from what I remember. "

Do you happen to know how much was she making per week (estimated) and how much of a pay cut did she agree to?
Updated On: 11/21/08 at 05:30 PM

[yankee_fan907]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 5:35pm

No clue at all who the Tulsa understudy was last night? I know one of the guys who covers that track and I'm wondering if he went on. His name is Pearce Wegener, if that rings a bell. You can't remember at all?