Gypsy- When you got it, you got it- Page 3

[Londonskyguy]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 2:22pm

Dollypop,, I dont know you, but I love you!

[bertandrew2]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 3:31pm

"It's almost pointless for me, or any other fan of the show, to come in and state our case. I'm obviously not going to persuade you, and, honestly, when it comes to musical theatre, to each his/her own. You didn't like it, and while I disagree with your reasonings, I'm obviously tainted by my own personal experiences and perceptions, so I see no reason for challenging your post. It's your opinion, and, as much as I disagree, I don't enjoy starting fights with people whose ideas and tastes differ from my own."

The above is quoted from another thread on here. Why can't everyone be like this?
We all have our opinions. Its very tiring to have the same people start fights every time I point my opinion on Gypsy.

That's just great that many many many of you think this production of Gypsy is the be all and end all. Great! Enjoy It. But for me, you either got it , or you ain't...and this Gypsy just ain't.

[thatgirl712]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 3:41pm

Great review.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 3:45pm

Its very tiring to have the same people start fights every time I point my opinion on Gypsy.

Because you insist on saying the same thing over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over.

You're like a dog who has to urinate on every single fire hydrant.

We've heard you. Now we wish you'd keep your urine to yourself.

[bertandrew2]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 3:48pm

Paljoey...exactly! You proove my point. Now lets hear from midnightradio and jaystarr.
I will continue to voice my opinion on here.
And
I imagine you will continue to have to say something negative and personal
after every time I do. (even though you say you ignore me, you cant help
but post SOMETHING after everytime I post.)

Sad.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 4:16pm

Your need to pee on everyone's parade is what is sad.

[bertandrew2]

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

I say something bad about Gypsy....and everyone jumps down my throat.

I say something nice about Cry Baby...and everyone jumps down my throat.

Now lets see if paljoey can ignore this or if he/she feels the need to
respond to this too.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 4:39pm

[bertandrew2]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 6:37pm

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 4/21/08 at 8:20pm

haha, PJ, that's one of my favorite Patti pics of all time.

[jv92]

Posted: 4/22/08 at 10:38pm

PalJoey and Dollypop, you took the words right out of my mouth. The play is so good, who cares about the sets and costumes!?

[jeniferrenepatricia]

Posted: 4/23/08 at 12:55am

Paljoey for President!!! Love you!!!

[moljul]

Posted: 4/24/08 at 2:35pm

I agree with a lot of what has been said here that Gypsy is not about the sets but why if its not about the sets and several posters on here would be glad to watch this cast on a bare stage did Laurents have such trouble with how sparse the Mendes production was? For me it comes down to the fact that he didn't like someone else directing his show and decided to bad mouth it for no professional reason but for his own ego. The sets in the Mendes version were not "that" sparse and as Gypsy got more and more famous the sets became more and more elaborate. The Garden of Eden number was very lavish.

Obviously Laurents is very happy with this version but it seems so similar to the last revival. For many their like or dislike of this production focuses around the actress playing Rose but Laurents has praised both Peters and LuPone.

For me it comes down to Laurents' selfishness and wanting the last word. And sorry I don't buy the many excuses for not having real animals. This is Broadway. Top dollar. It shouldn't have elements of a high school production.

[DAME]

Posted: 4/24/08 at 2:44pm

Oy.. lets go on and on and on. Bernadette was miscast and therefore sucked the big wad. She was screaching . Always sounded congested and was constantly clearing her throat like she had a hair ball caught in their or something. And I had to see the thing a few times throughout its flop of a run and she was always the same.

Lupone is fabulous. Would love for Donna Murphy to come in when she takes her two weeks.

Updated On: 4/24/08 at 02:44 PM

[zooxanthellae]

Posted: 4/24/08 at 2:53pm

Would love for Donna Murphy to come in when she takes her two weeks.


that would be divine!

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/24/08 at 3:03pm

Donna Murphy deserves her own MURPHY GYPSY, maybe in five years. Plus, she played Laura's sister a few years ago, they're almost twenty years apart but Murphy reads younger.
Having said that, if Murphy played Rose, I'd pee/cum my pants, then buy a ticket to every performance.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/24/08 at 4:09pm

For me it comes down to the fact that he [Arthur Laurents] didn't like someone else directing his show and decided to bad mouth it for no professional reason but for his own ego....For me it comes down to Laurents' selfishness and wanting the last word.

They don't call him The Bitch of Broadway for nothin'!

Welcome to the theater!
You FOOL...you'll love it
SO!

And Ray, Ray, Ray...down, boy! ;-}

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 4/24/08 at 7:25pm

moljul is right...why should we be looking at a high school set and costumes on broadway? And no, it's not because that was it's concept - it's becuase they were trying to be cheap - and that's a fact.

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 4/26/08 at 2:23am

Dame, I saw Bernadette in Gypsy three times and she was the complete opposite of what you described.

[DAME]

Posted: 4/26/08 at 2:51am

Your just better than I am.

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 4/26/08 at 2:59am

I don't know you, so I have no idea whether or not I'm better than you. All I'm saying is that you're completely entitled to your opinion that Bernadette sucked as Rose, but I think she was brilliant.

[DAME]

Posted: 4/26/08 at 3:06am

Girl.. you need to get out more.

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 4/26/08 at 3:57am

I have not seen this revival of Gypsy, and chances are good that I am not going to, but I will comment anyway.
As I have mentioned before, I am a fan of minimalism, especially if you have a great cast because it puts the emphasis on the characters, however there is a big difference between minimalism and cheap. Generally speaking, minimalism is not distracting, but even with an amazing cast, cheap is always distracting. Whether cheap was the concept or cheap was for the sake of being cheap, it doesn't look good. Walls should not shake when doors are closed, that is definitely distracting and can take you out of the moment if noticed.
As for the animals, I don't care if they are stuffed or live, but if you are going stuffed, commit to non-moving stuffed animals. An awkward puppet coming in, if that is truly what is used, does seem like they were going cheap and therefore came up with something obviously distracting.
As for this being the definitive production of Gypsy... I am guessing it is not. Definitive would have to mean it is complete, and missing characters and portions of the script, if that is true, would make this incomplete, and not definitive. Just because the guy who wrote the book for the musical is directing it and has decided to change things around does not make this definitive. It is, however, possible that Ms. LuPone has given the definitive performance of Rose, meaning her performance quite simply defines Rose as she should be, but that, unlike the definitiveness of the production, is really a matter of opinion.

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 4/26/08 at 10:30am

From The New Yorker Magazine's review of GYPSY: "This dynamic production is a conclusive answer to the British director Sam Mendes's lethargic, miscast 2003 revival. 'I thought Sam did a terrible disservice to Bernadette and the play' Laurents has said. 'I wanted a GYPSY seen in New York that was good'. His version puts an American sizzle back into the score and into the musical's dramatic stakes." The reviewer, John Lahr, goes on to rave about the production, especially Patti LuPone.

I have to agree with Lahr's and Laurents's comments about the Mendes production, which left me leaving the theatre disappointed overall.

As for being willing to see the musical on a bare stage, that actually happened at the Winter Garden on a Sunday afternoon in 1959(before there were Sunday matinees): No scenery, no costumes, no lighting, and just a piano. "In a time honored theatrical tradition, the cast of GYPSY is about to do a run-through of the show for the cast of other current Broadway shows. Director/choreographer/dancer Gene Foote remembers Merman entering from the back of the house in a simple but elegant beige suit, while the other performers all wore rehearsal clothes. 'I was just sitting there, not really expecting much, and then, from the back of the theatre, you heard "Sing out, Louise"--and the entire audience stood up. Nobody said anything. You didn't dare. She got this ovation and I think she said "Thanks", and then just went on with the show. It was one of the most incredible things I've ever seen in my life. Nobody applauded. The ovation was just everybody standing. You heard this voice and everybody just came to attention. I remember walking out of the theatre and remembering that score--one hit after another--and that day they were just played by a piano. Incredible.' Actor Farley Granger:'It was one of the most exciting things I've ever seen in my life, and no matter how many times I see the show, seeing it that way will always be the most exciting.'" (From the book SING OUT LOUISE by Dennis McGovern and Deborah Grace Winer.)

Updated On: 4/26/08 at 10:30 AM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 12:00am

And Ray, Ray, Ray...down, boy! ;-}

Sorry, got a little too excited there *blush*

I still don't get the whole "the sets are cheap" critique. You have a brilliant score, one of the best ensemble of a Broadway show at the moment (Patti LuPone, Laura Benanti, Boyd Gaines, Leigh Ann Larkin, Lenora Nemetz, Marilyn Caskey, Allison Fraser, the little girls, etc), what is arguably the best book of any musical, and fantastic daring direction by Arthur Laurents. If you get a chance to notice the sets you don't deserve to see GYPSY.