Gypsy, the best musical of all time?

[freeadmission]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 10:24pm

I've noticed that in the several thousand threads here entitled "Best Musical of All Time" (not favorite, but the objective best), an overwhelming majority have asserted that the title should go to Gypsy. Based on this information, I bought the OCR, but I just haven't found it compelling. Having never seen the show, I'm sure there's SOMETHING I'm missing, but I'm wondering just what that is. It's easy to say, "Gypsy is the best musical of all time." but it's much harder to argue the WHY. And that's what I want to know.

WHY is Gypsy the best musical of all time?

(Those who don't think Gypsy is the best musical of all time need not respond unless it happens to be in polite rebuttal to the point(s) of another poster.)

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 10:31pm

I hardly think that it is the best musical of all time. I don't have reason why I don't think it isn't the best musical of all time aside from the fact that it hasn't won best musical but that is not saying much, because some of the best musicals didn't win). I just think that there are better I think Cabaret, Sweeney Todd, and maybe even Caroline or Change can be considered better musicals.

Edit: The 1991 Revival won best revival Updated On: 5/26/06 at 10:31 PM

[Smaxie]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 10:35pm

The 1990 revival of Gypsy won the Tony Award for Best Revival.

Updated On: 5/26/06 at 10:35 PM

[sisterberthe]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 10:38pm

Well, I think that Gypsy is spectacular. Although, I must admit that I was forced into going to see this show. I complained the entire way there because I didn't want to see a musical about a stripper, but Gypsy has become one of my favorite shows. In light of that, I'm not fond of the OBC. In my opinion, Gypsy is amazing because of Bernadette Peters (Revival cast-2003). I rushed to buy the CD after the show so that I could get BP to autograph it. Mama Rose is such an interesting character-especially BP's interpretation of her. Rose's determination is remarkable. And I can't forget: Rose's Turn. I've never seen someone perform as passionately as BP did during this song. I'm not sure if this will help, but it's how I feel about Gypsy.

[sisterberthe]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 10:38pm

Well, I think that Gypsy is spectacular. Although, I must admit that I was forced into going to see this show. I complained the entire way there because I didn't want to see a musical about a stripper, but Gypsy has become one of my favorite shows. In light of that, I'm not fond of the OBC. In my opinion, Gypsy is amazing because of Bernadette Peters (Revival cast-2003). I rushed to buy the CD after the show so that I could get BP to autograph it. Mama Rose is such an interesting character-especially BP's interpretation of her. Rose's determination is remarkable. And I can't forget: Rose's Turn. I've never seen someone perform as passionately as BP did during this song. I'm not sure if this will help, but it's how I feel about Gypsy.

[sisterberthe]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 10:41pm

*Sorry for the double post*

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 10:44pm

GYPSY is the best musical of all time in some opinions (including mine) because of its thoroughly drawn characters, perfect book (not a wasted word nor moment) and brilliant score that entertains as well as advancing the story and character development.

[freeadmission]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 10:56pm

I guess both the virtues of the book and the complexity of the characters is kinda hard to understand by JUST the cast recording, huh? Time to find a regional production.

[rosekwbp]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 10:57pm

Gypsy is the best musical of all time because it has a wonderful book and wonderful music. The story covers so many different things and the characters are so complex.

[freeadmission]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 11:00pm

Anywhere I can find a detailed synopsis/summary?

[rosekwbp]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 11:08pm

http://www.lyricsondemand.com/soundtracks/g/gypsylyrics/gypsysynopsislyrics.html

[Smaxie]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 11:10pm

Frank Rich, in his NY Times review of the 1990 revival, covers many of the reasons why Gypsy may be the greatest musical of all time (or at least, his favorite). Some highlights:

'Gypsy' may be the only great Broadway musical that follows its audience through life's rough familial passages. A wrenching fable about a tyrannical stage mother and the daughters she both champions and cripples - yet also a showcase for one classic Jule Styne-Stephen Sondheim song and rousing Jerome Robbins vaudeville routine after another - 'Gypsy' is nothing if not Broadway's own brassy, unlikely answer to 'King Lear.' It speaks to you one way when you are a child, then chases after you to say something else when you've grown up. ...

"Mr. Styne and Mr. Sondheim are both giants on their own, but in this onetime collaboration they brought out something in each other's talent that cannot quite be found in their extraordinary separate careers. If there's no song as angry as 'Some People' in the rest of the Styne canon, neither is there one quite as fragile and vulnerable as 'Little Lamb' in the rest of Mr. Sondheim's." ...

"If 'Gypsy' is the musical most beloved by theater fanatics, that may be because it forces those on both sides of the footlights to remember exactly why they turned to the theater as a home away from home."
Frank Rich - Gypsy

[jimnysf]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 11:15pm

"Gypsy" is hands down the best musical of all time! Best story. Best music. I've seen it many times and have never been let down by the show (Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly, Linda Lavin, and Bernadette on stage and Rosalind and Bette on film).

"Sing out Louise!"

"My mother, who got me into this business, always told me, "Make them beg for more and then don't give it to them!" But I'm not my mother!"

"If I could've been, I would've been. And that's show business".

"I thought you did it for me, mama."

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 11:22pm

I think it's because the book is FLAWLESS. And feels as fresh today as it did when it was originally written.

The score is also perfect, and flows wonderfully with the book.

To atleast get an idea of how f*cking amazing this show is, watch the two movies.

Has some pure classic moments. Rose's entrance. All her sayings, "I had a dream," "Sing out Louise," "As the good Lord says..." ete etc. Everything's Coming Up Roses is a BRILLIANT Act 1 finale. And Rose's Turn is without a doubt the best solo number for a musical theatre actress.

The show is brilliance.

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 11:24pm

You can find a good synopsis at the Tams Witmark website http://tamswitmark.com/musical.html

You should see the movie version. I know that Sondheim and Laurents don't like it, but it is a good film. Roz Russel is a very good Rose. So what if 90 % of her singing is dubbed by Lisa Kirk? Her acting is excellent. Much better than Bette Midler's version.

You say that you bought the cast album. Which one? Even if you hate, hate, hate, hate Ethel Merman, you have to have the original version, if only for the overture and that incomparable trio singing "You Gotta Get a Gimmick".

Did you consider reading the libretto? You should be able to find it at your library or get it special ordered at any bookstore. TCG reissued it after the Bette Middler movie.

[WhenURScrap]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 11:26pm

I do like Gypsy, however, I do not think it is the BEST musical of all time. It's a great period piece and has some great and memorable lines and songs and some great parts for leading actors and some small character roles for the ensemble.

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 11:27pm

Totally agree with SondheimBoy.

The Bette version should be seen to get a better idea of how the stage show is, and to see Bette's fierce Rose's turn. Bette also belts the songs in the style of Merman, one of the very few.

The original movie should be seen for Roz's wonderful Rose. Her amazing chemistry with Natalie Wood. Plus Wood was a perfect Louise, and was truly wonderful. I also think Roz's Rose's Turn is perfection.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 11:30pm

"period piece"? That's a joke, right?

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 11:31pm

There's been a couple of threads about this. Gypsy absolutely has to be considered among the best, though it may be possible to pick an agreed-upon best show. I personally think that honor goes to West Side Story, but I understand the case for Gypsy. I'd say among the best have to be West Side Story, Gypsy, My Fair Lady, and Fiddler on the Roof.

Interestingly enough, many people cite Gypsy as a show that is wonderful but not necessarily their favorite.

ETA: oops, this was about why. Gypsy is usually cited as having the best book of any musical--one that would be compelling without the score. To me West Side Story has the most amazing complex score, and was revolutionary--geniusly created, and no score or choreography compare IMO. There's a couple of reasons.

Updated On: 5/26/06 at 11:31 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 11:35pm

Oh, and also try to list a musical that has two characters as developed as Momma, and Louise. It's impossible. The two are so developed, and their character transformations are amazingly portrayed.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 11:39pm

Well, I can come up with a show that has one--Tevye in Fiddler. Perhaps no other show has 2.

[alterego]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 11:45pm

Certainly one of the best, but you can have too much of a good thing. Having seen it performed many times, and having appeared in it I know it pretty well. One afternoon recently I turned the television on and the Bette Midler version was playing I went about my business wandering from room to room doing everyones dialogue - I knew at that point I needed to give it a rest for a while. I'll come back to it but not for now.

[zoomzoom]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 11:50pm

For me, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is the best musical of all time. It has a great book, music and cast.

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 11:52pm

Actually, I think the character development of Louise leaves a lot to be desired.

Same with June and Herbie.

I do think GYPSY is one of the best, but there are a few i put ahead of it.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 5/26/06 at 11:54pm

"Actually, I think the character development of Louise leaves a lot to be desired.

Same with June and Herbie."

June, perhaps, as she leaves the family early on, it's understandable - but Louise and Herbie???