How is Tammy Blanchard in Gypsy?

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 6:44pm

I absolutely adored this actress in Life With JUdy Garland: Me and My Shadows, and I saw the broadway.com clip of Gypsy and heard her sing, but what I heard was minimal, although good. For anyone who has seen Gypsy, how is she? She's also a stunning young actress. I hope she stays on Broadway.

[flaemmchen]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 6:47pm

I'm seeing the show on Tuesday, so you can be sure I'll post.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 6:49pm

i have heard godd things about her. You should try and catch her understudy Julie Martell sometime as well. She is amazing.

[Broadwaylady]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 9:29pm

She was very good in Gypsy.

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 9:31pm

Can you describe her a little bit more. Like, how was her singing and her acting? Was she right for the part, etc.?

[MusicMan]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 10:12pm

Ms. Blanchard is fine in the first half of the show but her metamorphosis into Gypsy Rose Lee is disappointing and misses by a mile. First off, the original Miss Lee had a very cultivated, sexy speaking voice. Ms. Blanchard has a very irritating, abrasive way of speaking that totally does her and the role a disservice. In addition, she simply isn't sexy or "womanly" or sophisticated after her transformation--she still seems like a tomboy wearing slinky gowns. Doesn't work at all.

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 10:22pm

Well, in the video, she actually looks and sounds pretty mature to me while singing "Let Me Entertain You" although I only saw like 10 seconds of it. Hmmm...I'll see, I guess.

[Amneris]

Posted: 6/5/03 at 10:53pm

She was INCREDIBLE!!!!! Her acting and singing were both perfect for the role of Louise-Gypsy... the transformation in the 2nd act was wonderful. Yes, she seemed nervous because it was during previews but she still caught my eye and deserves all these nominations.

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 6/6/03 at 8:18am

I have seen the show more times than I should admit, but I will tell you that Tammy has really transformed since the first preview. At first she was clearly nervous (and mean her, not the character). Her singing voice was not quite there, and her transformation into Gypsy Rose Lee was not "WOW!" But now, my God! Her singing voice, her confidence as Gypsy, her Dramatic talent in the scene where she fights with her mother (played by Bernadette Peters) is just amazing! She is so friggin talented; she just needed to gain the confidence...and she has. I really look foward now that scene where she argues with Mama.

Updated On: 6/6/03 at 08:18 AM

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 6/6/03 at 12:48pm

I think she belts okay and her acting is fine. She's pretty and moves well. She doesn't have a head voice for "Little Lamb" but that is always a challenge. Her acting there is very affecting, though. She sings very well on "Married Today" but the staging is flat (not her fault, I expected more of Jerry Mitchell). My belief on her approach to the long transformation is that Mendes coached all three of his ladies to find things in common with each other, so we see how Mama has molded both June and Louise is what she always wanted to be. It shows in the staging of June's numbers and Mama's presence in them. And though Mama is offstage for Louise's transformation, I think the actress is trying evoke Bernadette's lower and sometimes raspy speaking voice, as well as contrast her previous lighter ingenue higher pitch as the cocooned Louise. It works okay, and she does manage to look convincing in both guises. It is a difficult challenge and I think for someone of her stage experience, she does pretty well.