I'm sorry for this question but I've never actually seen a stage production of Gypsy (I know, shame on me) so could somebody explain to me what the "faux rape scene" entails?
When Rose and her entourage stay in a seedy hotel, she cooks and overfills her two rooms with her cast of characters, June and Louise. The hotel manager comes in to complain at the height of Louise's birthday celebration. Rose closes the door to one of the rooms with her and the hotel manager in it and proceeds to tumble about with him pretending that he is trying to rape her, so that he will leave and not bother Rose and company. In the Patti LuPone GYPSY, Arthur Laurents eliminated this "faux rape scene", claiming that this farcial staging had nothing to do with the plot of his "more serious" approach to the show. Kiljoy!
Oh wow, nevermind. I totally remember that scene from the Bette Midler film version. Thanks!
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/21/06
"In the Patti LuPone GYPSY, Arthur Laurents eliminated this "faux rape scene", claiming that this farcial staging had nothing to do with the plot of his "more serious" approach to the show."
Actually, I believe he said he cut it because he thought it didn't work in Mendes' production because there were no walls. No walls, no farce. And since he knew the budget for his production was even smaller and there also wouldn't be walls, he cut it.
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