My Review of GYPSY (May 1st Performance)

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 10:17am

Last Thursday night I finally saw GYPSY, having missed the City Center presentation last summer. I have to say that I have seen all of the Broadway productions of my favorite musical, beginning with the 1959 production with Ethel Merman, Jack Klugman, and Sandra Church. I was not disappointed this time, although I had a few minor reservations which I will point out. The minimal sets didn't bother me, largely because that topic has been discussed at length on this Board and I was prepared. I did miss the set for the railroad scene in the 1959 production, which had designer Jo Mielziner's drop showing railroad tracks and overhead wires going off into infinity. I was also a bit perplexed by having the orchestra on stage, but I got used to it and found it fit in with Tulsa's big dance number.The strobe light transition scene where the younger actors are replaced by the older actors remains stunning in its execution. It gives me goose bumpss everytime I see it.

I was very impressed with the cast in general, beginning with the star. Patti LuPone not only sings well, she is a very good actress, having a casual way with a line, showing warmth and a sense of humor which contrasts nicely with her tunnel vision of attempts to make each of her daughters a star, no matter what.I was a little disapponted with LuPone's casual demeanor while she was reading June's letter--she didn't look distressed enough for me. Also, she was over amplified in the final notes of "Everything's Coming Up Roses", a mistake from the sound design team who after all was working with a natural belter. I will never forget Merman's singing that song, beating her breasts with the line "Momma is gonna see to it", and ending the song with her stentorian belt. On the other hand, I was very taken with LuPone's rendition of "Rose's Turn", not minding her speaking a few of her lines instead of singing them: "Why did I do it? What did it get me?" I also liked the way she handled the applause from the audience, purposely milking it and not merely bowing which Angela Lansbury and Tyne Daly did. It worked better in LuPone's version. As for the ending, following "Rose's Turn", which has also been written about on this Board, I liked the way the sign slowly became unlit and
Rose's reaching toward it in one final act of desperation. However, I didn't think Louise's laughing AT her mother, rather than WITH her mother was consistent with Louise's having comforted her mother just a few lines before. It was obviously dictated by the director, Arthur Laurents, as were a few other spots in the show where Laurents tinkered with the original script(eliminating the faux rape scene in the hotel, the absence of the short reprise of "Small World" after Herbie walks out on Rose). I don't understand such tinkering.

Laura Benanti was absolutely wonderful as Louise, showing her jealousy of her sister from the very beginning and slowly maturing, dancing with Tulsa, and finally becoming the elegant Gypsy Rose Lee, with a beautiful singing voice. She is the best Louise I have seen, due to her superior acting ability. She never overplays her part. I thought Leigh Ann Larkin as June was a bit too aggressive in her part, particularly over exaggerating her speaking part in "Dainty June and Her Farmboys". I realize that she had become embittered with her mother, but I just thought that she over-played her part. In that "Farmboys" number I liked the costumes for the farmboys, doing the "Broadway" section, with the formal bibs over their jeans pants, emphasizing the tackiness that vaudeville had become over the years. It was an example of the production's empahsis on the erosion of vaudeville.

Tony Yazbeck made a superb Tulsa, showing a tentativeness as he explained to Louise his number "All I Need Is The Girl" and then gaining confidence as he began his singing and dancing, finally encouraging Louise to join him. It was the best such scene I have ever seen.

Boyd Gaines to me was problematic, showing much more self confidence than Jack Klugman did in the original Broadway cast. I was very taken with Klugman's performance and I'm afraid that his was the performance that I judge the other Herbies by. He was known to be liked by Merman, and their chemistry together worked wonderfully. I particularly remember the scene in the dressing room of the strip joint when Rose at first pleads with Herbie not to leave her. Merman took Klugman's hand and held it on her shoulder. It was an appropritely moving moment, after which Herbie walks out.

The three strippers are hilarious, as usual, with the comatose Electra particularly winning. And the Garden of Eden scene at Minskys in NYC was the best and closest I have seen to the original 1959 "Minsky's Salute to Christmas", with the show girls standing on a giant Christmas tree with ornaments covering their boobs. It works better with just having women in that scene, singing the "Ah ha ha ha hahs" in a pseudo-religioso manner. It is a brief but hilarious moment in this show.

I would heartily recommend this production if you have never seen GYPSY or whether you have seen various productions over the years. It is a memorable night at the theatre.

Updated On: 5/5/08 at 10:17 AM

[aliciag]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 10:23am

Thanks for your review. I'm so glad you enjoyed the show and that's awesome that you've seen each production!

[madbrian]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 10:26am

Of all the Dainty Junes I've seen, I thought Larkin best embodied my expectation of what a young June Havoc must have been like.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 2:20pm

Excellent review. Agree w much of your opinions except Boyd. I though he was my favorite version of Herbie w a real lovestruck physicality. I really love the final moment w the marquee lights half out and Ptti's silent geshray reaching back for them. CHILLS.

[elphabelle07]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 2:40pm

I want to see it so badly!! I've seen clips of it and i agree about Laura Benanti. she's the best Louise yet!

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 4:09pm

Great review, Gypsy9! To be able to compare all 4 previous Broadway mountings with this one is a rare experience indeed, and I appreciate you sharing your perspective.

I hope I get to NY to see it!

Oh!... and I tried to "PM" you, but you don't accept them. You might change your settings (under "Your Settings", unless you really don't want to receive them).

[CMU_bway_lover]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 4:40pm

I agree for the most part however I found Patti to be playing Patti and not Mama Rose. Benanti and Larkin were great but did not match well at all during "If Momma Was Married".

[haddaddy3]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 4:54pm

Wow, how amazing to have seen every single Broadway production. I bow to you. As you'd be able to tell if you check out my blog, I'm very eager to see this production. It was nice to read your objective review as compared to the love for Patti in my mind and the idea that the show will be flawless prior to actually seeing it.

[thatgirl712]

Posted: 5/6/08 at 1:56am

Great review.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/6/08 at 2:13pm

Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. THANK YOU!

To have seen them all! And to give Patti such applause.

I've never heard a description of that moment you mention, where Merman held Klugman's hand to her shoulder before he walked out.

What memories you must have of Merman's performance! Can you give us a few more?

Updated On: 5/6/08 at 02:13 PM

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 5/6/08 at 3:14pm

It is difficult to remember a significant number of details from the 1959 production, it being almost 50 years ago. I certainly do remember her "Sing out, Louise" entrance line and the audience going wild with applause. Her "Some People" was sung with great gusto. Her "Small World" was sung very softly(for her). Her conversation with the Gransinger secretary was very humorously loud. I dont recall her sneaking on stage to bring props during the "Baby June and Her Newsboys" routine, which was done for the Tyne Daly and current GYPSY. (I don't seem to remember much of the Bernadette Peters version, which speaks for itself). Merman's rendition of "Everything's Coming Up Roses" set the standard for the way the song should be heard, as is evident on her recording of the show. As I mentioned in my review, she beat her breasts with clenched fists as she sang "Momma is gonna see to it". "Rose's Turn" was a marvel for me. I had the LP of the show and listened to everything except for the final number before I saw the show, because the liner notes talked about this incredible ending and I wanted to be surprised at the theatre. When she spoke "How do you like them eggroles, Mr. Goldstone" she wiggled her breasts back and forth and I actually feared that she was going to strip during this number, something that I really didn't want to see. I need not have worried. She really put this number over and the audience went wild. I dont recall her bowing to the applause, rather I think she just stood there, letting the ovation wash over her. Incidentally, the name GYPSY ROSE LEE in lights was over the proscenium, lit up during Louise's various strip numbers. When Merman sang "Rose's Turn", just the name ROSE was lit up. It did not flicker out like in the current production.

Merman didn't like Sandra Church(Louise) and I believe was instrumental in having her fired. She apparently didn't like Louise's replacement, Julienne Marie, either. Beware anyone who Merman didn't like, for the odds were that they wouldn't be around for long. She demanded perfection from the members of her company as she herself was a perfectionist about her performances. I am currently reading Brian Kellow's new biography of Ethel Merman, but have not yet gotten to her GYPSY experiences. I hope there will be lots of goodies in that section of the book.

Updated On: 5/6/08 at 03:14 PM

[bollingerchampagne2]

Posted: 5/6/08 at 10:26pm

I do most definitley remember Ethel beating her fists against her chest as well. And I love the way she shimmied back and forth miminking Gypsy's strip routines. I to thought she was going to strip! My boyfriend at the time was amazed at how she showed her legs off when she shimmied, he didn't think she would do that. Rose's Turn sent shivers up and down my spin, I even cried and the crowds applause was shattering. I remember closing night when Ethel held her hand up and asked if they wanted more....What do you think the crowd did then? They went wild like it was opening night.
Later in 1968 when I was good friends with her (from living arrangments and Lucille Ball/Desilu) I asked her why she hated Sandra Church. She said she was a little hard and shouldn't have been so mean because it was all over a man!!! Jule liked Sandra and Ethel liked Jule and wanted an affair with him but that changed when she found out they were "together". Well atleast I know a couple people who have seen he original production!

[antiandrewx]

Posted: 5/6/08 at 10:30pm

Gypsy9, thank you so much for sharing your memories of Miss Merman in Gypsy with all of us. So interesting to hear from someone who saw her live!

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 5/7/08 at 9:21am

Bollingerchampagne2: I am jealous of your seeing the closing night of Merman's GYPSY. I do have a pirated cassette tape of that performance, but it is of very poor quality. Still I treasure it. I was a student at the University of Rochester at the time and Rochester was the first stop on Merman's 6 month tour directly following the NYC engagement. At that time the local Auditorium Theatre(a huge, cavernous place) got extra ushers from the University student body and I of course signed up to usher, so I got to see GYPSY 2 more times. Although he didn't stay with the tour, Jack Klugman was there for the Rochester engagement. Getting to the theatre early, I got to see Klugman come out on stage before the audience filed in, yelling out, "Boy, what a barn!" I also remember one of the sets getting stuck and the show stopped for a few minutes while conductor Milton Rosenstock shouted directions to the stage hands from his perspective of orchestra center. The show then continued without further mishap. The 4,000 seat theatre had no trouble selling out for its 4 day stop.

[bollingerchampagne2]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 8:49pm

Yes it made me cry becuase I thought it was going to be her last broadway show. Since I lived in New York at Park Lane I had nothing better to do with myself since I didn't start working till I was 23, I went to the show every night since Ethel was my hero, icon, and influence. Every night she just got better and better. I didn't actually meet Ethel until 1963, when she was in Hollywood and I was working at Desilu. Then we lived in the same hotels for awhile and I often dined and drank with her since her family was always in another state and she was alone. I never like Jack Klugman until I saw the 100th performance of them. And I did follow the show. I had some dog shows that I could hit in the towns the show was in so at night I went to go and see them and in the day I showed my dogs. So I had a good reason to follow the tour. When I met Ethel on the elevator of the hotel and told her that since Happy Hunting I never missed a single performance of hers and even in concerts too, I had to see all of them! haha, childish, yes, but I loved her and just couldn't get enough of her. Did you ever get to see Ethel offstage when they came to the Rochester engagement?

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 9:20pm

Gypsy9 Thank You for your wonderful review ! It is such an honor, to have people like you and bollingerchampagne2 on this board, with so much Broadway history and wonderful memories to share !

[ElFantasma14]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 9:33pm

Wow. the idea of the "Gypsy Rose Lee" sign and then only the Rose lights up is VERY effective.