I've seen GYPSY oh, let's say, way too many times. I've seen countless productions, the last revival twice, both films a number of times, and even have an acquaintance who was on the recent non-equity tour.
Never have I seen a production quite like this one. To call this production "definitive" would not be fair to any of the other productions - they were all "definitive" in their own special ways (for example, the Mendes staging is the "definitive" version of how not to direct the show. The Tyne Daly album is the "definitive" idea of how a performance on stage is better than on a record.) I would, however, say that this was the most gut-wrenching, dramatic production of GYPSY I have ever seen.
My thoughts on the City Center production are well-known around these parts and I will not for a second take them back. I've always thought Patti LuPone was born to play Rose (and it was a kick to see a clip of her from the early 90s on NY1's OnStage retrospective say "I'd love to play it, but it's never gonna happen,"), but her City Center version I felt was a poor showing. It was "Patti LuPone Playing Rose."
What's on stage at the St. James Theatre is nothing at all like the City Center production, and that's why I won't take back anything I said. They're two different beasts. (It would be like saying "I hate hamburgers" after eating at McDonald's but saying "I love all hamburgers" after eating at Burger King. That is, perhaps, a Yogi Berra-ism.)
LuPone has definitely found a character, down to every last detail on her person (the paint on the smock was a nice touch - I've never seen anyone play Rose so controlling that she even paints the sets!). I am not afraid to say that what's on stage at the St. James is one of those "oh my God," jaw-dropping performances. Her transformation from City Center to now is mind-boggling. And I will happily say that it has gone down in my book, tying with Nathan Lane in The Producers as the best performances I've ever seen. Just as Bialystock's bouncing about the stage is etched in my memory, Rose's reaching for the fading lights at the end is etched, as well.
Boyd Gaines is heart-breaking. I didn't feel as strongly for Laura Benanti as I did at City Center, but she's still giving a very strong performance (and I've never seen "Little Lamb," so tolerable, again.) I loved "If Momma Was Married," (one of the stronger numbers, and Leigh Ann Larkin is brilliant) and "You Gotta Get A Gimmick," is utter perfection. Sami Gayle annoyed the hell out of me.
Sets and costumes were excellent - whoever said that they looked cheap, what planet are you on?
Problems with the production? One major - the pacing. It's slow. Very slow. But even a slow production of GYPSY is better than half the drivel we have now.
This production needs to be seen by anyone who even has an inkling that they want to act professionally. The scene-work should be studied.
And for the record, I did dust-off the handy-dandy student ID to get a ticket - right in the front row. On the one hand, Patti LuPone threw (and really threw!) June's torn up note right in my lap, so I have a souvenir. On the other hand, I had to sit on my coat and a booster seat to see the stage. So I moved to a mezzanine box during the intermission. Much better choice.
Updated On: 5/28/08 at 11:09 PM
.jpg?format=auto&width=365)
