I find myself agreeing with the original poster as well. As background, GYPSY is a favorite show of mine, I did not see the City Center summer offering of it and I am a longtime Patti fan.
This show looked, for lack of a better word, unfinished. The whole 'deconstructed' set design (crumbling walls, torn curtains, etc that I assume was to represent a world that Rose was struggling to rise above) might have been fine for City Center, but not in a full fledged production. The orchestra on stage worked great for the overture, but once it faded behind the scrims, it lacked a full sound. I felt that the cast was uneven. The kids were fine (both young and 'grown up') as were the Toreadorables in Act II. Standouts for sure were the Strippers and "Gimmick" was really the only time that the show caught fire and excited me like past productions have (regional, local, etc.) Boyd Gaines (Herbie) was also very solid in a sometimes thankless role. As far as things that didn't work for me character-wise, I can only assume that it was the direction they were given (or not given?). Adult June was played with way too much bitterness, making her nearly insufferable. Prime example of how it didn't work was in "If Momma Were Married." That particular moment is really the only time we get to see June and Louise really connect as two little girls and sisters, instead of 'star' and 'support.' They find a commonality in their desire to see momma married and off their respective backs and June's bitchy delivery, while maybe done for comic effect, tainted the moment. I thought LB's take on Louise was going great, until the screaming match at the climax, which was way over the top.
On to Patti Lupone. Her Rose seemed at times cloying, pleading, desperate but in all the wrong places. Rose is a force of nature for sure, one who would stop at nothing to get what she wants for her kids and herself. There were glimpses of that in Ms Lupone's performance but nothing consistent, no real character arch to follow and relish. And because of that, some of her big numbers lacked the goosebumps that they usually produce. (She does sing everything quite well, but so much more could have been wrung from these musical masterpieces) Again, it could the direction. Case in point, when Herbie meets Rose for the first time, he should be swept up in 'Hurricane Rose' and is almost 'forced' to take her and the act on. Instead it is played where Rose tries to lure him in with sex (or attempted sexiness), a desperate move on her part that was way too soon. Also, a lovely moment was squashed when Rose and Herbie rolled around on the floor during "You'll Never Get Away From Me." That should be the first tender moment btw the two, where we get to see the softer side of Rose, and a glimpse at things Herbie really finds behind all the bravado.
The dog and the lamb=Bad Dinner Theater. Years ago, I actually produced a 99 seat production of Gypsy and we had a real dog! We solved the lamb problem simply by making the present a stuffed lamb, which Louise added to her menagerie and sang to all her stuffed pets as if they were real, retreating to a make believe world where she was in control (or similar metaphor)
Lupone did show some real sparks in the climax, but little things like that horrible smock was a real distraction. Still have no clue why she wears it in the second act. She should be in that coat made from blankets from before, as a subtle dig at Louise who made it, 'look at where you came from.' Her Rose's Turn was a tad maudlin at times, but delivered with great emotion. BUT was totally erased by the ending. Here we have just been through a breakdown with Rose, where she finally comes to terms with not being the star and then her and Louise find a common ground and some newfound respect for what the other has been through. SPOILER ALERT
Traditionally the show ends with the two of them walking off together, a wonderful button to the piece. All that is shattered when instead we see Rose turn to the brightly light "ROSE" above her, for one more grab at glory, only to see the lights deteriorate, essentially slapping her (and us) back into an uncomfortable and jarring reality that frankly I feel wasn't needed. We spend 2 + hours routing for Rose, and then we are left with that sad image. I don't find it fresh or new or daring. It bummed me out for lack of a better description.
I hope that, while still in previews things will be viewed and revised as they see fit. I am afraid that their current vision of GYPSY is very skewed.
Updated On: 3/18/08 at 12:22 PM
