Question about the ending of gypsy- Page 3

[bertandrew2]

Posted: 4/22/08 at 12:23pm

Paljoey, whenever you cannot defend your opinion, you result to personal attacks.
Sad.

[Tom148502]

Posted: 4/22/08 at 12:31pm

The new ending was put in solely so that LuPone could be on stage alone at the end. Strictly a power play.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/22/08 at 12:32pm

I havent read any argument that this revival's ending does NOT work....just some ranting.

[bertandrew2]

Posted: 4/22/08 at 12:32pm

...yes, there's that for sure.

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 4/22/08 at 1:53pm

With regard to having a brief scene of dialogue following "Rose's Turn", it is important at least in part due to some advice which Oscar Hammerstein gave to his protege Stephen Sondheim during the writing of the score to GYPSY. I read about this in a book titled BROADWAY SONG AND STORY where playwrights, lyricists and composers discuss their hits. The symposium on GYPSY took place with Laurents, Sondheim and Styne, with Terrence McNally as moderator, c. 1985 by the Dramatists Guild. It makes for fascinating reading.

Originally there was going to be a ballet near the end with Rose seeing her past with nightmare figures. This ballet was only cut during the rehearsal period when it was considered too pretentious and not in keeping with the rest of the show. Instead, "Rose's Turn" was written, with a nightmare version of variations of songs the audience has heard before. Oscar Hammerstein, visiting the production during the rehearsal period, pointed out to Sondheim that it was the first opportunity for the audience to applaud Merman while she was still on stage, all of the other songs that she sings ending in blackouts or the first act curtain after "Everything's Coming Up Roses". Sondheim and Styne were after all writing for a star, be it Merman, Lansbury, Daly or Peters, and now for LuPone. The audience has a need to finally give the star adulation as its own release of emotion. After that, the important final scene can take place with the audience in rapt attention. In London and New York, Laurents had Lansbury incorporate the bowing as part of the nightmarish number, continuing to bow even after the applause has stopped. I don't remember how Daly and Peters handled this continuous bowing. But the final scene of dialogue is an important and sensitive coda to GYPSY. It would not have worked with the final curtain coming down right after "Rose's Turn".

Updated On: 4/22/08 at 01:53 PM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/22/08 at 2:07pm

I was gonna mention that "Patti being on stage alone" thing also but I felt I would be called a Basher, which in this case I am not.
Just stating an opinion.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/22/08 at 3:07pm

Why shouldn't she be onstage alone? After all, the name of the IS "PattiLuPoneGypsy," ain't it?

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 4/22/08 at 5:09pm

I am an avid fan of the Lupone and Peters productions and both endings served their purpose. For the most recent production, I feel like it gives us insight into Rose's thoughts while in the last production, there is much more room for individual's interpretation of the continuing relationship of Louise and Rose.