Review- Final Performance of Gypsy

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 7:33pm

First off I would like to say that this was probably one of the best theater experiences of my life.

The opening announcement was genius. They said, "Please, no photography or recording of the performance. The actress does not like it and find it distracting. She can see you and will report you to House Staff." Made the whole theater crack up.

The show started with a giant applause, the Orchestra got a huge applause during the Overture. When Patti said "Sing Out Louise" everyone jumped to their feet. She came on and stayed in character for about 2 minutes then she broke character and bowed.

When Boyd entered he got a huge applause. They had so much fun in all of their numbers. You could tell they were having a blast, they were very playful and full of life. Lots of jokes and gestures got applause and lots of laughs.

During the transformation from the kids to adults there was a very big applause for Laura an for the rest of the cast. I really wish Louise got a great entrance like the others but she did not. When she has the alarm in her hands in in the next scene on her Birthday she got lots of love from the audience and you could tell she kid of broke character.

Lenora as Miss. Cratchitt got a big applause as well and everyone loved her. When Rose yells "hit it!" and the boys come on singing Broadway she sort of danced with them and did a jump off stage, it was great. Tony got an extended applause after" All I Need is the Girl" Then it was "everything's Coming Up Roses" Patti KILLED it! She was amazing. She got a standing Ovation from most of the theater.

Together Where Every We Go was incredible. They were having SO much fun. It was great. When they trough the trays/plates/things up one of Laura's went into the wings and she looked at the person in the wings and then Patti did and finally the person slid the thing back on stage and they laughed it out for a while. It was so funny and I loved every minute of it. This was probably on of my favorite numbers in the show.

All the strippers got some love from the audience. They were hilarious as usual. Laura's transformation from Louise to Gypsy was phenomenal, she is an amazing actress and will move on to even greater things. Also at the end of "The Strip" when she covers herself with the curtain she let the curtain go and you could see her in just her undergarments. I don't know if this usually happens, I can't remember if she did this last time I saw it or not.

Rose's Turn was even more amazing than it has ever been. I have never seen a Standing Ovation go on for so long during a performance. This must have gone on for 10 minutes. Patti was blowing kisses to the audience and embracing the applause and love from the audience. Laura stood there smiling the whole time. At the end of the applause people were yelling "I Love You" and those types of things. I loved "Your a National Treasure!" If you are on here than you made me laugh.

At the curtain call a bunch of Roses were thrown onto the stage. I don't know if this was people or House Staff, I was in the Mezz so I could not see it being thrown. But they were given to the entire cast and Orchestra. Then Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Laurents came out. I was SO excited to see Sondheim there. That was probably one of the coolest parts of the night. There was an applause going on for a good 10 minutes and Patti gave a short speech. She didn't want to leave the stage, neither did the rest of the cast.

I wish this performance could have been filmed but whatever. I will get over it.

I would also just like to say good job to the Ushers. They were VERY nice and not nasty at all. Lately I have been disappointed in the staff but they were very good. During the scene where Louise is getting ready for her strip a cellphone went off like 5 times. The person was told to get out and everyone was yelling at them. I was very mad I was distracted, I hate those types of things.

[Cat2]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 7:44pm

Nice review.
Regarding the ushers- not all of them were nice. The lady usher in the balcony was as nasty as they come.

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 7:47pm

thanks so much for the review!

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 7:49pm

Thank you for giving us your review. It was the next best thing to being there. How was the stage door? I can imagine the chaos. from RC in Austin, Texas

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 7:51pm

"Thank you for giving us your review. It was the next best thing to being there. How was the stage door? I can imagine the chaos. from RC in Austin, Texas"


I didn't even attempt, I have their autograph. I didn't feel a need to be pushed against a barricade.

"Regarding the ushers- not all of them were nice. The lady usher in the balcony was as nasty as they come."

Oh well. I had a very nice young girl.

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 7:51pm

Thank you for your review! Sounds like an incredible finale, of a fantastic show, with amazing actors and the most talented Broadway star alive as a lead !!!
Updated On: 1/11/09 at 07:51 PM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 7:55pm

This must have gone on for 10 minutes.

Are you aware how long 10 minutes is? Every time a show closes, people come back going on about these endless standing ovations. 10 minutes is a very long time. 5 minutes is even unheard of. You don't realize how long something goes on when you're in the moment, and I highly doubt this was a 5 minute ovation, much less 10.

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 7:56pm

"This must have gone on for 10 minutes.

Are you aware how long 10 minutes is? Every time a show closes, people come back going on about these endless standing ovations. 10 minutes is a very long time. 5 minutes is even unheard of. You don't realize how long something goes on when you're in the moment, and I highly doubt this was a 5 minute ovation, much less 10."

No, this was LONG. The longest I have ever seen.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 8:03pm

It was easily a 5 minute ovation.

Amazing afternoon.
And wonderful curtain call, especially with Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Laurents joining her on stage.

You could tell they all loved every minute of the performance today. And Patti was fabulous. Just fabulous.

(But, honest to gosh, that person with the cell phone that kept going off during Act II... WHERE was the usher?!)

Updated On: 1/11/09 at 08:03 PM

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 8:09pm

Are you aware how long 10 minutes is? Every time a show closes, people come back going on about these endless standing ovations. 10 minutes is a very long time. 5 minutes is even unheard of. You don't realize how long something goes on when you're in the moment, and I highly doubt this was a 5 minute ovation, much less 10.

I always think this when reading people's reviews, but I would say that the ovation after Rose's Turn was probably 3-5 minutes, and the ovation at curtain was somewhere in the 8-10 minute vicinity.

this afternoon was fabulous. Patti's speech was very sweet, and I loved that she gave roses to the entire cast.

[Connemara]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 8:10pm

Thanks for the reviews guys. A sad day for theater, but I'm happy the show went out on top.

[gregj63]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 8:15pm

The stage door was crowded, but not as chaotic as I expected. All of the cast came out and signed except Boyd Gaines; if he came out it was long after everyone else and we had left by then. My kids got Patti & Laura's autograph, and most of the rest of the cast, and everyone was very friendly and grateful towards the fans who've supported them.

A great final performance of a great show.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 8:22pm

The show today was outstanding. I will never forget this performance for as long as I live. The love shown for those performers from the audience today was incredible. Tons and tons of applause and cheers for all the performers entrances, exits, important line readings, etc etc.

The ovation for Rose's Turn was probably about 3 minutes...these things always seem longer that they really are...but wow was it magical.

Also great to see Steve and Arthur there...plus, I saw Margaret Styne walking in the theater.

Everyone in this production deserves all the praise they got. I'm proud to have seen the show five times (including the first preview and the final performance) and I can't wait to see all of the performers in future projects.

[shpants]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 8:24pm

Thanks for the review!

Sounds like it was an amazing time...
I'm sad that the show is over, but I'm happy I got the chance to see the show and experience it in all its glory!

[logan0215]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 8:26pm

Tried to 2nd act it.

That didn't work out...

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 8:27pm

You got caught?

[logan0215]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 8:37pm

I got in from the weekend in Boston at 4:30, ran to my apartment then up to the St. James as intermission ended. I hopped next to the other SRO people but thought I might have been in the way of the soundboard guy. After the entr'acte an usher came up and shifted us all down but I was blocking a man on a stool next to the soundboard.

She then pulled me aside and asked for my ticket. I said that it was with my friends in my bag in the Rush seats (lying). She then asked me a million questions including the SRO number I had, I said I had been on the left side for act 1 then ran out at intermission to get something and I couldn't get my ticket.

She brought over another usher who continued to grill me. Then they brought me to the left side where I thought I was in the clear, then the House Mgr. came over and said that he had counted the SRO people and I should have an assigned number.

I went into the lobby with the girl and said "honestly, I saw it earlier last week and this isn't worth the aggravation, didn't think 27 ****ing dollars was that important at the last show" and departed.


le sigh.
Updated On: 1/11/09 at 08:37 PM

[JamieMcG]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 8:38pm

Yeah, I'd clock it at 5-7 minutes at the end of Rose's Turn. She got a little upset at the end as people were shouting things out - someone shouted "Rose For President" which was rather awkward and that's when clearly her face said "enough" without actually stopping it.

I do have to say, the child in front of me was quite visibly terrified of Patti during Rose's Turn...as was I.

Everyone was pretty brilliant and having read some of the comments in past weeks about the actors screwing around and adding bits, I personally tonight saw most of the same bits described and to be honest, there was nothing that wasn't motivated. A show is going to grow and change thankfully. The show was different in July than what I saw at the invited dress and again different tonight. I for one am grateful when things grow-much more exciting than seeing actors screwing around because they are bored with the material (which this most certainly was not the case).

Anyway, It was a pretty incredible night!

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 8:39pm

I would have sh*t my pants if that happened to me.

[jv92]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 8:43pm

The lady usher in the balcony wins the prize for Bitch of the Year, and yes I know it's January. I only wanted to bolt out the side door to catch my train and I was berated. Lord knows what would have happened if I wanted to take a snapshot of Patti and Steve. They were all rather unpleasant, but I digress.
I'm still orgasming so I can't exactly write a full review. All I can say is that it was monumental, brilliant and breathtaking. Lovely to see Mr. Sondheim and Mr. Burns...I mean Mr. Laurents there. Any other celebrites in sight?
Um...yeah, I thought the Shubert ushers were nasty. Jujamcyn wins the prize for Worst Ushers now.
Bravo Patti, Boyd, Laura and Company and of course Arthur, Jule and Steve for this masterpiece!

[logan0215]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 8:43pm

I can be a pretty sly fox in these situations and could have come up with a few more lies (in fact, as a diversion at one point I stopped to talk to Linda Balgord who was enjoying a beverage in the lobby bar) but knew if I caused any more of a scene Patti might come off the stage and tear my jugular out with her teeth.

And I'd die a happy man.

[Tap]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 8:44pm

What did Patti say during her speech? Did anyone else make a speech?

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 8:47pm

jv92, I saw Scott Whitman in the audience. he was a few rows ahead of me and across the aisle.

Patti was the only one who made a speech. she mentioned Jule Styne and Jerome Robbins and said that this entire experience was so blessed, and she said again how wonderful and dedicated the cast and crew of the show is. and that it's not goodbye, but fare thee well.

[logan0215]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 8:48pm

In my brief time in the theater, I saw Mo Rocca as well.

[jv92]

Posted: 1/11/09 at 8:49pm

She thanked the "dead creators", (not her exact words, but I'm not as classy as La LuPone) Jule Styne and Jerry Robbins and everyone involved with the show and said something along the lines of "this is not goodbye, but 'fare thee well.'"
And that ovation was not three minutes. Try six or seven. She DID deserve it though.