Roundabout to bring in Stauntons GYPSY? — Page 2

I haven't seen the video yet, but bummed to have read a lot of posters I trust complain about Staunton. That surprises me; she was by far the best Mrs. Lovett I've seen.

Updated On: 4/26/16 at 12:32 PM

I say we just let this one go. The video is out there forever. Imelda was overcooked and one-note angry from beginning to end. I can't believe I'm actually saying that LuPone was far better and had much more nuance than Staunton. After all that raving, I was genuinely surprised to see her deliver such a one-note performance. That isn't to say there weren't interesting moments during her performance, but it wasn't the second coming everyone said it was.

Give it a few years and bring a new production to Broadway with a different leading lady and see what happens. Hell, I'm still interested to see what Streisand (age be damned) will bring to the role.

Scarywarhol said: "I haven't seen the video yet, but bummed to have read a lot of posters I trust complain about Staunton. That surprises me; she was by far the best Mrs. Lovett I've seen."

I loved her Lovett so much that I went back the next day. She was transfixing. I saw her Gypsy in person last year and found it so angry, one note, and tiresome. I was shocked it got the ovation it did at the end. When it finally aired online I was relieved I wasn't the only one.

I haven't seen any videos of her as Mrs. Lovett but she is magnificent in the recording. Probably my favorite recorded Lovett since Lansbury. The thing is she gets Mrs. Lovett and she gets what Sondheim was trying to do with that show and the style in which the role should be performed.

IMO, she simply does not get Rose or the style of the show at all. Staunton is a brilliant performer through and through; this, however, is a complete miss. And that's fine, not every great actor is right for every role. Let's just hope when we get another GYPSY revival on Broadway it soars to the levels of Laurents' production. The performances by LuPone, Gaines, Larkin, Yazbeck, Fraser (the whole ensemble really), and most of all, Laura Benanti, will be tough to match. That dressing room scene at the end played like an Albee play in the hands of LuPone, Benanti, and Laurents, simply stunning and unforgettable.

what a damn shame that we never got the planned film of the last revival, after the production closed early in the recession bloodbath.

We're more due for a mostly-traditional Sweeney, and awareness of the property has increased since the '05 revival.

qolbinau said: "Sorry but Staunton is NOT first in line to play Lovett in New York. I don't know if I could handle it mentally if that happened. Bernadette has been waiting in the wings to play the role for a long time.

Oops--pressed the wrong button.

'I don't know if I could handle it mentally if that happened.' I love my theatre but to what extreme do you mean--run naked thru Times Square, pull out your hair, od on Pepsi, lock yourself in your closet with BP on replay?

Are you being just a teensy bit drama queen if you don't get what you want?

Updated On: 4/26/16 at 07:16 PM

"Are you being just a teensy bit drama queen if you don't get what you want?"

Haha I'm obviously being intentionally dramatic for comedic purposes. I'd still be interested to see Staunton in the role, though I would be disappointed knowing that it would therefore never happen with Bernadette though (at least on Broadway).

"Has she talked about SWEENEY TODD publicly? It would make sense, it's one of the few Sondheim leading ladies she hasn't played. But I wonder to what extent she is actually interested in playing the role."

She has been asked a few times in interviews about whether she would play the role. She has said she is interested in playing the role and that she learnt "Worst Pies in London". She also was screen tested for the Sweeney film. But she never seems to talk about it unless asked, and indeed (before Follies) when asked in the past about it she answered by saying a role she really wanted to play was Sally- she has never been quite so proactive about Mrs Lovett. I guess what I'm saying is, she definitely seems interested in the role and I can't imagine her turning down an offer if one were to be made. But I doubt she is desperate to play the role like say Streisand is to play Rose.

Updated On: 4/26/16 at 08:28 PM

No, the production with Imelda played the Adelphi Theatre in the West End. The Harrington's Pie and Mash Shop production was by a different team.

I hope not