Streisand's "Gypsy" still on despite Laurents' passing- Page 2

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/8/11 at 5:47pm

The only way they are going to make Babs look like the mother of young kids is by doing what they did to Jeff Bridges in TRON.




Maybe the movie should start in the dressing room with Barbra screaming, "You want to know what I did it for?!" and then the entire thing could be a flash back.

[emo_geek]

Posted: 5/8/11 at 5:59pm

Did Barbra kill Laurents just to play this part?

[fflagg]

Posted: 5/8/11 at 7:07pm

And all you queens will be on line day 1 to buy tickets and then either praise it or bitch about it by the time "Small World" is over. Get a life.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 5/8/11 at 7:43pm

It never fails to amuse me when the guy with the Sue Ann Nivens avatar who whacks off to guys on--I kid you not--"The Price Is Right" calls people queens.

Wait, did I say "amuse"? I meant sicken. I'm so sick of your self-hatred-induced homophobia.

It isn't clever. It never drives home a point. It makes you seem pathetic.

Just so you know.
Updated On: 5/8/11 at 07:43 PM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 5/8/11 at 7:50pm

I second Namo's wish to see Streisand do Stevie Nicks' "Gypsy".

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/8/11 at 7:53pm

There are some really hot guys who have been on The Price is Right.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/8/11 at 8:11pm

Wait a minute. You mean, fflagg actually watches that show?

I just thought "The price is right!" is what he said when he let in the guy from Rentboy.com.

[Cyndawg]

Posted: 5/8/11 at 10:14pm

I have always wanted to direct a movie version of Gypsy. Here is how I see "Rose's Turn". I want to some sort of fight between Louise and Mamma Rose (script change). As they verbally argue back and forth, Louise is getting ready to do another performance...Louise and Rose are still fighting as they walk on to the stage together,Rose walks on stage and sees the audience and freezes. Then, Louise and maybe some other women who are on stage (strippers) as well, are frozen and Rose is left on stage and is scared...she starts to look at the audience and works her magic(her imagination goes wild in dream time)...introduce "Rose's Turn"..after the number is done, we then here from Louise "Mamma?, Mamma?" and boom, back in real time (and Rose opens her eyes)..."Mamma, please, get off-the-stage" (from Louise).
Updated On: 5/8/11 at 10:14 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/8/11 at 10:22pm

I wish Arthur Laurents were still alive to respond to that appropriately.

[Cyndawg]

Posted: 5/8/11 at 10:26pm

LOL! What do you think he would say? I am just thinking of new ways to bring this to life since many mentioned that that this climax scene is always dull on screen.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/8/11 at 10:29pm

Why do I suddenly see Alice Ripley in a straight jacket?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/8/11 at 10:33pm

Speaking of climaxes, I think it should end with Rose climaxing.

[chewy5000]

Posted: 5/9/11 at 12:55am

Isn't that what Patti did? How else can you explain that final note?

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 5/9/11 at 1:15am

Lol, PalJoey you said that as if you knew exactly what that would be, I'm curious

I hope they bring in a top notch screenwriter to do the adaptation. I hope it doesn't turn out to be a dozen writers like in happened in NINE, which by the end was such an amalgam of ideas that it didn't really work out as a film.
Love the idea of Anna Kendricks as Dainty June that someone suggested.

[billyboyA]

Posted: 5/9/11 at 1:35am

I TOLD Arthur, "people who cross Bab's, end up sleeping with the fishes"... and, well... He didn't believe me...

Posted: 5/9/11 at 10:10pm

"Tom Hooper (The King's Speech, and allegedly Les Mis if that ever happens) was being looked at for the Streisand Gypsy last I heard. I agree Mike Nichols would be a better choice. Luhrmann has yet to do a musical piece grounded in realism on film; I would have to see how his Jesus Christ Superstar turns out to be sure. "

Is Lurhmann set to do that after Great Gatsby (in 3D! Just what Gatsby needs--no wonder past adaptations never really worked being in boring 2D). I'm actually a huge fan of Luhrmann's Red Curtain Trilogy and often defend Moulin Rouge (a flawed film to be sure but one I love) to a lot of people, but I think Australia showed he kinda sucks at making naturalistic films in general. I don't think seeing his JCS will show if he can make a decent Gypsy or not as JCS isn't remotely naturalistic by musical theatre standards... It just seems a weird fit to get in in charge of a Gypsy in general.

I do like a lot of your other ideas (though personally I love the Small World reprise--it's all that's needed there, Who Needs Him makes the moment inflated... Still can't believe Laurents cut the reprise).
"* Cut "Mr. Goldstone" -- Sondheim has complained long and loud about it, and with Arthur dead, it's the first opportunity Sondheim has to be the show's major cheerleader for what he wants to do with it. If the film gets made, Sondheim will campaign like hell to get this song cut, and likely win, with Hollywood's penchant for removing score material it deems unnecessary. "

The song isn't needed in a film, although I've always slightly disagreed with Sondheim--it's a nice light moment at a time that seems needed. That said, I think you're mis-reading Sondheim, in only that while he may not like it there, his approach to particularly the films of his works has more or less to stay out of the final decision making process--as he says when discussing the Night Music film in his book. Which is kinda too bad, he clearly gets film (it's no surprise that the best part of Night Music's film, the staging of Weekend in the Country was thoroughly blocked and essentially storyboarded by Sondheim and not Wheeler or Prince). Even with revivals when he disagrees, except in extreme situations, his attitude seems to be that it's not his staging or film and that it's worth letting others try what they want and see if it works or fails.

"* "Rose's Turn" will look dead with some old biddy bumping all over an empty stage, so go with a motif based on Jerry Robbins' initial idea that "Rose's Turn" replaced -- the ballet featuring all the people Rose has stepped on or screwed over in her life. A nightmarish dream sequence Rob Marshall would be proud of.
"

I'm not convinced, but maybe your Marshall line threw me--A Rose's Turn that Marshall is proud of sounds pretty awful to me. :P And God knows surreal dance pieces in realistic *film* is damn hard to pull off well (you mention All That Jazz but I think that's a completely different style of movie--and of course it's not a musical in the usual sense of the word so somehow having the song moments be performance pieces, or surreal dreams works). But I admit, I have no better idea...

Speaking of... While it's true the first Gypsy is pretty dreadful, and the second is too stagey and maybe slow (although personally I largely like it and I love having such a faithful version on DVD at any rate--with the Robbins choreography, nearly all the script, etc). But I still don't really see the need for a new film unless someone with a huge vision sees a better reason than giving Babs the lead.

But since we mentioned Sondheim--I would LOVE if they'd ressurect his written, and nearly made original movie musical Singing Out Loud... I love most of what I know from the score, I think William Goldman's script is terrific, and since the project was Rob Reiner's who at the time was at the top of his game, and since it was dropped has largely lost it (IMHO) maybe it could be a sort of career ressurection... ut this should prob be another thread.

[TimBaase]

Posted: 5/9/11 at 10:21pm

I'm actually excited at the prospect of my favorite show being preserved as the feature film it deserves to be. My worry isn't Streisand's age - I truly think with a little movie magic (and if she tones up a bit) - they can make that work.

All of the Rose's I have enjoyed have made me forget about the actress they are. I think this film is going to have a little to much "Babs," and not enough "Mama Rose." I'd really like to see an actress like Meryl Streep, who makes me forget she is acting, take this role. Of course, then the singing becomes an issue.

Regardless, I can't wait for a Gypsy feature film, in whatever vein it comes about.

[ComingUpRoses2]

Posted: 5/9/11 at 11:58pm

I agree with the comments about Babs' age and acting style. I've never really seen her disappear into a role before.

I think Meryl would actually be a terrific choice. Her singing wouldn't be that bad, either. She could probably handle the score. I'd love to see her or someone like Sigourney Weaver or Annette Bening in the role. I don't know how they'd sing it, though. Even Catherine Zeta-Jones would be ok, as long as she doesn't bring Rob Marshall with her. We don't need another Nine!