Today's matinee of Gypsy...

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 7/25/07 at 6:47pm

was brilliant! It was my first time at City Center, which is a very unique theatre. I sat in the 3rd row of the Gallery (i.e. balcony), and was able to see everything fine. The orchestra and most of the mezzanine was sold out, and the gallery was about half-full. Now onto the more important part...

Patti LuPone was absolutely incredible as Mama Rose. She had a different interpretation from Bernadette's, but equally great. However, as fierce as she was, I must note that there was some sort of spark of intensity that I felt Patti lacked. Probably, it was due to my distance from the stage.

Laura Benanti was wonderful as Louise. I felt she made a much bigger impression than Tammy Blanchard, handled the notorious "transition" very well, and had an incredible voice to boot. Leigh Ann Larkin was a wonderful June, and was very much Patti's daughter. She also had a very good voice. Boyd Gaines was excellent as Herbie, but could have played up the "nice guy" factor a little more, so what happens is more surprising. The rest of the cast was phenomenal, and I liked the little details in the "vaudeville" numbers.

All in all, this was a fantastic production, and I enjoyed it every bit as much as the recent revival.

[uhkthxbye2]

Posted: 7/25/07 at 7:07pm

I was there too, and it was awesome (so sad it's closing...), but I heard what I'm convinced was a cell phone go off in the silence after Louise/Gypsy reads her mom the riot act right before Rose's Turn. LOUD. Plus, there were some random bangs and sounds of things dropping throughout the show, which really detracted from the experience. Also, this old crone in front of me kept leaning forward and blocking my view of half the stage ... Everyone on stage was great - the audience, not so much.

::ends moaning and griping::

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 7/25/07 at 7:16pm

I heard that, too. Are you talking about the bald, older man with the blue baseball cap, who raised his hand in victory at the beginning of "Everything's Coming Up Roses"? He annoyed me too, but at least I did not see him during the second act.

[uhkthxbye2]

Posted: 7/25/07 at 7:22pm

Thankfully, I don't think I was too bothered by him ... if I saw him? Not sure ... but still. That old lady ... ::shakes fist:: I'm glad the seats next to me were free so I could move and get a much better, clearer view of my future life partner, Patti.

Updated On: 7/25/07 at 07:22 PM

[BringBackBirdie]

Posted: 7/25/07 at 8:21pm

I was in row G in the orchestra. I've seen Tyne Daly and Bernadette. This was an amazing production all around. Patti Lupone was absolutely incredible. Boyd Gaines is an unbelieveable talent. I was ready to leap up from my seat and give Patti a standing ovation after "Everything's Coming Up Roses" but I did not feel that way after "Rose's Turn." I wish she kept it more Rose and less Patti for "The Turn." I can't believe how much younger Tony Y. looked than he looked in "A Chorus Line." What a cutie!

Updated On: 7/25/07 at 08:21 PM

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 7/25/07 at 8:48pm

bwaylvsong, I was just three rows behind you in the gallery!

[bdwayjunkie]

Posted: 7/25/07 at 8:52pm

I saw the evening performance of gypsy on Saturday and i have to say it was an unbelievable performance. Baby June was one of the best dancers i have seen. Shes so young and already on pointe when people my age are jsut starting! The quick changes for Let Me Entertain You (Burlesque scene) were incredible;; i culd not believer how quickly she was able to change from dress to dress. Don;t get me started with Patti Lu Pone. There was a total pause in the show because everyone was clapping for so long when she entered for the first time. She is amazing and I love her so much!!!

OH and i was in row C 4 in the front gallery, great seats!

[jg4892]

Posted: 7/25/07 at 8:54pm

I don't think Leigh Ann Larkin is that young, is she?

[uhkthxbye2]

Posted: 7/25/07 at 8:54pm

I'm tellin' ya, Gallery's the place to be. Today, I was 2nd row front center. Second time, sat in the 5th row, and the first time, sat in the 3rd row. $25 was a steal.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 7/25/07 at 8:55pm

jg: Baby June did the show en pointe, not Dainty June (Leigh Ann Larkin).

Updated On: 7/25/07 at 08:55 PM

[bdwayjunkie]

Posted: 7/25/07 at 9:07pm

When i saw it she did it im positive it was en pointe. I remember: when she leaves the stage then runs back on to do a kick over and over again, it was en pointe.

[friedrichVT]

Posted: 7/25/07 at 9:22pm

Dainty June didn't wear pointe shoes.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 7/25/07 at 9:25pm

Baby June was the little girl on the point shoes. Dainty June was the adult.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 7/26/07 at 9:52am

Bump it with a trumpet!

[Glory]

Posted: 7/26/07 at 11:31am

I was in the 4th row of the gallery center and it was amazing. I was so happy to finally see it and it went up and above my expectations. I loved Patti she was a powerhouse. I can't even explain the chills I had during Everything's Coming Up Roses. Amazing show and i'm sad to see it go so soon.

Posted: 7/26/07 at 12:32pm

i love reading these stories!

i was thinking about how this production of GYPSY is an education in what musical theater *CAN* be....& thats what ENCORES! should be about!

[Producer2]

Posted: 7/26/07 at 1:09pm

I was there- it was an outstanding production!

[Connemara]

Posted: 7/26/07 at 7:19pm

I, too, was at this showing. Man, is Patti a tour de force or what? Just out of this world.

Here's a short review I wrote in a rush:


Let me start off by saying that Gypsy has long been one of my favorite musicals. It was written in an era when Broadway was really at its peak, and when Sondheim and Styne knew how to create a blockbuster (the former still does, of course). It was also created in a time that wasn't far removed from the play's staging era: the last gasps of vaudeville.

Consequently, I walked in expecting a tremendous performance. And oh was it tremendous. As per usual, Patti LuPone pours her heart and soul into the coveted and legendary role of Mama Rose, the original tyrannical stage mother. Her voice literally lifted the roof off at the closing of "Everything's Coming Up Roses" and "Rose's Turn." Rose's intensity in these two songs gave me some really hardcore goosebumps. Patti was downright frightening (as Rose should be). Now, all of this praise doesn't mean complaints are nonexistent. Many have noted that Patti has difficulty wrapping her voice around the "oo" and "e" vowels. For example, in "Everything's..." she sang "everything's coming up ros-aaaas" instead of "ros-ehhhhs." Those who whine about this clearly know little about La LuPone or this musical. The two greatest iterations of Rose, Ethel Merman and Angela Lansbury, sang in a similar manner.

But the thing that makes LuPone's Rose special is that she adds her own little twist to it. Unlike Merman, Patti is a phenomenal singer and actor. She knows exactly how to make this script work and elicit the most laughs, tears, or applause whenever necessary. Her wicked, nasty, "we gotta do it" attitude was delivered with near-perfection in the scene that preceded her manic breakdown in "Rose's Turn." This song provoked one of the most instantaneous and tremendous standing ovations I've ever seen. It was downright scary and maniacal. This may have been the best "Rose's Turn" ever...if you listen to the '56 cast recording, Merman is able to belt it with ease, but there isn't any of the desperate selfishness in her voice; Lansbury's "Turn" was too polished; and Bernadette sang it well enough but did not add the necessary nuances. LuPone was loud, brassy and downright insane. It was one of the best things I've ever seen.

While Patti clearly shined in this, the supporting cast showed why this musical is called "Gypsy" and not "Rose." Laura Benanti is absolutely STUNNING as Gypsy Rose Lee. Holy **** can this girl sing. Leigh Ann Larkin as June was also really great...it was easy to understand why June ended up hating Rose for what she had done. Great performance. Boyd Gaines's Herbie was probably the best ever. He was humane, timid, vitriolic, everything that Herbie needed to be at different times. Just brilliant.

This production of "Gypsy" was not perfect. I don't think there ever was or ever will be a perfect "Gypsy." But it came damn close. The reviews are so positive that a production in London is almost guaranteed and, afterwards, a Broadway run is possible. I sure as hell hope so. This cast and production simply begs to be seen more than once.