A great article with John Kander and director Rebecca Frecknall. Brief talk of Hal Prince's contribution, the original production, the film version, the Sam Mendes production, this production and Judi Dench in the original London production.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
Managed to see the show again since the first preview. The show and performances do not seem to have changed much. Eddie is still sounding strong vocally and not tired at all, which I find impressive for someone I didn’t even know could sing. Jessie Buckley might have slightly toned down her performance and is singing more but only slightly - it still overall feels a little overwrought to me but I will say it’s never boring and I’d actually be interested for it to be seen in NYC just to see what people think. Her ‘Maybe This Time’ for me is absolute perfection. Liza Sadovy’s performance of ‘What would you do’ is haunting and maybe the best I’ve ever heard vocally.
Has there been any word of a cast recording? Some impressive vocal work and choices here that warrant capturing in my opinion.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
Thank you binau! I saw the second preview and will be in London in early March but to see other shows. I do have one slot open but it looks like Cabaret is well sold out. Good for them!
I remember Eddie Redmayne as Marius in the Les Mis film ten years ago but singing live for 6 days a week in the emcee role is definitely not easy!
"Liza Sadovy’s performance of ‘What would you do’ is haunting and maybe the best I’ve ever heard vocally."
Polly Bergen's version of that song, late into the run of the first Mendes revival in NY, still gives me chills when I recall it. I wish her performance had been recorded .
I hope they make an announcement soon regarding replacement casting. I’ll be in the UK in May and want to get tix locked in asap but really want to know who I’d be seeing, first.
Has there been any word of a cast recording? Some impressive vocal work and choices here that warrant capturing in my opinion."
I think the producers would be looking to not record actually, which is a shame. They want to show to run for a while, and recording the big names from the get go might be detrimental.
Eddie Redmayne delivers in every way, but it is Jessie Buckley who gives the best performance I have ever seen. The whole evening was nothing short of magic, and certainly worth the trip to the UK.
I truly cannot stop thinking about this production.
Eddie Redmayne delivers in every way, but it is Jessie Buckley who gives the best performance I have ever seen. The whole evening was nothing short of magic, and certainly worth the trip to the UK.
I truly cannot stop thinking about this production.
It’s a great production but no show is worth the top price they’re selling. You can get great seats for £80 or so in the dress circle that are worth it.
Jordan Catalano said: "It’s a great production but no show is worth the top price they’re selling. You can get great seats for £80 or so in the dress circle that are worth it."
That's good to know, thanks. I really couldn't believe the prices when I was looking at tickets.
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
Jordan Catalano said: "It’s a great production but no show is worth the top price they’re selling. You can get great seats for £80 or so in the dress circle that are worth it."
Also, is the production in itself revolutionary? Does it elevate the Mendes staging? I saw that a million times and curious if it shines a brand new light on the musical.
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
Revolutionary? No. Elevate the staging? Not.....really....? Worth seeing? 100% yes.
It's different than the Mendes staging which is really about all I can say about it. It's different enough that I was never thinking "Oh, I liked 'that part' better in the last revival" and so on. It's just very well done. I can't say it shines a new light on anything, though.
Jordan Catalano said: "Revolutionary? No. Elevate the staging? Not.....really....? Worth seeing? 100% yes.
It's different than the Mendes staging which is really about all I can say about it. It's different enough that I was never thinking "Oh, I liked 'that part' better in the last revival" and so on. It's just very well done. I can't say it shines a new light on anything, though."
That's really honest, thanks!
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
Tonight is the final performance of Eddie, Jessie and many of the primary cast members. Such a magical experience seeing those artists perform the greatest (and my favorite) musical. Thank you for the memories!
Also, thank you to the board members here who alerted me to this production being something worth traveling to see. I wouldn’t have gone without your endorsements, so thank you. It was the evening of a lifetime for my partner and I, not to mention a fabulous excuse to dash across the Atlantic to visit London for the the first time.
I also believe they don’t exchange or refund in typical west end style either.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000