What You'll Miss the Most About City Center's GYPSY
What You'll Miss the Most About City Center's GYPSY
#1What You'll Miss the Most About City Center's GYPSY
Posted: 7/29/07 at 4:49pm
I figured one can't have enough GYPSY threads (especially with the overload of HAIRSPRAY threads we saw this past week).
Since the show is closing today and most likely this is the last time we'll see this amazing cast performing this amazing show together, what are some of the moments in the show you'll miss the most?
Here are my top 5 in no specific order:
1-Laura Benanti's Gypsy Rose Lee making none other than LuPone's Madame Rose look pathetic in their confrontation scene. I particularly loved it when she screams "I said turn it off!" (I was shocked by the way she screamed it with such anger and strength). They both worked so well off each other during this scene.
2-Leigh Ann Larkin singing the high note at the end of "Happy Birthday" and LuPone's hilarious "flat."
3-"If Momma Was Married" (I was in love with both Benanti and Larkin)
4-Marilyn Caskey's fascinating portrayal of Electra.
5-LuPone's last "for me" during "Rose's Turn."
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
#2re: What You'll Miss the Most About City Center's GYPSY
Posted: 7/29/07 at 4:53pmI'll miss sitting way up in the second balcony's nosebleed section straining to make out little specks of light that I thought were maybe Patti Lupone and Laura Benanti....oh wait, no I won't.
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#2re: What You'll Miss the Most About City Center's GYPSY
Posted: 7/29/07 at 4:55pm
I'll agree with you on #s 1 and 3.
I still think that the last note LuPone takes on "For Me" makes her sound possessed.
#3re: What You'll Miss the Most About City Center's GYPSY
Posted: 7/29/07 at 4:55pm
I'll miss Boyd Gaines last moment on stage.
Heartbreaking.
[title of show] on Broadway. it's time. believe.
BWAYboi_yes
Featured Actor Joined: 1/29/05
#4re: What You'll Miss the Most About City Center's GYPSY
Posted: 7/29/07 at 5:08pmLaura Benanti was really something special, and I don't know if I'll ever see such a wonderful portrayal of the title role. I'll miss her very much.
#5re: What You'll Miss the Most About City Center's GYPSY
Posted: 7/29/07 at 7:12pmThe whole damn show.
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.
#6re: What You'll Miss the Most About City Center's GYPSY
Posted: 7/29/07 at 7:16pmYou beat me to it, wonderfulwizard.
There wouldn't be lights bright enough!
#7re: What You'll Miss the Most About City Center's GYPSY
Posted: 7/29/07 at 7:22pmEverything's Coming Up Roses
Midnight Radio
Broadway Star Joined: 5/26/07
#8re: What You'll Miss the Most About City Center's GYPSY
Posted: 7/29/07 at 7:31pmDuring "Everything's Coming Up Roses", on one of the last lines, I believe it may have been "Sunshine and Santa Claus", Patti delivered it with this angry fierce sneer, It completely took me back, frightened at first and then exhilarating. My jaw absolutely dropped. I doubt I will ever experience that again.
#9re: What You'll Miss the Most About City Center's GYPSY
Posted: 7/29/07 at 7:43pmHer Everything's Coming Up Roses is FIERCE. When she rips up the letter from June? There are no words.
There wouldn't be lights bright enough!
#10re: What You'll Miss the Most About City Center's GYPSY
Posted: 7/29/07 at 9:57pmAnother vote for Everything's Coming Up Roses, and that final "for me" in Rose's Turn. Bone-chilling / AWESOME.
Gangway, world, get off of my runway.
- Mama Rose, Gypsy
A bird cage I plan to hang,
I'll get to that someday...
A bird cage for a bird who flew away
Around the world.
- Edie, Grey Gardens
- Mama Rose, Gypsy
A bird cage I plan to hang,
I'll get to that someday...
A bird cage for a bird who flew away
Around the world.
- Edie, Grey Gardens
ElphieDefiesGravity
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/27/04
#11re: What You'll Miss the Most About City Center's GYPSY
Posted: 7/29/07 at 10:05pmThe whole thing. I FINALLY understand why people love Benanti. She was incredible. And Patti...well, that goes without saying...
"Blow out the candles, Robert, and make a wish. Want something. Want something."
Wishes come true, not free.
Wishes come true, not free.
BillFinn
Broadway Star Joined: 10/26/03
#12re: What You'll Miss the Most About City Center's GYPSY
Posted: 7/29/07 at 10:06pmThe way Patti LuPone sang "Bingo" in SOME PEOPLE. It was so strange! Haha. Biiiiiiiiiiing-oh!
Bill Finn rocks. Woot.
#13re: What You'll Miss the Most About City Center's GYPSY
Posted: 7/29/07 at 10:15pm
Yankee, I thought she sounded possessed as well but in a good way, meaning she sounded possessed by a force bigger than her that needed to get out, it was a way of connecting the end to the intro when she says "what I got inside of me, if I ever let it out..."
I must confess I was one of those who were not happy when Benanti got cast but I'm a convert after seeing her on Tuesday, when she held the shawl pronouncing herself as Gypsy Rose Lee I was at the edge of my seat with chills running down my spine. What a breath-taking moment.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
popular_elphie
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/3/05
#14re: What You'll Miss the Most About City Center's GYPSY
Posted: 7/29/07 at 10:17pm
I'll miss the way Laura Benanti showed that she was actually a really good actress, given the right role.
And the amazing "Rose's Turn", of course.
#15re: What You'll Miss the Most About City Center's GYPSY
Posted: 7/29/07 at 10:18pm
I think the last FOR ME is incredible. I love how she kept it straight toned like she did at Ravinia - then she did the crazy glissando. If she didn't do the scary sounding slide/glissando.. I wouldn't have been as shook up after the number.
Updated On: 7/29/07 at 10:18 PM
#16re: What You'll Miss the Most About City Center's GYPSY
Posted: 7/29/07 at 10:22pm
The image of Patti leaning back, belting out the final "You" of Everything's Coming Up Roses, with Gaines and Benanti standing beside her looking terrified, as that curtain came down
*chills*
And when Patti starting sobbing during the final scene.
And the hysterical look on her face while Gaines was grinding. Bwhahaha!
And Leigh Ann's "Nine."
And Marilyn Caskey's "I'm electrifyin', and I ain't even tryin"
Oh God, there's way too many!
The last "For Me"
The look on Patti's face after she read the letter from June.
"Moo moo moo moo"
Theatre is a safe place to do the unsafe things that need to be done.
-John Patrick Shanley
#17re: What You'll Miss the Most About City Center's GYPSY
Posted: 7/29/07 at 10:23pmI agree, Ljay. That last part was just chilling for me.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
#18re: What You'll Miss the Most About City Center's GYPSY
Posted: 7/29/07 at 10:24pmLeigh Ann's "nine" was hilarious. Her overall interpretation of June was stellar. She should really be commended for reinventing the role. I think we were all tired of the same old cutesy June. I didn't see the 03 Revival, but it was said Kate Reinders tried to give June a "bad girl edge" - but it totally fell flat. I am glad Leigh Ann and Laurents created such an edgy June.
iliketheater
Broadway Star Joined: 12/10/05
#19re: What You'll Miss the Most About City Center's GYPSY
Posted: 7/29/07 at 10:25pm
- final "for me"
- the monolog leading into RT
- You Gotta Get a Gimmick
- Those amazing kids
- Patti in general.
#20re: What You'll Miss the Most About City Center's GYPSY
Posted: 7/29/07 at 10:29pm
If this show had opened on Broadway I honestly would have a hard time deciding whom I'd like to win the Tony for Best Featured Actress between Benanti and Larkin, both were just superb.
Larkin was definitely edgy, even when she was performing there was always something going on in her mind, and she definitely had star wattage. When she comes out in the white outfit to sing "Broadway," I was impressed by her star presence.
My favorite Larkin moment was the way she sang "Let me make you SMILE" with such naughtiness in her voice during "If Momma Was Married." Also, the way she grabbed Benanti's hand at the very end was a very touching moment between the sisters.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
#21re: What You'll Miss the Most About City Center's GYPSY
Posted: 7/29/07 at 10:35pm
Seeing Larkin doing If Momma Was Married finally made me understand that this song was when the two of them realized they had something in common. It made it soooo much more interesting and beautiful. (I say Larkin because I really think it Larkin was the reason for that)
I must say, even though Benanti was FANTASTIC as the younger Louise, I don't think that carried to the older one. Larkin gave one of the greatest and most original performances I've ever seen, through and through. IMHO, she gave the second best performance in that whole show.
Can ya tell I loved her?
Kick-ass voice too.
(And her boyfriend is one of my acting teachers. Hurrah!)
Theatre is a safe place to do the unsafe things that need to be done.
-John Patrick Shanley
#22re: What You'll Miss the Most About City Center's GYPSY
Posted: 7/29/07 at 10:41pmOh, her voice is spectacular, and quite rangy. I'm not sure I prefer her to Benanti but she did completely reinvent the role of Dainty June.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
#23re: What You'll Miss the Most About City Center's GYPSY
Posted: 7/29/07 at 10:44pm
She played Bell in BatB here in Pittsburgh and I didn't go and see it (in spite of the fact that a bunch of my friends were in the show as well.)
I'm kicking myself now.
Theatre is a safe place to do the unsafe things that need to be done.
-John Patrick Shanley
BillFinn
Broadway Star Joined: 10/26/03
#24re: What You'll Miss the Most About City Center's GYPSY
Posted: 7/29/07 at 11:07pmIt's so ironic that when Mama isn't there, Louise and June... are pretty phenomenal. Together. Singing about their Mama.
Bill Finn rocks. Woot.
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