Gypsy

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

15 minutes ago, Peter Eater said:

“Once I was a schleppa, now I am Mazeppa…”

I gotta correct a wrong lyric:

'Once I was a Schleppa, Now I'm Miss Mazzeppa'

[Peter Eater]

On 12/17/2024 at 5:17 PM, Manhattan said:

I think George C. Wolfe used the gimmick (you gotta get one) of an all black cast to mask and protect a miscast Mama Rose. 

What? Audra wanted to do the show, for obvious reasons, so the cast was built around her. It’s as simple as that. You might think she’s miscast, but to suggest that a “gimmick” was cranked up to somehow hide her is obtuse.

Are the all-white casts who have done “Gypsy” also a gimmick - which is something not serious or of any real value? Was Tyne Daley being hidden by a bunch of white people when she did an unexpected Rose? (She was great, by the way.) And citing the “Hamilton” cast as a successful example of a theatrical bipoc gimmick, when it is actually central to the show’s meaning and content, exposes more than you know.

[+ WilliamM]

On 12/11/2024 at 9:51 PM, WilliamM said:

Well I saw Ethel Merman in Gypsy twice. The musical was written for her.

I saw Merman from the front  row. She had tears in her eyes because Oscar Hammerstein'  died that morning 

Merman on Mary Martin: she is okay if you like talent 

[ShortCutie7]

On 12/28/2024 at 4:34 PM, BenjaminNicholas said:

The string of cancellations has been rough on this show.  I believe they're up to day 4 now.

That they don't have any understudies ready to take over is a little concerning.

My impression was that there had been several understudies on the last few days before the cancellations, but they all got sick as well and there simply weren’t enough healthy people to cover every track.  I think the issue was there not being enough swings and understudies, not that those hired weren’t ready.  What a lot of shows do is hire a bunch of swings shortly after opening so that the number of people in the cast isn’t “frozen” per union rules… the timing just worked particularly poorly in this case.

[+ ApexNomad]

According to this article in Deadline, the understudies didn’t have enough time to be brought up to speed; no mention of illness. That’s shocking to me!

‘Gypsy’ Gets Grinched As Illness Shuts Down Lucrative Christmas Week Performances; ‘Wicked’ Soars Beyond $5M – Broadway Box Office

DEADLINE.COM

---

Deadline's Broadway box office report for week ending December 29, 2024.

 

[Manhattan]

On 12/29/2024 at 10:23 AM, Peter Eater said:

What? Audra wanted to do the show, for obvious reasons, so the cast was built around her. It’s as simple as that. You might think she’s miscast, but to suggest that a “gimmick” was cranked up to somehow hide her is obtuse.

Are the all-white casts who have done “Gypsy” also a gimmick - which is something not serious or of any real value? Was Tyne Daley being hidden by a bunch of white people when she did an unexpected Rose? (She was great, by the way.) And citing the “Hamilton” cast as a successful example of a theatrical bipoc gimmick, when it is actually central to the show’s meaning and content, exposes more than you know.

I'm sure she wanted to do the show. I'm also sure that George C. Wolfe knew she wouldn't be able to sing it without getting sick and/or harming her voice. So he had to make up a "concept" so that no one could question her casting. 
 

In a mixed cast, everyone would have questioned the casting of Audra, and rightly so. She is a once in a lifetime talent, but that doesn't mean she can do everything. 
 

As for Hamilton, Miranda read a bio of Hamilton during In the Heights amd thought, "How can I turn this into a black/brown musical for a lead who can't sing?" Well, good for him, he hit the jackpot. One of the most effective gimmicks ever. But it was a gimmick. 
Broadway is not driven by artistry, it's driven by sales. Gimmicks bring press, press brings interest, interest puts butts in the seats. 
 

Wolfe's concept paid off through previews, everyone ignored Audra's inability to play Mama Rose, because it was an important show. Mostly great reviews and lots of TV chatter. 
 

I think the gimmick will fail in 2025. They got everyone on board, but the star simply can't do it. 

[Peter Eater]

19 hours ago, Manhattan said:

I'm sure she wanted to do the show. I'm also sure that George C. Wolfe knew she wouldn't be able to sing it without getting sick and/or harming her voice. So he had to make up a "concept" so that no one could question her casting. 
 

In a mixed cast, everyone would have questioned the casting of Audra, and rightly so. She is a once in a lifetime talent, but that doesn't mean she can do everything. 
 

As for Hamilton, Miranda read a bio of Hamilton during In the Heights amd thought, "How can I turn this into a black/brown musical for a lead who can't sing?" Well, good for him, he hit the jackpot. One of the most effective gimmicks ever. But it was a gimmick. 
Broadway is not driven by artistry, it's driven by sales. Gimmicks bring press, press brings interest, interest puts butts in the seats. 
 

Wolfe's concept paid off through previews, everyone ignored Audra's inability to play Mama Rose, because it was an important show. Mostly great reviews and lots of TV chatter. 
 

I think the gimmick will fail in 2025. They got everyone on board, but the star simply can't do it. 

🙄

[Ali Gator]

A little trivia on how Tyne Daly was offered the role of Mama Rose back in the 1989 revival (according to an interview Daly did a while after the run ended)...

According to Daly, someone (I believe it was Sondheim) saw Daly on the ABC / Dolly Parton variety show "Dolly!" which ran on Sunday nights for one season from Sept., 1987 - May, 1988.  Daly guest starred on the 18th episode, which aired on April 9, 1988. There was a weekly segment called 'Dixie's Place' which Dolly played a diner owner named 'Dixie', and each week she'd sing with one of the 'customers' - this week is was Daly who played a truckdriver who stops in for a late night dinner.  She tells 'Dixie' about the troubles with her husband at home, and sings 'If I Could Be There'.

Sondheim (?) is captivated by Daly's performance, and calls Laurents - telling him he has found "Mama Rose" for the revival Laurents has been working on. Laurents is able to catch the performance (I believe someone had recorded it and lent him the tape) and agrees - there's something about Daly's performance which convinces him she's the next 'Mama Rose'.  Laurents gets in touch with Daly, and the rest is history (she, at first, thought he was kidding when he proposed the offer to her). Chances are, if she wasn't invited to be a guest on Dolly's show, and if she (a non-musical actress) didn't get the chance to sing, she would never have been thought of for the revival. 

At the time, Liza Minnelli, Bette Midler and Bernadette Peters all said that they were 'being considered' for the role of 'Mama Rose' in the revival, but lost out to Daly.  Laurents said he never ever considered any of them. He acknowledged that Midler had contacted him asking for the rights to the material because she wanted to produce and star in a remake of the movie musical (the original one was Roz Russel's 1962 movie). Laurents told her 'no', as he was preparing to launch a revival within the next year or so. He claimed she never expressed interest in the Broadway revival, nor did he express any interest in her. 

[+ WilliamM]

Ethel Merman  did miss almost a. Week of Gypsy.  She was getting old,  Not sure if her illness was written about on the front page of the New York Times, but it was a major story.

 

Her United studs was interviewed endlessly 

[skynyc]

A Tale of Two Gypsys. 

A week ago Saturday night, I saw Gypsy at the Majestic theater in New York City 

Audra McDonald.

Joy Woods.

Danny Burstein.

 

Last Saturday I saw Gypsy at the OFC theater in Rochester, New York.

Jodi Benson.

Delaney Benson.  (Jodi’s daughter).

Tripp Hansen. 

 

The production values couldn’t have been more different. But I couldn’t have loved either more. 

 

Briefly: Audra’s Rose is ferocious. She’s terrifying and damaged and sociopathic. Her operatic voice crashes between her middle and high ranges heightening her characters agony. Her Rose’s Turn is exhausting, every movement, look, and gesture performed to an adoring audience who rapturously leapt to their feet at the numbers conclusion, Audra's Rose was fully aware they were there and played to them. Joy Woods as Louise transforms beautifully, but has an elegance that belies her background. Danny Bernstein, perfect in everything, makes Herbie heartbreaking. A 25-piece orchestra playing the original (tweaked) arrangements fill the 1680-seat Majestic gorgeously. 

 

Jodi’s Rose is common and delusional. Her bright and brassy tones perfectly put over the Styne/Sondheim score in all of its glory. She caught humorous nuances I’ve never seen. Her Rose’s Turn was truly played to an enormous audience that didn’t exist except in Rose’s imagination—a full house above and beyond the actual sold-out 199-seat crowd, and we were mesmerized by Benson’s desperation. Delaney Benson as Louise, and even as Gypsy Rose Lee, had a coarseness, and self-deprecating humor fitting for an uneducated young woman raised on the road by someone like Rose. Tripp Hansen, who was in the original Crazy for You with Jodi Benson, was the mildest Herbie I’ve seen. Small in stature, he played up the blandness of Herbie that made his obsequiousness so believable.

A 16-piece local Orchestra did good service to this difficult score in this, their fifth performance. 

This unique “double-bill“ only brought to full light the brilliance of the material, the reason many consider this to be the greatest American musical. And the reason I continue to travel to see different performers, put their spin on the role. I will post further when I’ve had more time to think about it. And adding thoughts of some of my other Roses.

[ShortCutie7]

Funny, I met a provider today and we briefly spoke about “Gypsy” as he had a playbill on his counter.  This Audra production was his first exposure to the show, and he loved it- I told him that from my experience, it’s just such a perfectly written show that it’s basically fool-proof… I have seen several productions (not including this one) and loved them all!  Your post basically confirms my thesis that very different productions can be equally amazing 😊

[+ ApexNomad]

I recently saw the new Gypsy with Audra McDonald and was thoroughly impressed. The supporting cast was terrific, bringing great energy and nuance to their roles. Audra delivered a powerful performance—an interesting take on Rose that was both fresh and deeply felt.  As always, she gave it her all, commanding the stage with her extraordinary presence and vocal prowess. A bold, compelling revival. The orchestra was gorgeous! And the newly refurbished Majestic was beautiful.

[kyleham]

First of all I love Audra McDonald. I have seen 12 out of her 14 broadway shows. I love Gypsy as many have said it is one of the greatest Broadway musical of all time. I have seen Tyne Daily, Linda Lavin, Bernadette Peters, Betty Buckley and Patti Lupone all perform Mamma Rose. Thus, I was so disappointed in this show. From the strip down staging to the lack of chemistry from Audra and Danny Burnstein. The Tony's love her but this is going to a very competitive Best Actress in a Musical category and others so more deserving. I expect this show not to get many nominations. 

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

Audra is the best acted Rose I've ever seen.  Hands down.

Even better than Tyne and that was a monster of a performance.

You don't go into this revival thinking she's going to sing it like the other women.  Her voice is uniquely Audra.

The production value matches the time period.  Gypsy doesn't need a lot of flash.  The book and music is the flash.

The only weak spots for me were June and Louise.  June's vocal choices made me wonder if she would make it through the end of the show and Louise had nearly zero arc.  The Strip made no sense for the time period and it was interesting that Louise suddenly knew how to handle intricate choreography.  

Also, the blend of voice on 'If Momma Were Married' was rough.  It's one of my favorite numbers and here, it fell flat.

To me, Danny Burstein can do little wrong.  His Herbie was warm, genuine and lovable.  His arc was clear.  His moment when walking out was just heartbreaking. 

Considering I walked out of Sunset Blvd, I hope Audra is able to get another TONY for this.

In a perfect world, I think Megan Hilty deserves it more than anyone based on her performance in Death Becomes Her, but that's for another thread.

 

 

[+ ApexNomad]

1 hour ago, BenjaminNicholas said:

Audra is the best acted Rose I've ever seen.  Hands down.

Even better than Tyne and that was a monster of a performance.

You don't go into this revival thinking she's going to sing it like the other women.  Her voice is uniquely Audra.

The production value matches the time period.  Gypsy doesn't need a lot of flash.  The book and music is the flash.

The only weak spots for me were June and Louise.  June's vocal choices made me wonder if she would make it through the end of the show and Louise had nearly zero arc.  The Strip made no sense for the time period and it was interesting that Louise suddenly knew how to handle intricate choreography.  

Also, the blend of voice on 'If Momma Were Married' was rough.  It's one of my favorite numbers and here, it fell flat.

To me, Danny Burstein can do little wrong.  His Herbie was warm, genuine and lovable.  His arc was clear.  His moment when walking out was just heartbreaking. 

Considering I walked out of Sunset Blvd, I hope Audra is able to get another TONY for this.

In a perfect world, I think Megan Hilty deserves it more than anyone based on her performance in Death Becomes Her, but that's for another thread.

 

 

I’m shocked you walked out of Sunset Blvd. The only musical I ever walked out of was the revival of The Threepenny Opera. 

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

5 hours ago, ApexNomad said:

I’m shocked you walked out of Sunset Blvd. The only musical I ever walked out of was the revival of The Threepenny Opera. 

The revival with Cyndi Lauper?  I actually enjoyed that one, but also had a good friend in the cast, so I couldn't have walked it even if I wanted to.  I'd have been spotted missing.  

Sunset just felt incomplete and a lot like a art student film project.  I know I'm in the extreme minority on this show.  The people around me were enraptured.

[+ ApexNomad]

9 minutes ago, BenjaminNicholas said:

The revival with Cyndi Lauper?  I actually enjoyed that one, but also had a good friend in the cast, so I couldn't have walked it even if I wanted to.  I'd have been spotted missing.  

Sunset just felt incomplete and a lot like a art student film project.  I know I'm in the extreme minority on this show.  The people around me were enraptured.

You are some friend, let me tell you. The cast should have been electric—Alan Cumming, Lauper, Jim Dale, Ana Gasteyer, John Cullum, Michael C. Hall—but instead, it was nails on a chalkboard. Lauper was so bad I was hoping her understudy would come on during the first act before I left during intermission. It was like putting together a dream team and then watching them trip over their own brilliance.

I can see that about Sunset. I just really appreciated that it was a different spin on the material.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

4 minutes ago, ApexNomad said:

You are some friend, let me tell you. The cast should have been electric—Alan Cumming, Lauper, Jim Dale, Ana Gasteyer, John Cullum, Michael C. Hall—but instead, it was nails on a chalkboard. Lauper was so bad I was hoping her understudy would come on during the first act before I left during intermission. It was like putting together a dream team and then watching them trip over their own brilliance.

I can see that about Sunset. I just really appreciated that it was a different spin on the material.

But she was giving this performance....  Am I insane?

 

 

[+ ApexNomad]

1 minute ago, BenjaminNicholas said:

But she was giving this performance....  Am I insane?

 

 

Yes, she was giving something… but it wasn’t good. Are you insane? Probably. But I like you anyway! 😘

[ShortCutie7]

3 hours ago, BenjaminNicholas said:

But she was giving this performance....  Am I insane?

 

 

I think Lauper is phenomenal here!  I didn’t see this production of Threepenny, but don’t care for what I’ve heard of this translation… perhaps that contributed to @ApexNomad‘s  lack of enjoyment- it’s quite different from the Blitzstein and other translations I’ve heard.

[+ ApexNomad]

4 minutes ago, ShortCutie7 said:

I think Lauper is phenomenal here!  I didn’t see this production of Threepenny, but don’t care for what I’ve heard of this translation… perhaps that contributed to @ApexNomad‘s  lack of enjoyment- it’s quite different from the Blitzstein and other translations I’ve heard.

Cyndi Lauper in Threepenny—even the chairs were trying to leave the theater!

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

5 minutes ago, ShortCutie7 said:

I think Lauper is phenomenal here!  I didn’t see this production of Threepenny, but don’t care for what I’ve heard of this translation… perhaps that contributed to @ApexNomad‘s  lack of enjoyment- it’s quite different from the Blitzstein and other translations I’ve heard.

I agree.  It's not a performance for everyone, but I think her interpretation of this song is a knockout.

It's emotional, raw, beautifully sung.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

1 minute ago, ApexNomad said:

Cyndi Lauper in Threepenny—even the chairs were trying to leave the theater!

Ok...  This was fucking funny.

From one smartass to another, bravo.

[jerryskater]

On 3/1/2025 at 8:03 PM, ApexNomad said:

You are some friend, let me tell you. The cast should have been electric—Alan Cumming, Lauper, Jim Dale, Ana Gasteyer, John Cullum, Michael C. Hall—but instead, it was nails on a chalkboard.

Agree.  Was one of the reasons I stopped subscriping to Roundabout.

[shinj518]

Have been watching Lea Salonga performing Everything's Coming Up Roses in Old Friends here at LA (been going weekly to see the show since it opened), and she knocks it out of the park. I would love to see a version of Gypsy with Lea. I feel like the Asian casting would lend another interesting take on the show. 

(Lea is also great as Mrs. Lovett and it would he so fun to see her in Sweeney Todd as well.)