Favorite Louise/Gypsy Rose Lee in "GYPSY"?
Posted by Marquise 2005-01-02 21:40:30.0

there's always threads asking "who was your favorite "mama rose" in "GYPSY"?, and understandably so because in the confines of the musical it is the most powerful character and overall it's the lead. but there wouldn't have been a musical called "GYPSY" if it hadn't been for the infamous Gypsy Rose Lee and the sensation she caused as the premiere stripper in her day.

I would like to know which actress in the role of Louise/Gypsy really made an impression on our Board members.

Well, I've only seen Tammy Blanchard on stage and she was terrific, so I'll go with her! I saw the movie too, and Natalie Wood was only OK, in my humblest of opinions.

I've seen Wood, Blanchard, and Moore. I saw Blanchard toward the end of the run, and was not impressed. So although she wasn't perfect by any means, I'm picking Crista Moore.

Anyone else like Cynthia Gibb?

I like Gibb the best, personally.

Oh, wait. The first time I saw Gypsy ,Tammy was out - so I saw her understudy Ginifer Flowers (?), and she was great too, but Tammy filled out the shape of a stripper much better!

Hilarious! You meant Ginifer King. But who wouldn't want to see Gennifer Flowers as Gypsy Rose Lee, I ask you?

Tammy Blanchard's cheek bones are orgasmic.


I know orgasmic is the best word, but it's all I can think of at the moment.

That girl is gorgeous.

I only saw the show once but we had Juile Martell go on as Louise and she was great. I really didn't like Tammy on the recording.

I really liked Cynthia Gibb in the TV movie, and the girl who played Dainty June as well.

Magruder, yes, I meant Ginifer King! I could only remember the Ginifer part, so I racked my brains and I knew Flowers sounded familiar...but alas my 2+2 equaled 5.

I forgot about the MOW. I still stick with my original choice.

Tammy Blanchard

thanks to those who contributed their thoughts so far.

My all time favorite would have to be Crista Moore. Not only was her transformation from gawky Louise to sexy-as-all-hell Gypsy Rose Louise amazing, but she was one of the only ones that had a terrific set of pipes on her. That girl can sing! Her Strip routine was so damned near erotic. The night I saw it the audience rose to their feet and gave her a standing ovation.

Honorable mention: Natalie Wood, mainly because I felt she really connected and related to the struggles of a young woman trying to break free from the grip of a domineering stage mother. It really showed in her performance. She may not have been an amazing singer but in my opinion she did a more than adequate job. She was also incredibly beautiful at the end of the film. She was schooled by none other than Gypsy Rose Lee herself and her strip routine is dead-on.

I've gotta go with Zan Charisse, who played it with Angela Lanbury. That revival was the best acted of any Gypsy I've seen. All I can say is that when Zan Charisse said "And that concludes my entire performance this evening...IN FRENCH" it seemed like she was saying something filthy. It wasn't--it was just the enjoyment of herself as a sexual being that she was bringing to it.

I love Natalie Wood and I adore Tammy Blanchard, but Zan did both the ugly duckling and the sex goddess brilliantly.

Acting: Natalie Wood
Singing: Tammy Blanchard

-vincent

hmmm...missing Deborah Gibson from the Papermill/Betty Bucley production....the best GRL -- took the adolescent to adult transition so well...

It's a pretty thankless role.

"The Strip" transformation isn't the test, for me. Everyone I've seen do the role in a major production has managed to pull that off. Some better than others, sure.

But I've never seen an actress do a convincing "Little Lamb." It invariably comes out either mawkish or mannered.

I loved Tammy, but I have to say Crista... I dunno, she just looked like she was enjoying it more. Maybe when I saw Tammy, she was bored with the run, but I dont think thats an excuse- she signed the contract, and its only doing her an injustice to not give it her all...

Veuve -- is Little Lamb the fault of the song or the actress...I agree with your callout that no one has pulled it off -- in the sense of the "story" it is a good song for plot/character development purposes, but it rarely comes across well...perhaps one of the low moments of the best book musical...

KMF, I suspect that it's the song.

"Little Lamb" seems to be unplayable. It's a moment calculated to elicit audience sympathy for a little girl who has been forced to grow up too early. The rest of the show is so cynical, and "Little Lamb" always comes across to me as manipulative, instead of honest. Perhaps there's an actress who could deliver it believably, but I've never seen one.

I agree Veuve...the one time Gypsy often comes to a halt...I totally get what the authors are trying to impart...but I must admit, it is the scene of the show where I almost "cringe"...(if anyone repeats that in public I will deny it - I do have my dignity)

I feel the same way, KMF.

I know that Sondheim fought to keep the song in the show when Merrick wanted to cut it. And I understand his wanting to keep the moment -- without it, Louise doesn't have an individual moment in the first act, and after an entire act of being upstaged by June (who is about to disappear from the story), it's important for the audience to side with Louise. But I wish they had compromised, and kept the moment, but wrote a new song for it.

My favorite would probably be Kate Shindle, whom I saw play it about 3 years ago. I also very much enjoyed Crista Moore in the Tyna Daly revival.

Imagine what that song could have been...

Natalie Wood.

Wouldn't Miss Lesley have made a terriffic Louise way back when?
<----

Crista Moore was amazing. I saw the show about 8 times and she never ceased to amaze me with her performance.

crista was the best EVUH!

I really enjoyed Christa Moore. She seemed to capture the essence of the role. Tammy Blanchard - there was something that I did not like. I really can't put my finger on it. Leslie Ann Warren would have made a great Louise!!

I vote for Cynthia Gibb and Bette Midler. I loved those two!

Lesley Ann Warren would have been soooooooo perfect!

However, i think that the original Louise (Sandra Church) was really good.

Of those I've seen (Wood, Blanchard, Moore, Gibb) I'd have to say Moore because she could sing AND act the role. As others have said, her transformation was stunning.

Lesley Ann Warren would have been a great Louise back in her day.

I really thought Christa Moore held her own next to brilliant and volcanic Tyne Daly performance. During "Everything's Coming up Rose" Daly really scared you, at the same time, you could see the fear, confusion, sadness, and pain Moore/Louise was going through. Pretty stunning

I gotta throw my vote in for Natalie.

Natalie was touchingly bad. Crista Moore was spectacular. It is not easy to act that role and make the transformation at the end convincing while not turning the character into a bitch in the last scene. She gave a full performance that avoided all of those traps.

How could anyone find Natalie Wood anything short of FANTASTIC?

She NAILED the acting, the dressing room scene with Rose was amazing, her and Roz were amazing in that scene.

And it's a treat for any Wood fan to hear her finally sing in a movie musical. And she did a damn fine job with the vocals.

Tammy Blanchard.

Natalie has the best transition ever!

Tammy Blanchard!

Ive seen Gibb, Wood, Moore, and Blanchard. Blanchard did something special with the role, that I dont think I will EVER be able to put my finger on...but I wish and hope we see more of her very soon.

Cynthia Gibb, hands down.

ME! i kicked butt in that role.


sorry, i'm really quite conceited...

Natalie Wood

Crista Moore

I really liked Tammy in the role. I also liked the chemistry between her and Bernadette Peters. They both played very well together. Natalie Wood was just ok for me. Hmmmm, anyone know what Tammy Blanchard has been up to since Gypsy?

Styne and Sondheim orginally wrote a different song for Louise in tne boarding house scene. The scene was to be set at Christmas rather than her birthday, and she sang a song called "Three Wishes for Christmas".

You can hear the song on the CD "Cabaret Noel".

Christa and Tammy were great as far as I am concerned, but Natalie will always be Louise to me.

Here's Jessica Alba gussied up as Louise from Esquire magazine.

Jessica Rose Lee

Natalie Wood.

1st runner up: Cynthia Gibb

the best EVER for me will always be Jennifer Garner....


Professionally....Tammy Blanchard. PERFECTION!

Jennifer WHO?

Anyway, that picture of Jessica Alba is amazing Wax Lion!
Thanks for sharing it!
Just ONE MORE reason I love Jessica Alba!

Crista Moore is the best I've ever seen.

Blanchard is reportedly Sondheim's all-time favorite.

I posted the pic, Marquise, not Wax Lion, although I guess there's a passing resemblence between Gizmo and said lion.

Sorry!

:: HANGS HEAD IN SHAME ::

I just knew this couldn't be the first time someone asked this question...

Bump.

so yeah, like i said a second ago, i'd LOVE to see Nellie McKay...just listen to her "I wanna get Married"