Why Is Gypsy's Book Considered The Greatest Book For A Musical Ever?

[Soaring29]

I've long heard this statement and I'm wondering why this is so? I have not read the script but I'm pretty familiar with the material and I'm guessing that it may be because the script lacks sentimentality and has a better structure to it then a lot of shows? Please share your thoughts. 

[NOWaWarning]

I’ve often heard people say that if you took out the music, it could stand on its own as an entertaining and dramatically satisfying play. It also contains one of the most famously meaty and complex characters ever crafted for a musical.

[IdinaBellFoster]

I believe it’s often stated that if you removed all the music it would stand as a play, and I believe that’s true. It also manages to have this tour de force role for the actress playing Rose, while allowing Louise a separate but connected incredible arc.

[GeorgeandDot]

It's just really well written. Great layered and complex characters and just great dialogue. You could take out all the songs and it would be a great play. Although Sondheim's lyrics are brilliant and Styne's melodies are classics.

If you look online you'll find a "dirty video" of Lupone and Benanti performing the dressing room scene and you'll see why the book is so phenomenal.

[Jarethan]

They don't refer to Rose as the Hamlet of musical comedy for nothing.  Even themost minor characters are so well defined, the story is so tight, the humor is genuine, everything works beautifully.  There are only two other shows that I think have books on the same level as Gypsy: 1776 and My Fair Lady.

[FosseTharp]

Maybe someone here will remember what article I’m talking about, but a few years ago I remember reading a piece where a group of industry people formulated a list of the greatest musicals ever written (on paper). I don’t remember where Gypsy landed on the list— I believe it was # 3, IIRC— with Guys and Dolls taking the #1 spot, Fiddler at # 2, and WSS was, I believe, #4 ( which was lower than many anticipated, but Laurent’s cheesy Jett dialogue knocked it down + so much of what makes it great is Robbins work on it and the score— but the list was on libretto only).
 

Edit: Actually I believe this might be what I was talking about, but for some reason I remember them deciding on a single musical being Guys and Dolls and I swear Fiddler was the second.... but maybe I’m mixing two different articles together— or perhaps a BWW message board discussion that stemmed from this? 

http://nymag.com/news/features/greatest-new-york/70476/index5.html

 

[goodlead]

Kenneth Tynan, in his review of the original production, called Act I "perfection" and Act II merely "brilliant."  But I think Act II tops the first one because of the scene where Rose pushes Louise to do the strip to fulfill her own dreams of stardom.  To have a character want her daughter to go take off her clothes to a houseful of strangers and to do it without apology is a searing scene for either a play or a musical and helps explain why the book is considered great.

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

FosseTharp said: "Maybe someone here will remember what article I’m talking about, but a few years ago I remember reading a piece where a group of industry people formulated a list of the greatest musicals ever written (on paper). I don’t remember where Gypsy landed on the list— I believe it was # 3, IIRC— with Guys and Dollstaking the #1 spot, Fiddler at # 2, and WSS was, I believe, #4 ( which was lower than many anticipated, but Laurent’s cheesy Jett dialogue knocked it down + so much of what makes it great is Robbins work on it and the score— but the list was on libretto only).


Edit: Actually I believe this might bewhat I was talking about, but for some reason I remember them deciding on a single musical being Guys and Dolls and I swear Fiddler was the second.... but maybe I’m mixing two different articles together— or perhaps a BWW message board discussion that stemmed from this?

http://nymag.com/news/features/greatest-new-york/70476/index5.html

"

That whole conversation was so entertaining to read on so many levels.

[Theater_Nerd]

ScottyDoesn'tKnow2 said: "FosseTharp said: "Maybe someone here will remember what article I’m talking about, but a few years ago I remember reading a piece where a group of industry people formulated a list of the greatest musicals ever written (on paper). I don’t remember where Gypsy landed on the list— I believe it was # 3, IIRC— with Guys and Dollstaking the #1 spot, Fiddler at # 2, and WSS was, I believe, #4 ( which was lower than many anticipated, but Laurent’s cheesy Jett dialogue knocked it down + so much of what makes it great is Robbins work on it and the score— but the list was on libretto only).


Edit: Actually I believe this might bewhat I was talking about, but for some reason I remember them deciding on a single musical being Guys and Dolls and I swear Fiddler was the second.... but maybe I’m mixing two different articles together— or perhaps a BWW message board discussion that stemmed from this?

http://nymag.com/news/features/greatest-new-york/70476/index5.html

"

That whole conversation was so entertaining to read on so many levels."

QUITE entertaining, and I loved they way George C. Wolfe's impassioned plea on behalf of WSS got it back on the list! 

Thanks for sharing that! 

 

[The Distinctive Baritone]

This brings up the old argument of “standard” book musicals versus sung-through or mostly sung-through musicals. Also, My Fair Lady and 1776 have WAY more spoken dialogue than most musicals.