Gypsy

[ahmelie]

A thread for first preview reviews!

[stella985]

I just got back and don't really want to type a long message/ review, but I'm sure someone else will anyway. But I will say it was overall a great production (better then the 2003 Broadway revival in my opinion) and Patti Lupone is unbelievable! She is beyond amazing in this role. If anyone is thinking about seeing it I'd hurry and get tickets before the reviews come out. I really felt like I was seeing the role the way it was meant to be played.

[Rathnait62]

Absolutely superior to the 2003 production. Laurents vs. Mendes when it comes to GYPSY is no contest. Not even the same league.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Rath, who did you find better, Peters or LuPone?

[stella985]

I don't like comparing performers (and I know you didn't ask me) but...

If I were Bernadette Peters I would stay far far far away from City Center.

And, I'm a big Bernadette Peters fan.

[Rathnait62]

I'm a huge Bernadette fan, and I was a big fan of her Rose.

But Patti is in a Rose league of her own. Best I've ever seen, and I've seen Tyne, Jana, Linda, Bette, Bernadette, and now Patti. I saw Tyne and Jana each many many times.

[Thesbijean]

Just got back as well...

One word to sum up Patti's performance: FIERCE

She was fierce. The production as a whole had a fluidity to it that made the show go by in a heartbeat (unlike the 2003 revival, which staggered at several occasions).

Gaines was superb, best acted Herbie I have ever seen. Benanti suprised me. She was vulnerable, charming, and her transformation I bought 100%.

Overall, very entertaining and moving production, much better than the 2003 revival IMO. Patti was also an all around better Rose than Bernadette, hands down.

[Yankeefan007]

What was the run time?

[HeyJayNYC]

JUST got back from seeing the first night of previews of "Gypsy" starring Patti LuPone! PHENOM! I knew she'd be amazing. She acted the hell out of it and sang as if her life depended on it! And that's the character!
I've never seen the show, only the movie. I'm sure Merman was the BOMB! I know Angela Lansbury must have been TOPS! I know Tyne Daly blew people away, but didn't make me wanna see it and I can't imagine Bernadette Peters. Too cutesy and the cast recording I heard she just growled.
There are two women I'd want to see play Rose, and I just saw one! The other would be my friend Donna Migliaccio, who has played it and I know she must have been the TITS! Pardon the expression..but I just know she was like Patti. FIERCE!

This was a fully staged version, though scaled down, for City Center. They usually do Encore productions, concert versions. Patti did this at a Festival during her run in "Sweeney Todd". Thank the powers that be for bringing it to us!

The rest of the cast was great too! Laura Bennati, who I saw in "The Wedding Singer", was excellant as Louise. She really tore it up in the scene where she finally confronts Mamma. I was truly impressed.

Once again I had ok seats, but at intermission I moved down front...with a birdseye view. Thank God for side seats nobody wants. I loved it.

Standing O and well deserved.

And when Patti tore into "Everything's Coming Up Roses" at the end of Act 1, she brought that curtain DOWN!.

But, she played the part so well, sexy and silly and flirty and crazy...all the right elements.

Kudos and FOUR STARS! A true theatrical event!!!! I agree, this part was meant for Patti, and vice versa!

[antiandrewx]

Just got back, absolutely blown away. Just wow. Patti was absolutley out of this world. Rose's Turn was a freaking event. Loved the whole cast, everyone gave great performances.

I'll join in on the "Patti > Bernadette" bandwagon.

[Rathnait62]

Rose's Turn, as performed by LuPone, is an entire musical in itself. One of the most incredible things I've ever seen on a stage.

I know that Laurents worked intensely with her. I don't believe her performance was anywhere near this caliber under the direction of Price.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Is the orchestra on stage?

[stella985]

Dottie, yes it is. It's in the back and they use a skrim to show/not show it.


Is Patti eligible for any awards for this? I mean, personally, I'd just hand her an honorary Tony now.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Thanks, Stella.

[Calvin]

Well, I guess I'll have to be the lone dissenter here and say...






Kidding. She was phenomenal.

And YF, I think it was about 2:45.

[antiandrewx]

I don't know if she's up for any awards, but they should make a special Tony for her.

[HeyJayNYC]

Yes the orchestra is on stage. Show started about 7:10 and let out about 9:45.

Ya know everyone who has played it had done a great job with their own interpretation, but to me, seeing an actress and a role so perfectly suited for each other was like at the end, when she put that mink on, it FIT! She melded into it...so sexy!

I agree Boyd was amazing as Herbie..when he finally let loose, just like he said, it was scary.

I hate the seating in that place though. Some tall person sits in front and if you are up in first or second tier, everyone cranes to see.

The sets were as awful as they were supposed to be, and the acts they did, were as bad as they were supposed to be. If Mamma Was Married was the first time I really felt Laura finally got to let loose, the part is written that way.

And those STRIPPERS! Understated and Brilliant!!!

Did anyone else notice nobody mentioned "Evita" in their bios? I believe I saw Nancy Opal do "Evita" and there Patti and her were in the same show. Someone did mention "Sunset Blvd" in their bio.

Patti, THANK YOU!!! Arther directed her to perfection. I loved when she broke down crying and Louise comforted her. I nevers saw that done before.

[AC126748]

One word: Brava!

The palpable sexual chemistry between Lupone's Rose and Gaines' Herbie was incredible. Benanti did much better than I would have expected.

Calvin, I saw you as I was leaving but couldn't wade through the sea of people to say hi. It was madness.

[Rathnait62]

Jay, I said in my review on the other thread that that moment is, for the first time in my viewing, played correctly.

Personally, and this is hard for me to type, I think Tyne should give her award to Patti.

Can't believe I just said that.

[Calvin]

Aw, AC! Sorry I missed you!

I knew you were there and was going to try to find you at intermission, but...I had to use the restroom, and as you know, that's an intermission-long task at City Center.

I also was pleasantly surprised by Benanti. But did anyone else think her "ugly" hair made her look like Imogene Coca?

[pippin2]

Thrilling and overwhelming are the only words I can ascribe to tonight's performance. Patti was in top voice and fierce as hell as she nearly tore the roof off the theater with her last "me" in Rose's Turn. Her acting was spot on and riveting to watch. Laura Benanti seems a bit too old in the earlier scenes, but makes up for it by making a brilliant transformation to Gypsy Rose Lee. Her scene with Patti before Rose's Turn was the best I've ever seen it done. So much all around praise for this production, I could go on forever. Here's hoping it will have some life beyond City Center!

[veryownplanetz]

Just got home.

This was absolutely stunning.

The cast was fantastic accross the board.
Patti was brilliant and tore the roof off of city center during Everythings Coming Up Roses and Rose's Turn ( with a WELL deserved standing O after it).
Gaines was fantastic as Herbie. He had such charisma and great chemistry with Lupone and Benanti.
Benanti was stellar. Her "little lamb" was heartbreaking, her argument scene with Patti was chilling and she was just on the mark in all of her choices.
Leigh Ann Larkin was a GREAT june, the strippers were FANTASTIC. All 3 of them. Tony Yazbeck was very good as well. The kids were absolutely adorable, especially june. her pointe work was superb.

As many others have said, run don't walk to the box office. You do NOT want to miss this one.

[Rathnait62]

Benanti must have had quite a rehearsal today, because I was definitely less than impressed with her last night.

[zooxanthellae]

Glad to hear that it's an amazing performance from all... I didn't expect it to be anything short of amazing... I'm so excited for saturday!!!

Somebody else asked this but does anyone know if Ms. LuPone is up for any awards for this performance?

[antiandrewx]

Did anyone sit in the front gallery? How was the view?

I was in the front mezz and the view was great.