Topic Gypsy....without Bernadette from the Theatre Chat forum.
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| Author | Topic: Gypsy....without Bernadette |
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 GYPSY1527
Registered User
Registered:
2/20/2004
From:
New Jersey
Fav. BP Song: With So Little to be Sure of
Fav. BP Show: Gypsy
Fav. BP Character: Dot
Fav. BP CD: Sondheim Ect.
| posted: 12/28/2005 at 10:46:26 AM ET
Hey all! So I was just thinking yesterday about Fiddler on the roof and how its been running for two years now. Now granted this revival is not to my liking but it did get me thinking about Gypsy and how it closed in such a short amount of time. I then began to wonder if replacing Bernadette when she choose to leave might have been a good idea. It might have boosted ticket sales and I personally think that the show deserved to run alot longer...Anyways, any ideas? I mean, at the time there were talks about Liza replacing her but now I hear that Maria Friedman is interested in playing Mama Rose. Just a thought!
|  Jean
Registered User
Registered:
6/7/2003 | posted: 12/28/2005 at 10:50:34 AM ET
I don't think Liza has the physical ability to do 8 shows a week. I think I would very much like to see Maria F. do Rose. But, I think part of the problem of Mendes' Gypsy was the "concept", for lack of a better word. So, I'm not sure who could have kept it running--Maria may not have been enough of a draw.
At any rate, interesting food for thought, GD. Thanks!
| GYPSY1527
Registered User
Registered:
2/20/2004
From:
New Jersey
Fav. BP Song: With So Little to be Sure of
Fav. BP Show: Gypsy
Fav. BP Character: Dot
Fav. BP CD: Sondheim Ect.
| posted: 12/28/2005 at 10:53:03 AM ET
I don't think Liza could do it either...although I adore the woman! I never saw anything wrong with the concept but fill me in if I'm missing something.
| Jean
Registered User
Registered:
6/7/2003 | posted: 12/28/2005 at 11:25:30 AM ET
I want to look through the reviews before I say more, today is matinee day so I'll be back later.
Let me leave you with what Arthur Laurents wrote [said] in "The Art of the American Musical":
"But in 2003, there was a new Rose alive on Broadway, Bernadette Peters! Brilliant, original, totally unlike any of the others. Unfortunately, the physical production in 2003 was misconceived and hurt the show more than people realized."
page 138
(I LIKED the concept, but what do I know.)
|  Rose
Registered User
Registered:
9/28/2003
From:
NY
Fav. BP Song: No One Is Alone and Some People
Fav. BP Show: Gypsy
Fav. BP Character: Rose/The Witch
Fav. BP CD: Gypsy
| posted: 12/28/2005 at 1:23:29 PM ET
I really don't understand what everyone means by the concept.
"Oh no, you won't. No, not a chance. No arguements, shut up and dance." -You'll Never Get Away From Me
"And if it wasn't for me then where would you be Miss Gypsy Rose Lee?" -Rose's Turn
| GYPSY1527
Registered User
Registered:
2/20/2004
From:
New Jersey
Fav. BP Song: With So Little to be Sure of
Fav. BP Show: Gypsy
Fav. BP Character: Dot
Fav. BP CD: Sondheim Ect.
| posted: 12/28/2005 at 1:41:28 PM ET
Well, conceptually, this production was different than the revivals in the past. In terms of the set(limited) and production numbers (ie: Gypsy Rose Lee's feather boa bit in Let me Entertain you)there were aspects of the show that many, from what I understand didn't like. I recall people saying that the whole feather boa thing was completely out of place and distracted from the number.
|  Christine-NYC
Registered User
Registered:
3/23/2002
From:
New York City
Fav. BP Song: With So Little to be Sure Of
Fav. BP Show: Gypsy
Fav. BP Character: Marie (insert last name) lol There's a few
Fav. BP CD: Bernadette Peters Loves Rogers and Hammerstein
| posted: 12/28/2005 at 2:00:07 PM ET
But they do that exact feather boa scene in the Bette Midler version, which according to most people is one of the few versions of Gypsy that holds true to the original choreography.
I don't remember the original movie version very well, and I've never seen another stage production of the show, but I liked the boa thing.
<3CMH<3
| Rose
Registered User
Registered:
9/28/2003
From:
NY
Fav. BP Song: No One Is Alone and Some People
Fav. BP Show: Gypsy
Fav. BP Character: Rose/The Witch
Fav. BP CD: Gypsy
| posted: 12/28/2005 at 2:04:22 PM ET
Thank you. The set design was one of the things I liked so much about Gypsy. There wasn't a lot of scenery so I was albe to focus more on the story and the actors work.
"Oh no, you won't. No, not a chance. No arguements, shut up and dance." -You'll Never Get Away From Me
"And if it wasn't for me then where would you be Miss Gypsy Rose Lee?" -Rose's Turn
| jmslsu01
Registered User
Registered:
6/9/2003
From:
northern VA | posted: 12/28/2005 at 2:06:54 PM ET
Maria Friedman was scheduled to play Rose in Odessa, TX, but you may remember that the theater has had financial troubles and scandals (Bernadette was scheduled to do a concert there, but that was cancelled as well). She's in The Woman in White now.
(I've been meaning to get that Art of the American Musical book.)
Jenn
| Christine-NYC
Registered User
Registered:
3/23/2002
From:
New York City
Fav. BP Song: With So Little to be Sure Of
Fav. BP Show: Gypsy
Fav. BP Character: Marie (insert last name) lol There's a few
Fav. BP CD: Bernadette Peters Loves Rogers and Hammerstein
| posted: 12/28/2005 at 2:58:35 PM ET
I agree, Rose. I liked the lack of scenery. I think there was just enough. Ellaborate sets cannot hide poor acting. That version of Gypsy did not need more than it had.
<3CMH<3
| Rose
Registered User
Registered:
9/28/2003
From:
NY
Fav. BP Song: No One Is Alone and Some People
Fav. BP Show: Gypsy
Fav. BP Character: Rose/The Witch
Fav. BP CD: Gypsy
| posted: 12/28/2005 at 3:16:54 PM ET
I know that this is just one person's opinion but I saw Gypsy not knowing who Bernadette was. Her performance made such an impression on my that I flew back to NY from CA to see it again. There's no way I would have done that to see anyone else as Rose.
"Oh no, you won't. No, not a chance. No arguements, shut up and dance." -You'll Never Get Away From Me
"And if it wasn't for me then where would you be Miss Gypsy Rose Lee?" -Rose's Turn
| GYPSY1527
Registered User
Registered:
2/20/2004
From:
New Jersey
Fav. BP Song: With So Little to be Sure of
Fav. BP Show: Gypsy
Fav. BP Character: Dot
Fav. BP CD: Sondheim Ect.
| posted: 12/28/2005 at 4:51:29 PM ET
I adored Bernadette as Momma Rose like no other as I saw the show 6X! There is such a thing though as trying to keep the show open for the sake of the show. Its an incredible show with themes that are relatable to anyone nowadays. I think it would have been worth it to try to extend the run. Its a true shame it didn't last longer!
|  Jeny
Registered User
Registered:
7/26/2005
From:
The burbs of Chi-Town
Fav. BP Song: No One Is Alone
Fav. BP Show: Sunday.../AGYG/Gypsy
Fav. BP Character: Dot/Marie, Annie Oakley, Rose
Fav. BP CD: I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
| posted: 12/28/2005 at 11:06:46 PM ET
I actually just finished doing a very successful production of "Gypsy" in Chicago. The set was very simple, similar to the Broadway design in that the basic set-up was made to look like the backstage of a theatre. Each different scene was then created through different furniture pieces and sometimes, a few small flats. I think the concept works very well, and comments on the fact that, for Rose, all life is theatre. It makes the thinking audience member delve much deeper into Rose's psyche.
But, mainly only those who are looking for a big, flashy evening of Broadway feel the need for grandeur when coming to see such a meaty piece as "Gypsy". What a true theatre connoisseur is really examining are the performances, primarily Rose. You can't even begin to think about doing this piece unless you know you have an actress who can handle the part. Personally, I would love to see Liza try her hand at it. What a different evening of "Gypsy" that would be! Maria Friedman? I don't know if I can picture it, but I'd be interested in seeing it. Again, though, it would be totally different performance.
I think the reason that the show did not run as long as a lot of us expected is that there were two very different, distinct viewpoints in the audiences. Many people, like us on this board, had no problem with someone so different from Ethel Merman playing Rose, and appreciated the nuances that Bernadette brought to the character. Others, though, are very traditionalist when it comes to "Gypsy" and believe that only those actresses who could be Ethel Merman re-incarnate should ever tackle the part. The only way to do Rose is the way it's always been done.
I don't know if the production would have thrived with a replacement, no matter who it was. Even if the replacement actress went more Merman with the role, (thereby appeasing those critics who so wrongly criticized Bernadette for daring to do something different) would the concept "problems" then become the bigger issue?
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