saw this production with Patti. Never have I seen such a Rose´s turn...the entire audience was holding its breath and simply "blew up" at the last note BTW: I saw Ethel Berman in this show in Chicago. She wore her street clothes and seldom got off a stool
I wish I had an effing time machine to go back to 2008 and see the show...I live in Italy and it was impossible for me to go :( I also wish they published the official video recordings of the show, though it's not the same as seeing it live T.T I love Patti *-*
The new London Cast recording with Imelda Staunton is actually stunning.. I've seen quite a few Gypsy Roses.. but so far she sounds far and away the best.. seeing the show later this month! Everything's Coming Up Roses is awesome..
Imelda Staunton was good, but not better, than the rest of them. Powerful, yes, but nothing different or fresh. Rose needs to go away a while and come back in five or six years with someone who can bring new life into her. Angela Lansbury did it.
@@unclealand Staunton's Rose was one note for the entire show except for one early scene where she was seductive with Herbie. She was full throttle and it gave the sense of sameness for the remainder of the night because she had nowhere to go. Her voice was strong but not not very pleasing to the ear.
"I think it's more then a musical, I think it's a play with music" Maybe I am over thinking this but there is something about that statement I find a little off putting.
Why? Many musical books are weak because they get tampered with too much when a show isn't working. GYPSY's book is a rock solid play...that can't be said for most shows.
Even amongst musicals that have good books Gypsy stands out. It is arguably the best book in the musical theater canon. The fact that it also manages to have a superb score on top of that is the reason it's such a legendary show. That, and the fact that Mama Rose is one of the best roles ever written for a woman.
