I saw the revival of Gypsy last night starring Bernadette Peters. I got my ticket for 50 bucks through the current Season of Savings promotion, which Broadway uses to lure people to the theaters during this, the slow time of the year.
Ever the theatrical optimist, I enjoyed the show. For one thing, Gypsy is one of the greatest American musicals. Bernadette Peters’s voice doesn’t quite fill the role of Mama Rose, but she acts the hell out of the part; you can feel her anguish at having failed to become the person she’s dreamed of being. She’s sexy, too. She looks great in her purple dress and 1920s haircut. The entire production looks great, actually. The minimal sets make for a sleek, colorful production. Most of the other actors play their parts well, although I preferred Jonathan Hadary’s Herbie and Crista Moore’s Louise back in 1989 over the current performances by John Dossett and Tammy Blanchard. For one thing, I wanted Tammy Blanchard to have a little more oomph in her final strip scene.
I was pleasantly surprised to recognize the actor who plays Tulsa, the character who sings, “All I Need is the Girl.” He’s David Burtka, and he’s totally cute, and I’ve seen him twice before. The first time I saw him was a couple of summers ago in Edward Albee’s The Play About the Baby, and he was stark naked part of the time. The second time I saw him was a couple of weeks later, when I realized I was standing next to him at Starlight, a gay bar in the East Village.
I wanted to say something like, “Hi! I’ve seen you naked,” but instead I didn’t speak to him.
Oh well.
I see what you mean about Mr. Burtka.
My congrulatuions, incidentally, about you and your new boyfriend!
Yes.. I saw it too. I never thought Bernadette hit the mark as Mama Rose. Too “cutesy”. I adored the 3 Gimmick Strippers in this production. Especially Julie Halston as Elektra. She leaves the cast this weekend for a play at the Roundabout, and she will be the first principal to depart the show. So, even though you saw it this late in the run, you still caught the Original Cast! Kewl! Regarding John Dossett… I think he was a perfect fit for Bernadette’s watered down Rose. They were a beleivable coupling. I never saw Tyne Daly, Lansbury or the Merm, but I would think that Jack Klugman who played Herbie opposite the Merm’s Mama would have been all wrong opposite BP.
Ethel and Angela notwithstanding, my conception of what Rose should be like comes from a mix CD a friend of mine gave me, featuring a recording of “Rose’s Turn” by Liza Minelli, who somehow does the whole washed- up- alcoholic bitter- about- being- overshadowed- by- a- more- talneted- relative schtick very believably.
Somehow.