I started my recent theater weekend in New York with a revisit of Patti Lupone's knockout turn in Gypsy. I'm still in agreement with most of what I said in my original review, so I won't repeat any of that here. Suffice to say, I still think that Gypsy is the best musical ever (this week, anyway), and that this production of Gypsy is the best I've ever seen. (Alas, I was not alive to see the original.)
I also feel that LuPone has successfully deposed Ethel Merman as the quintessential Rose. And that's some feat. I mean, has there ever been a role that's previously been as closely identified with one performer as Rose? Yul Brynner and the king, perhaps, or Rex Harrison and Henry Higgins. But whereas we still think of those performers when we imagine those roles, it's possible that from now on, when we think of Rose, we'll be picturing Patti LuPone instead of Ethel Merman. I know I will.
Those who know me will know that I do not say this lightly: I worship Ethel Merman. But there's something about LuPone's portrayal, nay, embodiment of the role that brings the role to a place that Merman probably never could have, no matter how long she played the role. By all accounts, Merman was a heck of a performer, but her acting was often rote or two-dimensional. LuPone's Rose is vivid, multifarious, and devastating.
LuPone's fellow Tony winners were a bit of a revelation upon second viewing. Laura Benanti seems to have grown nicely into her role. The first time I saw the show, I thought that she pushed a bit too hard in the confrontation scenes, but that her transformation from repressed Louise to liberated Gypsy was astonishing. Well, I'm happy to report that she seems to have tamed her excesses, while still retaining her glistening chrysalis qualities.
As for Boyd Gaines as Herbie, he was a revelation, too, but of a different and disappointing sort. Gaines seems to have broadened his performance a bit too far for my taste. He's still the best Herbie I've ever seen, bringing a smoldering slow burn to his character arc. But he's also mugging up a storm. It's as though at some point he realized that everyone else was getting the laughs, and he might as well get some, too. Here's hoping he returns to the modulated performance that won him his fourth Tony Award.
On a side note, it's interesting that the producers have changed the color of Rose's dress in the logo. The original design featured LuPone in a blue dress on a blue background (see left), but the new Playbill features the same color dress as in the CD cover above. Perhaps they changed it because the red dress stands out more?
Speaking of the CD, it will apparently go on sale August 28th. (What's the friggin' holdup, folks?) As previously reported, the new cast recording will feature a number of cut songs performed by the current cast, but apparently Barnes & Noble will be carrying an exclusive two-CD set that will feature even more material. Looking at the B&N track listing, it appears that some of these tracks will be alternate takes of songs from the show, but there are also dialog tracks and exit music. I've heard the tracks from the Tony preview tape, and this recording, in whatever form you choose to obtain it, is looking like a must-have.
