Gypsy on Broadway 2008 The St. James

Yes I saw the City Center summer production and yes I loved it then but had concerns about the physical production. The set is pretty much the same with some nice embellishments but it looks much more at home at The St. James than it did at City Center. The costumes and lighting too are much sharper. I’m still not crazy about the circa 1970’s projection technology that announces Gypsy’s strip tour cities or the use of a puppet and puppet master for the lamb. Does Rose have to take a walk in front of the curtain prior to beginning Roses Turn just to clear the scenery behind it from the previous scene? But those are small carps when considering what a great evening was presented.

Can I tell you the big surprise of the evening? Lenora Nemetz! What a welcome addition to the cast and how fabulous to have her back on Broadway; loved, loved, loved her in Working and Chicago, way back when. Her Miss Cratchitt was perfect but to hear her sing and start strutting her stuff as Mazeppa was a joy. At City Center “Gimmick” was missing that Broadway belt and Lenora has put all the pieces back. She is listed at Lu Pones stand by, wonder if Ms. Patti will throw her a bone and take a day off – would love to see Nemetz do the role.

Laura Benanti is the shimmering jewel in this production. Her blossomed Gypsy is gorgeous. Her strip tour across the country section could have benefited from some additional production values but she really was stunning; loved watching her every move in this production.

Patti LuPone is giving a very different performance at The St. James Theater than she did at City Center. Much more centered much more ferocious. This Gypsy laughs off her father’s not wanting to give her eighty eight cents as just one more rejection that she will plow through. She is very much aware of the lemons she is being given to make lemonade with. She is a tiger whose stripes can not be changed for all the mink in Gypsy’s closets. I sensed a change in costumes, wigs and make up that gave her just the right physical edge, she looked dowdy to me at City Center. Her Roses Turn was a perfect summary of her take on the role – the “Mama … mama?” section gave me goose bumps.

I can not wait until enough of you have seen the show to discuss the staging of the last scene. The new bit needs some tightening and pruning but we can all talk more about that at another time.

Overall a brilliant production has gotten tighter, deeper and more focused. City Center was the workshop and now we have the real deal.

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