Dan's Papers - April 18, 2008

Broadway diva Patti LuPone takes her turn as Mama Rose, the mother of all stage mothers, and commands the theater like no other in the Arthur Laurents' revival of the great American masterpiece Gypsy, which began life last summer as part of City Center's Encores! Series. The musical, featuring the legendary score by Jule Styne with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, includes such classic songs as "Some People," "Small World," 'You'll Never Get Away From Me," "Everything's Coming Up Roses," and "Rose's Turn." Add to that Laurents first rate book and you have what is considered to be the definitive back stage musical.

When City Center's three week engagement quickly sold out, the word of LuPone's astonishing performance spread like a wildfire, building tremendous enthusiasm for the woman - who many believe was born to play Mama Rose - to strut her stuff. And so it has come to pass. Its Patti's turn and the accolades are in. But not so fast, there's something askew in Laurents' highly stylized staging and the Broadway transfer has apparently lost some vital ingredient. How could this happen?

Reportedly unhappy with Sam Mendes' staging of the Bernadette Peters' Gypsy in 2003, Laurents, 89, replicates the 1959 staging of the show's original director/choreographer, Jerome Robbins. Laurents did similar revivals with Angela Lansbury in 1974 and Tyne Daly in 1989 - both ladies ended up winning Tony Awards.

LuPone may be the closest incarnation to Ethel Merman's original Rose. Her marvelously supple voice possess both power and nuance. She's a gifted performer, with a dynamic presence and unrivaled belting skills that suit her to the role and music. She has a splendid supporting cast that features an ideal Laura Benanti as Louise, the tomboy turned stripper, a terrific Boyd Gaines as Herbie, her long suffering agent/fiancée, a winning Leigh Ann Larkin as Dainty June plus a trio of jaded old strippers, Alison Fraser, Lenora Nemetz and Marilyn Caskey for additional spice.

The original book by Laurents is a marvel for musicals - astute with psychological shadings that are both dark and ironic - explaining its lasting appeal as a metaphor for the destructive pressures of America's success credo of win no matter what. The music, as we all know, is sensational. Laurents' direction with Robbins original choreography (reproduced by Bonnie Walker) makes for a slick production - an unabashedly brazen steamroller, with only occasional flashes of brilliance.

Most moments go by the wayside in his broad rendering and the shattering conclusion is not so shattering. The show wows you with dazzling skill, but ultimately moves you only slightly. Gypsy opened on March 27, 2008 at the St. James Theatre, 246 W 44th Street between Broadway and Eighth Ave. For tickets call Telecaharge at 212-239-6200 or at the box office.

Theater critics Barry Gordin and Patrick Christiano are members of the Drama Desk. Barry is an internationally renowned photographer and Patrick is artistic director of SilvaRoad Productions. Visit their website at www.theaterlife.com.