Audra And "Gypsy" Have Arrived!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But How Long Will They Stay?????????????????

                              Though I was only four years old when Ethel Merman opened "Gypsy" on Broadway, I was old enough to have seen her.  I did not, but I have seen every "Gypsy" since.  For me, Patti LuPone is the Rose of our generation.  That production was perfect.

                                 As a "Gypsy" purist, I am leery of this production.  Danny Burstein will be a perfect Herbie, but what about Audra?  For starters, look at the picture.  Doesn't it look non-organic and overly staged?  I mean, come on.  And if this is "Everything's Coming Up Roses," she looks optimistic, not embittered, as she should.  Audra, Audra, what are you doing?

                                    Yes, she goes back and forth with the head and chest voices.  That cannot be good for her vocally.  She may act up a storm, but what about her singing?  It is interesting to me that every review I have read, even Jesse Green in "The New York Times," tip toes around that issue.  They try to praise Audra without addressing the most important component needed to play Rose.  There is definitely an elephant in this living room!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        There is no excuse for an insufficient Rose.  Without that, there is no "Gypsy."  Now, I am not seeing the show until January 26, so there is room for improvement.  Audra, you better be up there, because I know how Rose should be played, and if it is not right, I will send you notes like Trish Hawkins did to Sara Paulson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            "With what I have inside of me, I could have been better than any of you!!!!!!!!!!!!