Gypsy

Okay, this page IS about Gypsy, a movie adaptation of the famous Stephen Sondheim musical. However, it's not MERELY a page to see pics of the movie starring Bette Midler as Mama Rose, instead I have made a page to give those of you who love the MOVIE a little history about Gypsy itself.
I hope you find it interesting.

The musical "Gypsy" was written by Broadway legend and genius Stephen Sondheim, who's other musicals include: "West Side Story"; "Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street"; "Putting it Together"; "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum"; "Follies"; & "Sunday in the Park With George" to name but a few. Though Sondheim did NOT write the music, due to the complaints and insistance of the star "Ethel Merman" (Jule Syne was brought in to compose the music) the lyrics that he came up with for this show are considered among his best work.

The musical itself is based on stripper Gypsy Rose Lee's book called Gypsy: A Memoir and is considered by many in the musical theater world to be one of the greatest shows ever written.

The story, follows Gyspy (birth name: Louise Hovick) from her childhood as a performer in a vaudeville act created by her mother, to the stage where she transforms stripping into an art form. From vaudeville to burlesque.

Her part in the act was to play the part of a "chorus boy" while the show showed off "dainty June" her sister as the star. ("Dainty June" became better known to the entertainment world as the famous broadway star, June Havok.) Always having to do everything to promote her sister's talent and feeling ignored and unappreciated led Louise to find her own niche in life, and the world would never be the same again! Gypsy Rose Lee was the creation, and stripteasing was her new claim to fame. The "Queen of Burlesque" was born.

Her mother, "Mama Rose" is perhaps the most intense, driven and certainly the most famous "stage mothers" of all time. It is the role of "Mama Rose" that has been played by stage diva after stage diva. A fantastic part that only the best can pull off.

The version of the story, based on Gypsy's memoirs focusses on her mother. "Mama Rose", after having put all her dreams and ambitions on hold to marry and raise a family sets out to make her daughters, both the talented and adorable June, and the uncoordinated, awkward, tomboy-ish Louise into HUGE stars on the vaudeville stage.

While watching Bette Midler take on the role in the 1993 movie "Gypsy" every emotion is called into play. As Mama Rose, we see push her children to be better the the best, to gain fame and fortune for her daughter June for she wants her that piece of the spotlight. At the same time we see Mama Rose as the mother who gives up everything for her children, ignoring her own needs and wants in order to make their lives all she dreams they can be. The song "Rose's Turn" near the end, finally gives the audience that piece of Mama Rose they've wanted throughout the entire musical. As for Ms. M's portrayal, her performance was STUNNING. Ms. Midler definately has earned her place among the women who have worn the name of "Mama Rose."

The famed performers that have done the role of Mama Rose include:

Ethel Merman: Originated the role in 1959.. it is considered by most to be the high point of her career and was also the last show she did on Broadway..
(INTERESTING NOTE FOR ISG: merman is/was rumoured to have had an affair with Jackie Susann way back when)

Angela Lansbury:
in the Original London Cast for the London run beginning in 1973
brough the role back to NY for the Broadway Revival in 1974
She won a Tony Award for the Broadway Revival
known to most as Jessica Fletcher from "Murder she wrote"; and the teapot in "Beauty and the Beast" BUT she's been in alot of Stephen Sondheim musicals esp: "Sweeny Todd"

Tyne Daly:
She brought this role BACK to Broadway for it's 30th year revival,
Both the show AND Daly recieved Tony Awards
known best for playing Officer Lacey in "Cagney and Lacy" and is now on "Judging Amy" as Maxine Gray

Rosalind Russell:
played Mama Rose in the 1962 movie version, which didn't recieve alot of good reviews...
also in the movies "The Women" and "Front Page"

And of COURSE
Bette Midler:
Miss M recieved well deserved recognition for her turn as Mama Rose. At the 1994 Golden Globes she recieved a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV (Gypsy)
for those of you who DON'T know who Miss M is PLEASE go back to the mainpage of this site and study up!

The 1993 adaptation for television was unique, due to the medium used. Here, after more then 30 years from it's original conception and triumph a whole new audience, a world wide audience (once it was released to VHS) was introduced to the story, the music and to Mama Rose.

Previously, (not including the Rosalind Russel 1962 picture), the only way to see and experience Gyspy was live on stage, and many people either were unable to go to the theater to see it, or just didn't even really realize it's existance in the many musicals of Broadway. I'm referring to those who just simply have never been exposed to musical theater at all.

Combining this amazing music, lyrics and story, with such a gifted performer in Ms. Midler was genius in my opinion. Ms. Midler's second "Rose" is no less brillant then the first. If Ms. Midler had been born a few decades earlier, in the high days of broadway, who KNOWS what type of broadway legend she would have been. She would have been the reigning queen I believe. or at least in fierce competition with the likes of Merman. Her grasp of the music and of the dramatic role makes this obvious. She's a legend in her own right however, and has musical theater added to one of her many many talents and accomplishments

Some interesting links to find out more about "Gypsy"

The Movie:
Gypsy ** (1962: Rosalind Russel)
Gypsy** (1993: Bette Midler)

The Music:

'Original Broadway Cast' 1959 ** (Ethel Merman)	'Original London Cast' ** (Angela Lansbury)
'1990 Broadway Cast' ** (Tyne Daly)	'Original Soundtrack' ** (Bette Midler)

The Literature:
Gypsy Rose Lee's Autobiography: Gypsy: Memoirs of America's Most Celebrated Stripper **
Stephen Sondheim's Gypsy: Gypsy **