You know what struck me besides the incredible acting? The fact that they both speak just like they're from the time period. Too often there's amazing performances but without the appropriate patterns of speech for the time period and it pulls me out of it, but not this time
Wow. Brilliant acting and extraordinary directing. Benanti is simply a revelation. Terrifying in one moment, dripping sweetness the next. For the first time, I can see Gypsy as her mother's daughter. Best Gypsy ever.
Laua Benanti delivers that one line, "I thought you did it for me, Mama," exactly how it needs to be said. Gypsy has been saving that one up for just this moment. It's critical to setting off Rose's final number which is her realization that she did do it for herself. "For ME!" Patti LuPone was going to play Rose sooner or later, and she didn't disappoint anybody. As much as I liked her performance, however, I felt I had already seen it in my imagination. She did exactly what I thought she would do and she did it just like I thought she would. Wonderful, but there were no surprises. Still, it's kind of silly to complain.
I can kind of see what people are saying about the yelling, but I think it adds to the scene! She has so much anger built up from so. Any years and now she is finally able to let it out! Laura is perfect in this role!!
this has to be the ULTIMATE...the woman was a monster and Miss Lupone portrays it without doubt...as for Miss Benanti..i love the way she plays this scene with guts...no other actress comes near to this im afraid.So glad its here saved for us all to enjoy for those of us who werent lucky enough to see it live.
Laura freakin’ Benanti!! I mean… her performance in this is a master class in everything you need to do right on a stage. I got to see her in this twice and it’s one of the best performances I’ve ever seen!
This video is the perfect example of master book writing meeting master performances meeting master staging. I remember seeing this live and being at the edge of my seat, completely awe inspired by the type of storytelling that you only get to see once every year or so. I'm so glad someone documented this- I learn so much from this video every time I come back to it, it's some powerful stuff. And so emotionally effective. These two women deserved every bit of their Tonys.
And, thankfully, their honest understanding and personal interpretation of the way these characters are written, their carefully nuanced, handling and emotional truths known by genuine actors & actresses who always choose to present the reality within these staged representations of real-life experiences, so honest & true so audiences can be subconsciously reminded these stage characters within the script aren't just made-up characters, made-up to entertain us for a couple of hours; but, instead, we are treated to an experience to find our similarities within our own lives & those presented for us, as we hear and see the words & actions of these representations of real people as you & me. I will forever be thankful, and honestly humbly gracious we share a world so full of unique sounds & man-made languages we all share. And, it's reassuring to know the emotional truths within the situations which inspire these characters to speak will never be illegal, as these emotions happen to be very true, and more real than the keyboards, type-writers, pens, pencils, quills, chisels and various other forms of writing utensils utilized to share forms of communication with various backgrounds & personal life-situations of their own. Beautiful lives lived. Beautiful representations of lives from which we all can learn new lessons.
The three women in Gypsy are in a power struggle the entire play until it’s just Rose and Louise. This, to me, is the final battle in the long war. The act 2 culmination of any musical is always intense. And this was perfect. Seeing two leading players play their final hand is incredible.
I can see just from this scene why Ms Benanti won the Tony. I've always been impressed with Ms. Lupone ever since she was on "Life Goes On". Now I've become a fan of Ms. Benanti after Sound of Music!
Jesus, that fury at 2:03 is SO palpable. Totally justifies the intensity that comes later on. You can tell these words have been on her heart for so long that when they come out, it comes out as wrath.
I've so far seen 3 versions of this scene and I must say, this is the most convincing one I've ever seen. Leave it to the legends to portray such a scene so perfectly!
This is beautiful... I've read a few of the comments on how this scene could've been improved or this actor should've done this or that. (And turning your back on an audience is allowable if it serves a purpose) It's funny how everyone's a director and a critic. A play is a living, breathing piece of work. It must be crafted, but never picked apart. Let it breathe.
Urban Cook exactly. Life isn’t planned or staged, it just happens. Acting is life, there is no rule or boundaries, allowing it to flow naturally without having such vital directon is the most vigilant thing to experience. It is live theatre, it is an experience, every take or day of a show a diffrent enegry tramples upon the scene. A diffrent viewpoint, but same atmosphere. Remove the boundaries and let the scene breathe rather then inhale constant direction leading it to be “overacting” or not real. We want to see what is real, not what is presumed.
When June says "I thought you did it for me" you can tell in her voice that she's realizing her mother was just using her like a toy. That's why she walks out on her in the end, she realizes her mother was only thinking of herself
That's true, but from Roses opening number I realized this story wouldn't be able to go and place but where it ended up. The quality that place presented to me was a mix of power and phenomenal respect for the way this finished.
In real life the two never fully reconciled. Gypsy did buy Rose a farm, where Rose shot a woman to death and got a way with it (Saying it was an accident). The story goes the victim tried to make a pass at Gypsy, and Rose shot her out of jealousy.
This is the pinnacle of musical theater. Laura is so formidable. She challenges Patti to a point where it’s almost impossible to top. And then Patti has to meet that challenge. And then Patti Pattis the show to impossible heights. Amazing. The art form doesn’t get any better. This Lear and Hamlet.
But really! Stage art is the best, direct, pure acting... but unfotunately, theatres swallows those FABULOUS performances and later, people only can read and maybe trust that this or that actor was a great stage star...and later even the biggest theatre stars are forgotten because there usually aren't any recordings....now,we can SEE because of these bits. Thank you!
To all the people that are bitching about the video, FUCK YOU. Just dont watch it and stop being such a stuck up ass about everything. Other people didnt get a chance to see this production, atleast they can see clips from it.
@Mattbrain I totally agree. The performances from LuPone, Benanti, and Gaines were all well-deserving of Tonys. The supporting cast was incredible as well. Such a glorious memory!
@Brathford Well, it was supposed to be seen on a live stage, not on a video screen. The difference in medium makes a big difference. What seems over the top is magnified on a screen whereas you need something larger than life for it to register in a live theater. What's important is that the actors are conveying genuine emotions. Compare this to the Bette Midler version of the same scene, the TV movie version seems bland and sitcom-y in comparison.
Bernadette grew up with a stage mother. Bernadette made her first appearance on a black and white show “Juvenile Jury” at age 3 and a half. Her surname at birth was Lazarra. Her mom changed it to Peters (after Bernadette’s father). Marguerite told her daughter that Lazarra wouldn’t fit on a theatre marquee.
@Brathford Well of course we know that someone working in casting must be the utlimate arbiters of taste in matters of theater (certainly above the paying audience and theater critics). And while I admit that the scene could have been toned down in terms of impact, I still hold that the genuine raw emotions displayed here beats the synthetic repressed performances we see in most commercial pursuits. And the late Arthur Laurents seemed to think so as well.
This and the one with Imelda Staunton are great revivals this one doesn’t have a happy ending and the recent revival gives a hint that’s there still tension but gypsy is gonna be the bigger person and now take care of her mother who now willingly left her dream to be with her daughter
Missing the effect as far as MS. Lupone is.concerned. With this actress, one can see everything coming a mile away. Need to be surprised sometime, ya know?
If anyone wants a copy of this show on dvd with a autographed playbill of Gypsy, signed by Patti LuPone, Laura Benanti and Boyd Gained. Hit me up on my aim xoalxscrzox , im looking to trade both those items for the Judi Dench cast recording of A Little Night Music
Too much venom between them. Not a hint that they still love each other. Every time I watch one of these stage performances I think, nothing can top Rosalind Russell and Natalie Wood in the screen version.
I mean, isn’t that the point in this production? They at this point, in real life, didn’t love each other. Rose was abusive in real life and in the musical…
I respect Laura Benanti's deeper resonance and performance, but I do perosnally like Cynthia Gibb's performance better. Of course, I sat through that whole movie to watch her develop in that role, a moment of this play doesn't do justice to the character.
I sort of wish Patti wouldn't play every character like she's Evita. I'm sorry, I don't want to come off trollish, but...I'm kind of tired of that same schtick... That being said, Laura Benanti is fabulous here.
I just love how you can hear the guy expel a breath every time Benanti Yells. It is that breath that just says "Damn"
haha it actually irked me that i could hear those breaths!
so THIS is why Laura won the Tony. W O W
and her mooing too
The carnal rage with which Benanti growls, "I LOVE IT," sends chills down my spine. Such a marvelous juxtaposition of words and intention.
You know what struck me besides the incredible acting? The fact that they both speak just like they're from the time period. Too often there's amazing performances but without the appropriate patterns of speech for the time period and it pulls me out of it, but not this time
Good call.
Wow. Brilliant acting and extraordinary directing. Benanti is simply a revelation. Terrifying in one moment, dripping sweetness the next. For the first time, I can see Gypsy as her mother's daughter. Best Gypsy ever.
Laua Benanti delivers that one line, "I thought you did it for me, Mama," exactly how it needs to be said. Gypsy has been saving that one up for just this moment. It's critical to setting off Rose's final number which is her realization that she did do it for herself. "For ME!" Patti LuPone was going to play Rose sooner or later, and she didn't disappoint anybody. As much as I liked her performance, however, I felt I had already seen it in my imagination. She did exactly what I thought she would do and she did it just like I thought she would. Wonderful, but there were no surprises. Still, it's kind of silly to complain.
I can kind of see what people are saying about the yelling, but I think it adds to the scene! She has so much anger built up from so. Any years and now she is finally able to let it out! Laura is perfect in this role!!
this has to be the ULTIMATE...the woman was a monster and Miss Lupone portrays it without doubt...as for Miss Benanti..i love the way she plays this scene with guts...no other actress comes near to this im afraid.So glad its here saved for us all to enjoy for those of us who werent lucky enough to see it live.
Laura freakin’ Benanti!! I mean… her performance in this is a master class in everything you need to do right on a stage. I got to see her in this twice and it’s one of the best performances I’ve ever seen!
This video is the perfect example of master book writing meeting master performances meeting master staging. I remember seeing this live and being at the edge of my seat, completely awe inspired by the type of storytelling that you only get to see once every year or so. I'm so glad someone documented this- I learn so much from this video every time I come back to it, it's some powerful stuff. And so emotionally effective. These two women deserved every bit of their Tonys.
Sam Seleznow ditto
it's perfection
i forgot that long silent exchange.
This video is an acting MASTERCLASS
this acting is so good, it should be illegal
And, thankfully, their honest understanding and personal interpretation of the way these characters are written, their carefully nuanced, handling and emotional truths known by genuine actors & actresses who always choose to present the reality within these staged representations of real-life experiences, so honest & true so audiences can be subconsciously reminded these stage characters within the script aren't just made-up characters, made-up to entertain us for a couple of hours; but, instead, we are treated to an experience to find our similarities within our own lives & those presented for us, as we hear and see the words & actions of these representations of real people as you & me.
I will forever be thankful, and honestly humbly gracious we share a world so full of unique sounds & man-made languages we all share. And, it's reassuring to know the emotional truths within the situations which inspire these characters to speak will never be illegal, as these emotions happen to be very true, and more real than the keyboards, type-writers, pens, pencils, quills, chisels and various other forms of writing utensils utilized to share forms of communication with various backgrounds & personal life-situations of their own.
Beautiful lives lived. Beautiful representations of lives from which we all can learn new lessons.
The three women in Gypsy are in a power struggle the entire play until it’s just Rose and Louise. This, to me, is the final battle in the long war. The act 2 culmination of any musical is always intense. And this was perfect. Seeing two leading players play their final hand is incredible.
I can see just from this scene why Ms Benanti won the Tony. I've always been impressed with Ms. Lupone ever since she was on "Life Goes On". Now I've become a fan of Ms. Benanti after Sound of Music!
Jesus, that fury at 2:03 is SO palpable. Totally justifies the intensity that comes later on. You can tell these words have been on her heart for so long that when they come out, it comes out as wrath.
Now THOSE are two tony winning performances! Incredible!!
The rage is spellbinding. Chills, child. Just chills!!!!!
I've so far seen 3 versions of this scene and I must say, this is the most convincing one I've ever seen. Leave it to the legends to portray such a scene so perfectly!
I just saw a truly heinous community theatre production of this and I had to watch this immediately to recover.
This is beautiful... I've read a few of the comments on how this scene could've been improved or this actor should've done this or that. (And turning your back on an audience is allowable if it serves a purpose) It's funny how everyone's a director and a critic. A play is a living, breathing piece of work. It must be crafted, but never picked apart. Let it breathe.
Urban Cook exactly. Life isn’t planned or staged, it just happens. Acting is life, there is no rule or boundaries, allowing it to flow naturally without having such vital directon is the most vigilant thing to experience. It is live theatre, it is an experience, every take or day of a show a diffrent enegry tramples upon the scene. A diffrent viewpoint, but same atmosphere. Remove the boundaries and let the scene breathe rather then inhale constant direction leading it to be “overacting” or not real. We want to see what is real, not what is presumed.
I LOVE it when an actor turns its back to the audience. When done properly ic is extremely powerful.
That is some phenomenal acting.
RIP Arthur Laurents. The genius behind this production and Gypsy!!!
I can’t imagine that it’s easy to match Madame Lupone in a scene, much less a screaming match, but Benanti does it admirably. And with proper support!
When June says "I thought you did it for me" you can tell in her voice that she's realizing her mother was just using her like a toy. That's why she walks out on her in the end, she realizes her mother was only thinking of herself
That's true, but from Roses opening number I realized this story wouldn't be able to go and place but where it ended up. The quality that place presented to me was a mix of power and phenomenal respect for the way this finished.
In real life the two never fully reconciled. Gypsy did buy Rose a farm, where Rose shot a woman to death and got a way with it (Saying it was an accident). The story goes the victim tried to make a pass at Gypsy, and Rose shot her out of jealousy.
i can't believe i always forget laura benanti's talent!!! she's unreal!!!!
agree with you about LuPone's acting here. Benanti, on the other hand, is chillingly accurate.
This is the pinnacle of musical theater. Laura is so formidable. She challenges Patti to a point where it’s almost impossible to top. And then Patti has to meet that challenge. And then Patti Pattis the show to impossible heights. Amazing. The art form doesn’t get any better. This Lear and Hamlet.
But really! Stage art is the best, direct, pure acting... but unfotunately, theatres swallows those FABULOUS performances and later, people only can read and maybe trust that this or that actor was a great stage star...and later even the biggest theatre stars are forgotten because there usually aren't any recordings....now,we can SEE because of these bits. Thank you!
Wow. I've seen tons of plays. That was the best acting I've ever seen. Wow.
Favorite scene... this scene speaks volumes
The most electrifying two performances I have ever witnessed in the theatre.
Omigosh both of these women just gave me goosebumps! I love that this live theatre can to you:)
Damn! That gave me chills.
These two women are sensational and I can't wait to see them together again in Women on the Verge! ^^
My HS just did gypsy last night and it was so incredible!! The girl who played Rose is so going places😭👏🏻👏🏻
I saw this live twice amazing
Wow...absolutely amazing.
I watch this so often. It just feels so real. Mother, you have GOT to let go of me.
Best part of this entire show!!! I get chills every time I see it.
This is why Benanti won the Tony.
Such an amazing scene! Benanti and Lupone a
To all the people that are bitching about the video, FUCK YOU. Just dont watch it and stop being such a stuck up ass about everything. Other people didnt get a chance to see this production, atleast they can see clips from it.
3:31. Where did she get those lungs?!
Love that Benanti wins this. Brilliant direction . I love the way Natalie Wood played this, Laura was like the real Gypsy, tough and full of edges.
2:58 is when the monologue starts
"I LOVE IT!" LMAO
@Mattbrain I totally agree. The performances from LuPone, Benanti, and Gaines were all well-deserving of Tonys. The supporting cast was incredible as well. Such a glorious memory!
WERK IT LAURA
Although I dearly love both, this, my Babies, is why Broadway is Broadway and Hollywood is Hollywood. ONE TAKE. I love Musicals.
@Brathford
Well, it was supposed to be seen on a live stage, not on a video screen. The difference in medium makes a big difference. What seems over the top is magnified on a screen whereas you need something larger than life for it to register in a live theater. What's important is that the actors are conveying genuine emotions. Compare this to the Bette Midler version of the same scene, the TV movie version seems bland and sitcom-y in comparison.
THAT was INTENSE!
Utterly amazing.
My two favorite actresses
Sorry I don't know if this was early in the run. Laura Benanti is such a great actress, she gave me chills when I saw this
GOOSEBUMPS
Genius
Waaayyyyy better than the movie
holy shit laura is ferocious! amazing performance chills up my spine!
imagine having to yell at Patti LuPone
Everyone is coughing. Jesus.
Bernadette grew up with a stage mother. Bernadette made her first appearance on a black and white show “Juvenile Jury” at age 3 and a half. Her surname at birth was Lazarra. Her mom changed it to Peters (after Bernadette’s father). Marguerite told her daughter that Lazarra wouldn’t fit on a theatre marquee.
@Brathford
Well of course we know that someone working in casting must be the utlimate arbiters of taste in matters of theater (certainly above the paying audience and theater critics). And while I admit that the scene could have been toned down in terms of impact, I still hold that the genuine raw emotions displayed here beats the synthetic repressed performances we see in most commercial pursuits. And the late Arthur Laurents seemed to think so as well.
Laura Benanti, omg, amazing acting!
Better Gypsy Rose Lee & Rose than the original YUP I SAID IT. Ethel is still legendary ...Ethel was just too one note for me
Try Angela Lansbury her portrayal of rose was the first where they showed her madness and the loneliness at the end
"I said turn it off!"
Crying here.
After a scene like that there’s no way, a number later, they can laugh and walk into the sunset. That’s why the change in this revival is so perfect.
This and the one with Imelda Staunton are great revivals this one doesn’t have a happy ending and the recent revival gives a hint that’s there still tension but gypsy is gonna be the bigger person and now take care of her mother who now willingly left her dream to be with her daughter
You said it!!!!! LOL
It really is not a shock that she won that tony for this performance. because it is just... wow!
YESS LAURA YESS
wow.....wow.....woooooooaaahhhhh
shes good
that was intense.
does anyone have the full recording
spectacular
i would give anything to play Louise just to do this scene, if nothing else :D
Wow...
A) Good thing you weren't seen recording this
B) I wish I had the Judi Densch recording - I'd trade a limb for a recording of this show.
Thank gods for illegal recordings!
Actually Angela Lansbury won an tony for the Role of Rose in 1974 and Tyne Daly won in 1989.
does anyone have this full show??
@Brathford well i mean they did both earn tony awards...so i dont think they did a particularly bad job on this scene, lol...
11,071 views and no thumbs down. Smart crowd.
Wow.
@Brathford study some of the tchniques of theatre!
I did witness this , and,....You should have directed it. A glaring example of why one should not film a play.
how
Missing the effect as far as MS. Lupone is.concerned. With this actress, one can see everything coming a mile away. Need to be surprised sometime, ya know?
STOP COUGHING !!!!!!!
“What was an acting performance that was so good, you forgot it was acting?”
Too fierce for my taste.
@bodes08 "I said 'Turn it off!'"
If anyone wants a copy of this show on dvd with a autographed playbill of Gypsy, signed by Patti LuPone, Laura Benanti and Boyd Gained. Hit me up on my aim xoalxscrzox , im looking to trade both those items for the Judi Dench cast recording of A Little Night Music
Damn Laura Benati is amazing, who wouldn't love to do a scene where they get tell of a major diva (not in the good way)?!?! This is incredible!
@alicia92960 ditto
Too much venom between them. Not a hint that they still love each other. Every time I watch one of these stage performances I think, nothing can top Rosalind Russell and Natalie Wood in the screen version.
They DIDN'T still love each other. The real Gypsy got an order of protection against her mother after Rose tried to blackmail her.
I mean, isn’t that the point in this production? They at this point, in real life, didn’t love each other. Rose was abusive in real life and in the musical…
NATALIE WOOD FOR THE WIN IN THE FILM.. BY A MILE.
I respect Laura Benanti's deeper resonance and performance, but I do perosnally like Cynthia Gibb's performance better. Of course, I sat through that whole movie to watch her develop in that role, a moment of this play doesn't do justice to the character.
@alxscrz
I sort of wish Patti wouldn't play every character like she's Evita. I'm sorry, I don't want to come off trollish, but...I'm kind of tired of that same schtick...
That being said, Laura Benanti is fabulous here.
Well she’s no Natalie Wood is she but Lupone SOARS as Mana Rose