Gypsy [Original London Cast]

by Original London Cast

Overview

Amazingly, there was no London production of the 1959 Broadway musical Gypsy until 1973. One reason might be that the show was a star vehicle for Ethel Merman, who was not interested in appearing overseas. (She never even toured the U.S., in Gypsy or any of her other musicals.) In any case, when the show finally was done in the West End, it was done right. Angela Lansbury might be a native Briton, but she made her career in Hollywood and then on Broadway, originating roles in three musicals (and winning two Tony Awards for her trouble) before she made her stage debut in London in a straight play in 1972. Enough time has passed since Merman's portrayal for Lansbury to make the starring role of Mama Rose her own, and she does. The part as written is essentially unsympathetic, which is why it requires a star to play it, and Lansbury is both a star and an actress who has some experience with unsympathetic characters. She sings the part beautifully on this cast album, making the performance another triumph to rank with her one in Mame. One fault common to British productions of American shows is faulty American accents, but this one largely sidesteps that problem. It probably helped that the director was Arthur Laurents, the American who also wrote the show's book, and that the leads were Lansbury, who's spent more time in the U.S. than her native country, and, as Louise/Gypsy Rose Lee, Zan Charisse, who is an American. But British actor Barrie Ingham, playing Herbie, not only boasts a good American accent, but also a far better singing voice than Jack Klugman, Broadway's Herbie. It is true that the young boys in "Let Me Entertain You [Montage]" sound British (even cockney) and that Andrew Norman, as Tulsa, singing "All I Need Is the Girl," occasionally betrays his U.K. origins. But these are minor complaints compared with most West End shows cast with British actors playing Americans. As a result, this Gypsy is usually believable, and it is always well sung, making it an excellent new interpretation, even if it was so long in coming that it probably should be called a revival rather than an original production. ~ William Ruhlmann

Product Details

Release Date:	09/25/1990
Label:	Rca Victor
UPC:	0090266057122
Rank:	141340

Tracks

1. Gypsy~Overture
2. Gypsy~Some People
3. Gypsy~Small World
4. Gypsy~Let Me Entertain You [Montage]
5. Gypsy~Mr. Goldstone
6. Gypsy~Little Lamb
7. Gypsy~You'll Never Get Away from Me
8. Gypsy~If Momma Was Married
9. Gypsy~All I Need Is the Girl
10. Gypsy~Everything's Coming Up Roses
11. Gypsy~Together
12. Gypsy~You Gotta Get a Gimmick
13. Gypsy~Let Me Entertain You
14. Gypsy~Rose's Turn

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Original London Cast   Primary Artist
Zan Charisse   Primary Artist,Vocals
Debbie Bowen   Primary Artist
Bonnie Langford   Primary Artist,Vocals
Kelly Wilson   Primary Artist,Vocals
Andrew Norman   Primary Artist,Vocals
Valerie Walsh   Primary Artist,Vocals
Angela Lansbury   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Vocals
Judy Cannon   Primary Artist
Barrie Ingham   Primary Artist,Vocals
Eric Holliday   Vocals
Geoff L'Cise   Vocals
Heather Seymour   Vocals
Larry Cross   Vocals
Gerry Tebbutt   Vocals
Ludovic Keston   Vocals
Stuart Lock   Vocals
Bernice Adams   Vocals
Arthur Laurents   Director
Richard E. Spencer   Viola
Johnny Blythe   Vocals
Rosemary Faith   Vocals
Richard Leonard   Musical Director
Michael Rafter   Conductor
Phillip Baldwin   Vocals
Anthony Williams   Vocals
Laurie Webb   Vocals

Technical Credits

J.J. Stelmach   Art Direction
David Alan Kogut   Design
Stephen Sondheim   Composer
Norman Newell   Producer
Jule Styne   Composer
Jay Newland   Remastering
Bill Rosenfield   Remastering