Angela Lansbury and Bonnie Langford as 'Baby June', Lisa Peluso as 'Baby Louise'. 1974 Broadway revival.
Gypsy. The original London and Broadway Revival Productions.
The opening night of the original Broadway production of Gypsy took place on 21 May 1959. The opening night of the much awaited first performance of the show in London took place fourteen years and one week later on 29 May 1973.
In the middle of 1972, young Broadway stage manager, Fritz Holt and music publishing executive, Barry Brown, got together to talk about their mutual ambitions to produce shows. Barry was keen to produce them in London. Their mutual excitement led them to start planning the first production of Gypsy on the West End. Angela Lansbury was approached to play the demanding lead role of Rose, but she declined. Their second choice was Elaine Stritch, and she accepted the opportunity. Arthur Laurents, the show's writer, would direct, Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim would lend support with the music and Robert Tucker would recreate Jerome Robbins' original choreography. Tucker's daughter, Zan Charisse would play the role of Louise/Gypsy. Interestingly, she was also Hollywood and stage performer Cyd Charisse's niece.
The whole deal fell through because they were unable to get backer interest with Stritch in the lead and Holt and Brown were back at square one. Laurents personally approached Angela Lansbury once again and this time she accepted, having thought about a whole new approach to the role and not just trying to follow Ethel Merman's path. Lansbury's brother, theatre producer Edgar, and his partner Joseph Beruh, Fritz Holt and Barry Brown joined together as co-producers and the plans for the show went full steam ahead.
Laurents made several adjustments to the original production, mainly around the big “Let Me Entertain You” strip-tease sequence of Gypsy Rose Lee's in the second act, which I discuss in detail in the Australian production chapter. Two extra choruses of “Together” were added for Lansbury along with a short dance break. Dance music was also added for “You'll Never Get Away From Me”. “Rose's Turn” was also reworked, Laurents felt it, and the newly added dialogue throughout the strip sequence, helped the number make more sense and showed Rose's vulnerability much clearer. Laurents himself would write, "With no disrespect to Merman, it's the first time that number has been done the way it should be. It's hair-raising and it's because Angie's an actress."
Zan Charisse. Louise has blossomed into the world renowned stripper, Gypsy Rose Lee. Broadway revival.
Angela Lansbury performing "Rose's Turn". Broadway revival, 1974.
Of the opening in London, at The Piccadilly Theatre, Rex Reed wrote, "the most exciting thing since V-E Day. It was like a football game. People cheered through a fifteen minute standing ovation." Kenneth Tynan wrote, "In twenty years of London theatre, I've never seen anything like this!"
Angela Lansbury was voted "Plays and Players” Drama Critics Award's Best Actress of the Year. It was the first time anyone had won the award for an appearance in a musical.
Angela Lansbury with Barrie Ingham. "Small World" 1973 London production.
Gypsy and Rose. The confrontation is about to blow.
The scenery was by Robert Randolph, costumes by Raoul Pene du Bois, who had also designed the costumes for the original Broadway production, with Lansbury's costumes by her friend, and Mame costume designer Robert MacIntosh.
The production would then move to Broadway one year later, again with Lansbury and Zan Charisse and a new American cast. Opening at The Winter Garden Theatre on September 23, 1974 Martin Gottfried wrote, "It's as if it had been born fresh, beautifully directed by Laurents."
"Mister Goldstone", Broadway revival. Angela Lansbury and Rex Robbins as ‘Herbie’ and Don Potter as ‘Goldstone’.
Angela Lansbury won the Tony Award for the Best Actress that season and the show had a highly successful limited engagement on Broadway.
1973 original London production cast
Rose ......Angela Lansbury
Herbie .....Barrie Ingham
Louise ......Zan Charisse
Dainty June ......Debbie Bowen
Uncle Jocko ......George Moon
Georgie, Mr Goldstone ......Stanley Fleet
Baby June ......Bonnie Langford
Baby Louise .....Helen Raye
Pop, Cigar .....Larry Cross
Weber, Phil .....John Blythe
Tulsa .....Andrew Norman
Kringelein, Bougeron-Cochon .....Laurie Webb
Miss Cratchitt/Miss Mazeppa .....Kelly Wilson
Tessie Turra .....Valerie Walsh
Miss Electra .....Judy Cannon
Agnes .....Rosemary Faith
Pastey .....Geoff L'Cise
Farmboys .....Stuart Loch, Hayden Evans, Philip Baldwin, Gerry Tebbutt, Patrick Reilly
Hollywood Blondes .....Prue Clarke, Beverely Jennings, Jenny Lyons, Heather Seymour,
Tara Soppet
"Everything's Coming Up Roses". Angela belting the Act 1 finale song in the Broadway revival.
1974 Broadway revival cast
