Gypsy Photos

Its so hard to find much on the Original Production of Gypsy(besides from the closing night soundboard and OBCR. Even though most people would disagree, I think the original was the best production of the show(based on the little that I have seen). Even with all its "flaws". No, Ethel was not the great actress that Tyne and Patti were. Yes, Sandra was to talented(vocally) to play Louise. Yes, Lane was not talented enough(vocally) to play June. And Yes, Sandra's "Strip" was dialog-less(which in my opinion was better, but that's another subject). With all of that, I still think it's the best. No matter how "bad" of an actress Ethel was(she was monotone through the entire musical. Sandra's word, not mine...but I agree), you can't deny that the role of Mama Rose was crafted with a little bit of Ethel Merman in it. You can see a bit of Ether Merman in Tyne's performance. Without a doubt, Sandra was too strong of a singer to play Louise(at times she even stole the show from Lane and Ethel). However, she is the ONLY Louise that was able to portray both tomboy-Louise and sophisticated-Gypsy Rose Lee. Every other Louise lack in at least one department. Either she was too pretty and too feminine as a tomboy(Crista,Tammy) or not sexy enough to play a stripper(Zan, Laura)