CBS television mounted a lavish version of the Broadway classic
Gypsy in 1993 featuring Bette Midler putting her own special stamp on what is possibly the greatest female role in musical comedy, Mama Rose.
This role was originated on Broadway by Ethel Merman in 1959 and has also been interpreted by Rosalind Russell in the 1962 theatrical film version and in various stage reincarnations by Angela Lansbury, Bernadette Peters, Tyne Daly, and Patti LuPone (all but Peters won Tony awards for their performances).
This musical featuring an almost iconic score by Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim and original book by Arthur Laurents, for the uninitiated, is a slightly fictionalized look at the mother of all stage mothers, Rose Hovick, the mother of future burlesque sensation Gypsy Rose Lee and actress June Havoc, who ran one daughter away and made a reluctant star out of the other, merely as a vicarious satisfaction for her own lost ambitions.
This is a complete production of the original musical, the score completely intact ("Together Wherever we Go" was cut from the 1962 film) and Jerome Robbins' original choreography has been lovingly recreated. The score includes "Some People", "Everything's Coming up Roses", "Let Me Entertain You", "You Gotta get a Gimmick" and the fabulous "Rose's Turn."
Midler is electrifying in the title role and definitely has put her own stamp on the role. Being the trained musician that she is, she sings the role better than most of the above mentioned Roses and always keeps the character slightly manic, but never unlikable.
Cynthia Gibb works hard in the pivotal role of Louise, the allegedly untalented daughter of Rose, who, thanks to her mother's prodding, becomes the world's most famous stripper, Gypsy Rose Lee. Gibb is less successful as the wallflower Louise, but she absolutely shines when Louise finally takes the stage as Gypsy Rose Lee. Her rendition of "Little Lamb" almost rivals Natalie Wood's in the '62 film, one of my most favorite cinematic musical moments ever.
Peter Riegert does yeomen service to the thankless role of Herbie, the candy salesman turned agent, who falls for Rose, despite the fact that they want very different things from life. Riegert holds his own with Midler and never allows her to blow him off the screen. There are also a couple of effective supporting turns from Andrea Martin as a theatrical secretary and Christine Ebersole as one of the strippers in the "You Gotta Get a Gimmick" number.
Polished direction by the late Emile Ardolino and lavish sets and costumes are the icing on the cake in this loving remounting of this musical comedy classic. Fans of the genre and the show should be pleased.