Gypsy

One of the greatest and most beloved musicals in Broadway history, "Gypsy", has come to Bristol Riverside Theatre, starring Broadway legend Tovah Feldshuh.

It was a beautiful show that brought proper life to the characters and stayed true to the story. It is disappointing then that the choice of Feldshuh for the role of Mama Rose had the effect of leaving the overall experience a bit flat.

Let me be clear. The show was an overall success and a wonderful addition to Bristol's spectacular season line-up. If you are able to go into the show without preconceptions about how Mama Rose "should" be played, then I see no reason the production cannot be thoroughly enjoyed.

But Gypsy has never really been that type of show. The interest in the many different revivals of the show relies almost solely on the audience's interest in how the main character will be played.

When the history of Mama Rose includes some of the biggest names in Broadway history, it is always a challenge to overcome said preconceptions. However, the successful productions of "Gypsy" featured actresses that not only played it in new ways, but also had the vocal chops to bring the wow factor.

Patti LuPone famously belted her way through it with manic, intimidating power. Bette Midler's movie adaptation saw her strong-willed and enticing, and was one of the most emotional performances of Rose. Bernadette Peters had a fragility to her that created a level of compassion for Rose that is unparalleled.

Tovah Feldshuh, on the other hand, played the role more as a deluded good time gal with a temper problem. Yes, the essence of the character is that she didn't make show business life happen for herself so she is thrusting her dreams on her children.

But Feldshuh failed to make a character that intimidates or thrills or pulls at the heart. The area at which she excelled most was during some of the deadpan and slapstick humor moments. However, this isn't the type of role that you can get by on with comedic timing.

Also, there is the unfortunate business of Feldshuh's vocals. Once one of Broadway's powerhouses, she certainly still has all of the skill that she has always possessed. Her power and range, however, have decreased over time as all vocalists do.

She cannot be faulted for doing everything with it she could. All of her songs were impassioned affairs, and she did the job commendably. But not only could she not quite reach the peaks of the signature songs of the show, but also it was noticeable that the other actors had to tone down their own vocals as to not overpower her during group songs.

As I mentioned before, this show was by no means a bad one. The production value was spectacular, and it is one of the best bets for a good night of theatre this season. However, the shortcomings of the star cannot be ignored, as this is a show that greatly relies on her strengths.

If you are a faithful "Gypsy" fan or simply have wanted to see an authentic production of it, then I highly recommend going to see it in Bristol. If you are simply looking for a powerhouse show with some wow-factor, this one might not be for you.