Is 'Gypsy' Shelved?

March 12, 2011
In news that hit the wires earlier this evening, it appears that the film re-make of "Gypsy" - and the role of "Rose" that Barbra was hoping to play -  is suddenly off.

An interview published in today's Hartford Courant has Arthur Laurents, the show's writer, announcing that the project will not happen. Laurents, in a rambling statement, said that he and composer Stephen Sondheim talked it out and decided to put the kibosh on the project. Laurents originally wanted a definitive film version of the show. Seems he was swayed (or overruled?) by Sondheim, who doesn't, dashing Barbra's hopes for a stunning career bookend.

So why is our revered Stephen Sondheim so opposed to the idea of a definitive film version of the show? Fortunately, it doesn't seem to have anything to do with Barbra. Laurents quotes Sondheim: "You want a record because theater is ephemeral. But that's wrong. The theater's greatest essence is that it is ephemeral. You don't need a record. The fact that it's ephemeral means you can have different productions, different Roses on into infinity."

(OK. We admit we had to double check the definition. Ephemeral: (adj.) passing, short-lived, transient, transitory)

Just so we understand: "Rose" has been played by Merman, Midler, LuPone, Peters, Lansbury, Daly, Russell, et. al. A Streisand film version would not be a different Rose? There's got to be more to this story than Laurents and Sondheim are letting on. C'mon boys. Get it together and reconsider.

Some People!