Gypsy is about how art forms shift, and how the birth of the new requires an out with the old. 

From a personal perspective, it tells the story of the tragedy of those caught in the middle — and left behind — by this type of sea change. And Audra McDonald’s performance in the current revival is a testament to both sides of this creation-destruction equation. 

The Broadway musicals of Gypsy’s era would’ve NEVER allowed a thespian like Audra to play Mama Rose. The fact that she now gets her turn required a departure from the all-white theater of Gypsy’s epoch.

BUT, instead of a radical reinterpretation that loudly dismantles the old (hello Jamie Lloyd’s Sunset Blvd.), Audra — and co. — find new dimensions without upending the original material.

And this sheer act — of finding the new within the old — is such a testament to the power of theater and art to constantly adapt and renew itself, all while her performance excavates the soul-shattering truth of a human being left behind. 

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“Rose’s Turn” is the closest American theater has ever come to Hamlet’s “to be or not to be” soliloquy, in the sense that every generation gets their crack at it. And for Audra to face the expectations of the greatest musical-theater performer of her time trying to tackle the greatest role of any American musical theater time…and then absolutely obliterating those expectations, albeit without defying them? It’s truly one of the most impressive feats of artistic (human?) achievement that I’ve ever encountered.

Godra ain’t a joke name for her. She’s fucking earned that crown by giving her all to us every goddamn time she steps on a fucking stage. And the fact that she will be blessing audiences with this titanic performance FOR ONE YEAR?! The lord’s work (and by the lord, I mean Sondheim.) 

There’s an illegal recording of “Rose’s Turn” at her very first performance (ethics prevent me from linking to it, even though ethics clearly didn’t prevent me from clicking on it), and that woman was fucking ready to go  from day one. I’m sure she had been dreaming of the moment for decades, but still. Not only to live up to it, but to exceed it??

Godra.