Gays and Gypsy
Can someone tell me why the gay male population is enfatuated with this Burlesque musical? I am finding it very baffling.
shareI have no clue. Gay men also like Bernedette Peters and Liza Minelli (who never played the role but is simalar to Berndette.) who is playing the role on Broadway now.
It may also have a bit to do (in sort of a feedback-loop way) with the 1993 TV version of the film starring Bette Midler, known in the gay community of the 70s for her early start with Barry Manilow at the Continental Baths in NYC.
Or maybe it's the idea that the Burlesque's second act (sadly never shown) was listed on the board as "Gaston & Pierre - Two French Francs".
Funny and sad how people are [incorrectly and sometimes offensively] conjecturing why they think gay people like this musical. Do you really not know one gay person, of whom you can ask their opinion?
It's because there are bits that are campy. The stripper women are over the top and hilarious. The mother is completely over the top. It's because of Sondheim and the genius lyrical writing. It's the transformation of mousey Louise into a powerful, sexy woman who owns who she is. It's the shade that she throws at her mother, "I thought you did it for me."
And in another thread, someone complains about there being "too much Mama." The irony of the film/musical's title is a love letter to her mother, but gave herself the title. And in spite of all the things Rose was, Gypsy wouldn't have come into who she was without Rose being who she was.
Overall, it's a fascinating story that is told remarkably well.