‘Gypsy’ review: Audra McDonald’s Broadway revival is a badly staged letdown

nypost.com:

Patti LuPone. Not too shabby.Joining their esteemed ranks, McDonald undeniably makes Rose her own, as her predecessors all did, with a thoughtful portrayal.

In demeanor, her Mama is unusually soft and vulnerable, with eyes that well up long before the climactic finale, “Rose’s Turn.” She’s less aggressive or mean than she is frantic, speaking lightning-fast in an almost mutter while buzzing about the stage, cajoling to get her daughters ahead.

The actress goes for maybe half the biting laughs that are available to her. For a character described in the script as not nice, McDonald’s interpretation is, well, awfully nice.

A Rose without thorns.Which brings me to her singing. The actress’ silky soprano has been celebrated for decades. She’s won six Tonys.