The Twisted Accounts behind Gypsy: A Musical Fable

Edit: in regard to 'May/Let me entertain you'. June and Louise sing 'May We' as the kid's number. Older Louise sings 'Let me'. In the scene prior, Rose is searching for music and finds 'May we Entertain You' - but instead calls it 'Let Me'. In context to the video - I said that Rose suggests she sing 'May we' - the song choice is correct but the title has slightly changed. I just wanted to highlight that Rose wanted Older Louise to sing the song that June sang as a child which is 'May we Entertain you'. Thanks for watching guys! This was way longer than I intended it to be, but I’m super proud of it ❤️! There were many nights where I just sat so befuddled on how to do these swell ladies justice, and I only hope I achieved that. Please like, subscribe & share with your fictionalised stage mother 💃🎭🌹!

Always found it so sad that June Havoc's takeaway from the musical was that she came off looking bad somehow. Every version I've seen, June is portrayed as talented and wanting to pursue legit education, but being stymied by her mother's desperation. She never comes off as looking jealous of Gypsy in the least, nor being selfish by running away.

From my impressions of any versions of the musical, "Gypsy," I never had the impression that June was spoiled, just exploited, like the other children. She may have been "set apart" because she was perceived as having more talent than the others, but what a price she paid for it! Of course, who knows what really took place?

As a former dance teacher, no child should be on pointe until the age of at least 12 years old - to prevent major damage to growing feet. Great video 💗

I read both Gypsy's and June's memoirs many, many years ago. Barely remember them now, but I do remember my reaction to them. Specifically, I remember that I'd noticed many contradictions between the books, as well as areas where they contradicted themselves. Between that and the fact that both of them portrayed their mother as... umm... a little short in the integrity department... I was mostly left thinking about how values can be passed down from generation to generation. They both portrayed a childhood in which it was totally normal to see their mother lie, cheat and steal (literally). And I think the whole thing where they seemed "allergic to the truth" is just a testiment to how hard it is to unlearn lessons learned in early childhood.

I had my doubts about this video essay when it began with the heavy duty Mozart, but it ended up being very thoughtful and well done. Hooray for real narrators and no AI voice! I was glad to hear so much about June Havoc. Holy crap, was she really married at 12 years old? Both sisters were complicated people. Beautiful, strong, creative women, making the best of their talents and opportunities. They genuinely loved their mom. Great work Drama Dorks!

Hi, this is Carolyn Quinn, the Author of MAMA ROSE'S TURN. This is a FANTASTIC video that you made here and it's very well done. I still wonder about the inconsistencies between the musical and the various versions of the truth. BRAVO! The Drama Dorks RULE!

All this video makes me conclude is that people are complicated and multifaceted, and their relationships are a tangled web of emotions, memories, and changing personalities. Something as cut throat as show business would only make the whole situation more extreme.

I would love to see ur take on Fanny Brice and the musical Funny Girl

The original production of "Gypsy" ended with Merman hitting the last note of "for me" in "Rose's Turn" and the curtain coming down. They added the sugary mother/daughter reconciliation scene because out-of-towners just couldn't take that perfect, dramatic but downer ending.

In 1983, my High School did a production of “Gypsy” - unthinkable in these moralistic times- and June Havoc was in town on tour. Somehow our director got her to come speak with us (kids!) - and I remember being blown away by how she was both incredibly glamorous and very very down to earth at the same time. In a word, elegant. She didn’t see our high school musical (thank god) but she gave us a full hour of storytelling and even a bit of dancing. It was marvelous.

I undetstand how June would be suspicious of Louise's account of life with their morher. However, June should have realized that she eloped and left home at 16, and she could not know of the pressure and anger and abuse Rose may have unleashed on Louise--the daughter she didnt want and considered inferior. To sum up how Louise felt about her mother; when Louise was dying of cancer and June came to visit. When asked how she was feeling Louise replied that she believed their mother had gotten the last laugh.

June was actually the second woman to be nominated for the Tony for Best Director after Joan Littlewood for The Hostage in 1961.

The most ironic thing in the whole story is that, due to the musical, Rose is probably the most famous of the three.

"Annie Get Your Gun", supposedly about Annie Oakley, is pure fiction. Phoebe Ann Moses, who would perform as Annie Oakley, came from a quiet family. Her husband, Frank Butler, never minded that she was the better marksman. They adored each other right from the start. They didn't have to be tricked into marrying each other.

Every time a creator apologizes for a long video im so confused like the longer the better babayyy! Not a euphemism

Gypsy/Louise was quite good in a comic role in the Haley Mills comedy, THE TROUBLE WITH ANGELS, as the dance instructor in a girls' boarding school.

Thanks for your work on this. Before viewing I had heard of Gypsy Rose Lee and her mother though the musical.I knew June havoc was an old time actress but had no idea she was Gypsy's sister. What do I take away? Gypsy was a lot more like her mother than she would like others to think she was. Though June came across as more polished, I suspect all three women were a hard bitten lot.

Thank you for this video. I've worked on several productions of "Gypsy," and marveled at how much the character of June is required to do. Of course, I know that we are dealing with a work of fiction "inspired" by true events, and there's no time to go into her character in the show. But just watching those young child actors "sing out, Baby" at the tops of their lungs, perform acrobatic dancing and literally hold the vaudeville act together through that long, brilliant first act, always makes me wish that there were just one moment when the character of June gets to relate what it's to bear all that responsibility from such a young age.

I've always been most fascinated by June, who had a very interesting and accomplished career, and got the last word in. I thinknk it's her absence in the second act that intrigues me too. Laurents described both sisters as being equally loose with the truth, and very much alike. Even listening and looking at them this comes through. It might be nice to know all the facts, but the mystery may be what keeps them interesting nearly a century later.