Let Me Entertain You (Gypsy)

"Let Me Entertain You" and "May We Entertain You?" are two songs from the musical Gypsy. The former is the more popular reprise of the latter. "May We" is performed by Baby June and Baby Louise, while "Let Me" is performed by Louise. The song was written by Jule Styne (music) and Stephen Sondheim (lyrics).

Synopsis

The Register Citizen wrote, "Baby June (Morgan Perschy) and Baby Louise (Sofia Singer) crisscross the country, with June as the headliner dancing and singing 'Let Me Entertain You' while Louise – the future Gypsy – is just another backup dancer in the shadow cast by June's spotlight."[1]

The Citizen also wrote, "The reprise of 'Let Me Entertain You' takes on new meaning as Louise – now billed as Gypsy Rose Lee – tantalizes male audiences while never actually taking off much more than a white glove."[1] DC Theatre Scene added "this 'diehard' song shows her turning from a scared girl into an assured, star-class performer."[2]

Analysis

Creative Loafing analysed the evolution from "May We" to "Let Me":

Merman notwithstanding, the real cultural earthquake unleashed by Gypsy was the children's novelty song that sisters Baby June and Baby Louise sing at the start of the show in a vaudeville act under Mama Rose's tutelage, "May We Entertain You". When we reach the turning point of Act 2, June has eloped, vaudeville has died, and Mama Rose is so desperate that she's ready to violate her own ban against Louise degrading herself and performing burlesque. In a moment that echoes the great renaming episodes of scripture and myth from Abraham down to Robin Hood and Batman, Louise becomes Gypsy Rose Lee in the space of a wardrobe change. Doubling down on that old mythic transformation – this is Broadway, folks! – the sheet music for that old children's novelty song is still in the family's traveling trunk, suddenly resurrected as "Let Me Entertain You", the ultimate bump-and-grind anthem.[3]

Critical reception

Allmusic said, "'Let Me Entertain You' is the song that is invariably used to introduce anything having to do with the strip tease."[4] Friedriskburg.com described it as a "renowned musical number."[5] CurtainUp calls it a "sister act" and "scary," due to the "frightening stage mother."[6] Artsnats deemed it a "striptease reprise."[7] Stage and Cinema called it "the running anthem."[8] New York Theatre Mag noted the repetitiveness of the song's use throughout the musical, writing that one might "cringe through the eighteenth reprise of 'Let Me Entertain You.'"[9] NipperTown wrote "'Let Me Entertain You' is one of several show-stopping tunes from the show."[10]

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References
  1. "Review: 'Gypsy' comes up roses at Torrington's Warner Theatre". The Register Citizen. Retrieved 2014-07-31.
  2. "Gypsy". DC Theatre Scene. 2013-12-24. Retrieved 2014-07-31.
  3. Tannenbaum, Perry (2013-09-12). "Theater review: Gypsy | The Clog | Creative Loafing Charlotte". Clclt.com. Retrieved 2014-07-31.
  4. William Ruhlmann (1959-05-28). "Gypsy [Original Broadway Cast] - Ethel Merman | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-07-31.
  5. Jennings, Emily (2014-01-23). "Riverside theater review: 'Gypsy' exposes life behind the curtain | Entertainment". News.fredericksburg.com. Archived from the original on 2014-08-08. Retrieved 2014-07-31.
  6. "Gypsy-a musical fable, a CurtainUp review". Curtainup.com. Retrieved 2014-07-31.
  7. Donnell, Evans (2013-04-13). "Theater review: Let Larry Keeton Theatre Entertain You with Powerful 'Gypsy' Performances". Artsnash.com. Retrieved 2014-07-31.
  8. Lawrence Bommer. "Chicago Theater Review: GYPSY (Chicago Shakespeare)". Stageandcinema.com. Retrieved 2014-07-31.
  9. McCarter, Jeremy (2008-03-28). "Gypsy - The Drunken City - New York Magazine Theater Review". Nymag.com. Retrieved 2014-07-31.
  10. "THEATER: "Gypsy: A Musical Fable" @ Capital Repertory Theatre, 3/21/14". Nippertown!. 2014-03-25. Retrieved 2014-07-31.
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