What Ben Said

A new production of Gypsy just opened on Broadway. Directed by the book's writer, Arthur Laurents, it stars Patti LuPone as Rose, a part she seems born for.

I've read a number of reviews and they all say her performance is a triumph--except for one, Ben Brantley's in The New York Times. He has serious reservations.

The musical is part of the "Encores!" series and thus will only have a limited run. But if it were a regular production, Brantley's review would probably determine if the show were hit or not.

So I have to ask, once again, why does The New York Times have this power? It's a fine paper, and Brantley may have excellent taste (I haven't seen enough productions he's reviewed to have an opinion), but why should his voice be louder than all the others?