Musicals That Aren't "Gay": "Gypsy"

Too often musical theatre is identified with homosexuality or senility. Sure, lots of impotent old men and perfectly potent gays (I have nothing against either group) enjoy a good Broadway show, but believe it or not there ARE good, cutting-edge productions out there! You wouldn't know it though, because all you ever hear about are old, blah shows that can be lumped into the "old, gay" category! "Lil' Abner." "Oklahoma." Musical theatre my ass! Thus, occasionally I will present to you a truly great, timeless musical. You won't like 'em all. But someone in there I bet one will catch your eye, your ear, your heart. I WILL sell you on the power of theatre if I have to do the hokey-pokey in a puddle of piss.
TODAY'S SHOW:
"Gypsy"-
What it's about: Rose Hovick and her agent/sometime lover Herbie, are driving June and Louise, Rose's kids from a failed marriage, down the complicated road of showbiz. As time goes on, Rose becomes jealous of her children's talent and begins to obsessively manage their careers. Ultimately, June runs off and starts her own act, and Herbie leaves, tired of Rose's domineering personality. Louise becomes a famous stripper, and shuts her mother out of her life entirely. In the thrilling final moments, Rose is left alone on stage to perform a delusional fake striptease, exorcise old demons, and generally suffer a mental breakdown that leaves her capable of saying only the words "FOR ME! FOR ME!". Louise walks in on her mother in mental shambles and helps her up as the curtain falls, visibly shaken.
Why you'll hear it's "gay": The sad usual. Crappy community theatre productions and overdone movie versions have given "Gypsy" a bad rap.
Why it's great: "Gypsy" is an unusually complex musical. It starts off as a typical relationship drama, but it doesn't end where you think it would-how many shows end with their lead character on the brink of total insanity. The final breakdown, "Rose's Turn" is the most brilliantly constructed and surprising four minutes in the history of theatre. Several productions of the show have been put on professionally, but only the recent revival (I SAW IT) starring, in my opinion, the greatest living entertainer, Patti LuPone, managed to do the slam-dunk material justice.
The Scene: From the LuPone production. June has just run off, and Rose sings a disturbingly seductive (and oh so catchy jingle) to persuade her other daughter into the spotlight.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXl10a9gJwA&feature=related