"Let Me Entertain You" and "May We Entertain You?" are two songs from the musical ''

Gypsy The Romani (also spelled Romany or Rromani , ), colloquially known as the Roma, are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group, traditionally nomadic itinerants. They live in Europe and Anatolia, and have diaspora populations located worldwide, with sign ...

''. 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 Jule Styne (; born Julius Kerwin Stein; December 31, 1905 – September 20, 1994) was an English-American songwriter and composer best known for a series of Broadway musicals, including several famous frequently-revived shows that also became s ...

(music) and

Stephen Sondheim Stephen Joshua Sondheim (; March 22, 1930November 26, 2021) was an American composer and lyricist. One of the most important figures in twentieth-century musical theater, Sondheim is credited for having "reinvented the American musical" with sho ...

(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." ''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." ''DC Theatre Scene'' added "this 'diehard' song shows her turning from a scared girl into an assured, star-class performer."

Analysis

Creative Loafing Creative Loafing is an Atlanta-based publisher of a monthly arts and culture newspaper/magazine. The company publishes a 60,000 circulation monthly publication which is distributed to in-town locations and neighborhoods on the first Thursday of ...

'' analysed the evolution from "May We" to "Let Me":

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." Friedriskburg.com described it as a "renowned musical number." CurtainUp calls it a "sister act" and "scary," due to the "frightening stage mother." Artsnats deemed it a "striptease reprise." ''Stage and Cinema'' called it "the running anthem." ''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.'" NipperTown wrote Let Me Entertain You' is one of several show-stopping tunes from the show."

References

{{authority control 1959 songs Songs from Gypsy (musical) Songs with music by Jule Styne Songs written by Stephen Sondheim