Andrea Mcardle In GYPSY as ROSE.- Page 2

[dchesnutny]

Posted: 3/18/07 at 7:08pm

i actually like the fact that Rose and her daughter are relatively close in age (but still far enough apart to be potentially a real mother and daughter).... the closer age gap between mother and daughter added an interesting new dimension of competition between the two (particularly in the spoken lines after the song).

However, McArdle's kewpie doll sounding voice and bad acting (if you call 'foot stomping and her child's temper tantrum-like mannerisms' acting) totally destroyed any credibility to casting the story this way. McArdle acted like a sophmore in a regional high school production, and the direction was very regional dinner theatre.

I hear the casting director who cast McArdle in this is currently working on a revival of "Evita" with Abigail Breslin.

It kinda makes me laugh, though, to think that Arthur Laurents has had such a hard time letting La LuPone play Rose (at least, in the past) yet this sort of production can go un-noticed.....

[Doogie]

Posted: 3/18/07 at 7:25pm

bad staging.

Fantastic, pure sound. AWFUL actress.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 3/18/07 at 7:34pm

Ms. McArdle should have pitched a diva fit at the suggestion of people joining her on stage. I get the idea, but I don't like it. It's "Rose's Turn." Let the woman have her five minutes of uninterrupted stage time. Also, I felt like the ensemble didn't know their purpose. They walked out and then they walked away again.

Maybe it was this song or this role, but I don't think she connected well at all. Granted, a week of prep time is required for this song alone. The entire mammoth role should be given much more time,

[wickedfan]

Posted: 3/18/07 at 7:39pm

Apparently the director has never read a theatre history book in his entire life. Primarily the story about what Jerome Robbins originally intended the final number of Gypsy to be. He wanted a 5-10 minute ballet where everyone who appears in Rose's life during the show appears again in that number as sort of a regurgitation of the show through dance. The idea was soon nixed and "Rose's Turn" was brought in instead, which had the same base as the ballet but was rather a regurgitation of the show through song: one of the best decisions made in musical theatre ever.

The director of this production either has never heard this story or did and thought that it would be a good idea. The whole point of "Rose's Turn" is that it is ALL in her mind. We shouldn't see anything that she sees, making the actress' performance more effective.

[GHOSTLIGHT2]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 7:06pm

Andrea McArdle is a veteran actress in the truest sense of the term.She has been working steadily sinse She was 13 years old. when most kids did not know what they wanted to do She was out there doing it.She is a couple of years older than I am and I can assure You She is not only old enugh to play Rose in GYPSY She is idealy suited to do so as She has seen stage mothers up close and knows about them.If there is any outstanding problem with Her in the part it may be that she simply looks too good and sings too well to be believed .Most of the quibbles I hear about Her as Mamma Rose are that She is very wrong.Concider that for a momment why is it wrong? could it be that She radiates tallent while portraying a Woman who is by definition talentless living through Her daughters success,Her daughters talent?I have heard complaint that the music was poor,that has nothing to do with Her performance.The problem every Actor must face is that if something or other doesn't work it is the Actor or Actress who tends to take the blame even if They are guiltless.The performer is the most visible person on any show.