Angela Lansbury as Mama Rose

[baddadnpa]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 1:13pm

I am listening to her take on Rose's Turn and she is excellent - really ferocious. Would've loved to have seen her take this on.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 1:15pm

She's my favourite Rose, as far as cast recordings go.

[baddadnpa]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 1:16pm

It is amazing that Hollywood didn't know what they had in her when she was under contract. A perfect musical comedy star who could really act.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 1:17pm

There's lots of great "archival" footage out there of her doing the show. A few complete recordings and quite a bit of film footage. She's pretty riveting in the clips.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 1:33pm

It was mesmerizing--I don't think I'll ever see the two numbers at the end of the acts ("Everything's Coming Up Roses" and "Rose's Turn") sung and acted with greater ferocity.

I still get goosebumps thinking of her demented bowing to the imaginary audience at the end of Rose's Turn, long after the real audience has stopped applauding.

[baddadnpa]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 1:34pm

I saw Tyne Daly and her acting was amazing, but the singing voice isn't there. Lansbury seems perfect.

[Ann_Margrock]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 1:35pm

I would have loved to have seen her performance in this. But I was still in diapers. At least I have my cast recording.

:: HUGS CD ::

[november]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 1:36pm

I saw Lansbury as Mama but did not know there was a recording of her stint as mama

[baddadnpa]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 1:37pm

Yes, the London Cast Recording is easily available with Lansbury.

[november]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 1:39pm

Thanks I did not know that. Gosh I saw her many years ago while she was on tour with the show. Tyne Daly I just don't like her, she seems to over act in everything she does, but her brother on the other hand

[Mythus]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 1:40pm

Michael, there's "archival" footage? How can I get my hands on this?

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 3:05pm

I wish that there was a recording of Linda Lavin doing it as well. I thought she was far superior to Tyne.

[roquat]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 3:37pm

I remember seeing Linda Lavin performing "Some People" on some television special, and she was very good. She played it lighter, emphasizing the romance of her dream and trying to charm, rather than bully, her father into giving her the money she needed. When he refused, her face crumpled in sorrow for a moment before she regained her energy and turned defiant for the song's ending. I haven't seen any other Rose make those kinds of subtle choices.

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 3:39pm

I know! I really liked her entire take on Rose. She was very different from any other one I have ever seen. She was more likable so it was very easy to have empathy for her during "Roses Turn."

[Teeny Todd]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 4:38pm

I love Angela Lansbury, and really need to buy the London Cast Recording of the show. I'm sure her Rose is amazing.

[PJ]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 4:45pm

I'd love to know how I could get my hands on this archival footage of Lansbury. Her recording is my favorite, too.

Tyne may not have had "the voice," but she was probably the best all-around actress to take on the role of Rose. I've read many reviews on her and supposedly she was stunning in "Rose's Turn." Too bad her cast recording was done when she was very ill and she sounds like she's speaking rather than carrying a tune.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 4:49pm

I've only heard Linda Lavin (I know some people really loved her in person) but her "Rose's Turn" is hysterical. She throws in all these whoops --
"Here she is boys! Here she is world. Here's ROSE. WHOOO!"

but the capper is when she sings; "Momma's Got to let go. OY!"

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 5:22pm

I've been meaning to buy the Lansbury recording of Gypsy for years! This thread might actually force me to get around to it.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 5:39pm

I've never heard of any footage "out there" of Angela Lansbury performing numbers from Gypsy. I would love to see some. I do own a Tony telecast with her opening with "Everything's Coming Up Roses." Unfortunately, the audio is lost for a good 30-45 seconds at the start.

Linda Lavin was wonderful as Gypsy when she took over for an equally wonderful Tyne Daly. Ms. Lavin performed "Some People" on a PBS special celebrating the music of Jule Styne(in this special Chita Rivera performs a very bright and smile inducing version of "Every Street's A Boulevard" and one of her male dancers is Rob Marshall. It's also one of her first televised performances, on her feet, after the car accident during the run of Jerry's Girls)

Updated On: 6/29/05 at 05:39 PM

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 6/29/05 at 5:54pm

I saw GYPSY with Daly dozens of times, and believe me, that is just what she sounded like. The reason it didn't seem quite so awful onstage is because you had the visual to go with it, which overcame her stunningly weak singing.

And, I did not like Lavin at all. She was like a yippy dog.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 6/30/05 at 12:33pm

Lansbury's Rose is a must have for anyone's collection. This is the one theater performance I wish I had seen, more than any other. Her voice is perfect for this role.

I really did like Tyne Daly, her acting was wonderful and warm and kind of sexy...her chemistry with Jonathan Hadary was very real, but I wouldnt want the recording as her voice was weak...it didnt matter,tho, live. Worst Rose was Buckley at Paper Mill...she sang the part great, ferociously actually, but had no sense of humor or warmth....Herbie seemed terrified of her.

[Glebb]

Posted: 6/30/05 at 12:38pm

Grew up with the Lansbury recording and I love it.
I think Bette sings it well too.
Saw Tyne, she was electric but I much preferred the Peters revival.

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 6/30/05 at 1:01pm

See, I liked Betty's Rose! I also loved Bette as well and Bernie was okay as well, not my favorite but she did a fine job.

[RagtimeRay]

Posted: 6/30/05 at 1:37pm

I saw Lansbury do Mama Rose in 1973 (I think) in Toronto before bringing the show to Broadway. Her performance was mesmerizing, and I will never forget the goosebumps I got watching Rose's Turn.

Interestingly, that same weekend I saw Cathy Rigby doing Peter Pan at the Maple Leaf Gardens (where they play hockey) in Toronto. It was an "arena" production of Peter Pan. I remember that they used a figure 8 shaped track mounted above the floor and that two wires were used for the flying, which gave Ms. Rigby and opportunity to do some gymnastic type spins. As I recall they used a combination of pre-recorded and live music. About 15 years ago I saw her first tour of the "stage" version of Peter Pan, and it has been great to see her grow (if not grow up) in the role.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 6/30/05 at 1:39pm

I actually liked Tyne better than Bette, Betty or Bernie...but everyone has their favorites. I thought Betty did sing it the best, tho...she clearly loved singing it.

The only humor I saw was when she was trying to get off stage and hiding behind the scenery while the girls are performing.