Angela Lansbury as Mamma Rose..- Page 2

[Kalimba]

Posted: 4/21/09 at 3:06pm

"I mean, "beyond awful" ? "Embarassing"? Sounds like nothing but jealousy to me."

Don't forget bitter and someone with a lot of baggage!

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 4/21/09 at 3:20pm

I've seen all the Roses that played Broadway (except Linda Lavin), although I saw Angela do it in Chicago. I'm surprised that no one remembers how very sexy she was when working her wiles on Herbie in Act One. And more than any Rose I've ever seen, she could dance up a storm (You'll Never Get Away From Me especially). In his first book (I haven't read the second yet), Laurents opines that Lansbury nailed it better than Merman did (I don't agree, but that's another story). I just consider myself very lucky that I've been fortunate enough to have seen all those great people do their takes on what may be the greatest female musical role ever written.

[philcrosby]

Posted: 4/21/09 at 3:35pm

I saw Angela twice, and, yes, I remember how sexy she was in Act One .. in fact, it always ticked me off to hear Ms. Peters was the first to bring that color to Rose. Uh, uh, it was Angela no question.

And her breakdown was truly a breakdown. It was a breathtaking performance, beautifully acted and sung, and spot on.