Another "Rose's Turn" Question- Page 2

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/10/13 at 8:34pm

I think he doesn't like that people attribute un-generous thoughts toward her to him, just because he's made some clever statements about her over the years.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 4/11/13 at 2:20pm

I wouldn't be surprised, Joey. It did makes Sondheim sound foolish to be constantly quoted as dismissing Ethel Merman. It's rather like a certain poster who rushes to trash Sondheim himself n every thread.

Some performers, writers, directors eventually have to be recognized for their importance, even if one isn't a great fan. (Which is not to say Sondheim didn't appreciate Merman's gifts.)

Through a fortuitous turn of events, I got to see her do CALL ME MADAM twice at different theaters when I was 12. That was almost 40 years ago and I've still never seen two performances that were so exactly the same.

Experimental and avant garde Merman wasn't, but she knew how to find a downbeat and land a joke.

Updated On: 4/11/13 at 02:20 PM