Ben Brantley on Rosie in FIDDLER: ouch.- Page 2

[Auggie27]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 12:06pm

She may be miscast. She may be foolhardy. She may be an arrogant b--ch to all who work with her. But please, she is entitled to be at the Minskoff. She was an actor before she became "a TV personality." She made films, several in fact, and her performances in them -- like SEATTLE -- reveal an ease and naturalness. An actor's natural instincts. Yes, she chose parts in sync with her natural rhythms and background. But so did John Wayne.

So Golde isn't a natural fit. Not the first star to take on a Broadway role that wasn't ideal. I think to suggest she has no business even trying is just silly, and holding her to standards that aren't part of the industry. (Applegate's resume is hardly superior.) Broadway is a commercial theater, always has been. The commercial theater puts stars on the stage so they will sell tickets. If O'Donnnel fails in the eyes of critics, she isn't the first. Brantley clearly likes his divas-who-stretch to be more glam. Ho hum.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 12:09pm

I'm sorry guys but this bitter queen needs to get some before he reviews another show, I mean Christopher Isherwood was so nice and not bitchy in his review of Latinologues, and then I read Brantley's review and by reading his review it's easy to understand why Sondheim and Fred Ebb are so contemptous of critics. Granted, I have not seen Fierstein or O'Donnell on this show, but it's not the first time I read something completely hurtful by this man, he just needs some penis-can't get too vulgar on this board-and move on with his life. Anyone that messes up with Fierstein will have to respond to me!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 12:12pm

"...Fred Ebb are so contemptous of critics..."

He WAS. God rest his soul.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 12:13pm

Isherwood isn't exactly *nice*. He's just... drier and a bit less bitchy, but not necessarily any less scathing, when the time is right.

Not that I'm defending Brantley; I'd kick the guy out if I could, but 6 one way, half a dozen another.

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 12:13pm

Applegate is an Emmy winner for her
ACTING. Also Golden Globe nominated for her ACTING.

Not to mention a Tony & Drama Desk nominee.

And how many awards has Rosie won for her acting?

Applegate was a VERY accomplished actress before coming to Broadway. and also had over 20 years or dance training.

Rosie was never an exceptional actor - point blank.
Updated On: 10/14/05 at 12:13 PM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 12:15pm

I know better than talk about Fred Ebb in present tense, I just forget sometimes... sad

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 12:18pm

It's okay. We all loved him.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 12:18pm

"But as is usual with her stage performances, she suggests a jill-of-all-trades who thought she might as well try her hand at acting, too."

This is so true.

[Janean]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 12:24pm

That blog is really ROSIE'S? It's not some prank? I was really taken in by the Eric Idle blog that turned out to be a hoax...
I would expect better of O'D.

I appreciate what her TV show did to increase interest in Broadway around the country, but...
I see good actors in two categories: one type can become the role, the other type play variations on themselves. Rosie is the latter, which meant she could get away with doing Rizzo, but Golde is a different matter.

[cmleidi]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 12:28pm

Has anyone participating in this thread seen Rosie in FIDDLER?

It's been my experience that winning an award does not usually indicate the quality of the performance or the talent of the performer. It's rare when the deserving nominee wins. It's even rarer when all of the nominees deserve to be nominated.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 12:35pm

For what it's worth, apparently Winer gave her a nice review, and Broadway.com gave her a near rave, saying she and Fierstein inject needed warmth. Whatever, right? Did anyone -- including O'Donnell-- think this wouldn't provoke this type of response? I could've written this thread a month ago. She's the star/supporter/b--tch of death people hate or love to hate or hate to love. Or wish would go away. I can't believe I stooped to comparing her track record with "Emmy and Golden Globe Winner" Christina Applegate's. Some days, you realize you haven't got much to add to these festivities. I'm seeing the show on the 23rd, however.

[lildogs]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 12:37pm

I was responding more to Ben than to Rosie...and I agree that she plays a varitaion of herself, which to me, classifies her as a performer rather than an actor--unless she could find a vehicle that showcased her heretofore untapped acting ability.


And I'm with you on the awards thing, cm...of course if Christina had a mantle full of awards I might be more convinced, but Pia Zadora has a Golden Globe too.

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 12:48pm

Word has it Winer gets a few pirks for giving almost everything she sees a positive review.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 12:51pm

"I think she has her kids write it."

With the help of Madonna's kids

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 1:00pm

O'Donnell aside (I didn't see her in the show), I couldn't disagree with the TB review of Fierstein or the revival more. I found it to be quite stunning and Fierstein was unexpectedly much less campy than the Tevyes I'd previously seen. I thought this particular production really breathed new life into an old warhorse.

[MackieManiac]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 1:34pm

Rosie is NOT an actress.. she is a personality. As a matter of fact, Rosie does the opposite of acting... you never forget it is Rosie you are seeing, on film and on stage.. it s LOOK AT ME .. I'M ROSIE RECITING LINES AND SINGING SONGS!

Is this part of her mission to leave public life? Or is that yet ANOTHER thing she has decided was boring?

[sanda]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 1:36pm

Salute to Mr.Brantley!

[EVGIRL]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 3:14pm

I haven't seen her in Fiddler on the Roof yet. But before her talk show, she was a decent actress in A League of Their Own and Sleepless in Seattle. She was also quite good in the tv movie about the retarded woman.
Having seen her in Grease, I would say her singing is more of a problem than her acting. She really can't sing at all.
I do think she's doing herself no good with that blog. She is in danger of becoming someone who is just famous for being famous and running her mouth. When she first became successful, she was more seen as a good actress and a comedian, than just a celebrity.

[Doogie]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 5:51pm

I have seen the Fiddler revival with 3 different Golde's (Graff, O'Donell, Martin). While O'Donnell didn't touch Martin (who was BEYOND amazing!) she was MILES above Graff. Graff is the best singer of the three, but does it matter? Martin gave an astonishing performance. O'Donnell was very, very good. Yes, in moments, she goes overboard (the dream sequence does come to mind), but she found something I've NEVER noticed in any of the other two. With Graff and even Martin, in the scene after Chavaleh, when Yente brings the boys to meet Bielke and Shprintze, they would just toss off the line "My girls are still so young." O'Donnell REALLY found that line, and I, for the first time, got the connection with the scene just before. It was STUNNING. She was very good, I was surprised. But I really got the sense that she cared about her 5 girls and her husband, which is, in my humble opinion, most important.

PS- I rarely agree with Brantley anyway, I've met him, he is a pathetic stringbean of a man, and I overheard him at Sweet Charity, on the Saturday he was there, discussing "what he'd heard about it" before the performance even started. I immediately lost all respect for him.

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 6:44pm

Doogie, can you PLEASE PM me with what you heard Brantley say about Charity?

I'm dying to know if he did a secret revisit, and will re-review the show.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 7:07pm

Doogie:

What's wrong with a critic discussing with someone what they've heard about a show? As long as his written review is based on his opinions and his opinions only, it doesn't matter. Besides, how can anyone in the theater world NOT hear things about shows prior to viewing them? It's not like theater critics live on a little island all by themselves. They're just normal people.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 7:19pm

I just finished reading this in the paper and thought it was hilarious. It's basically what I expected from Rosie.

"I agree that she plays a varitaion of herself, which to me, classifies her as a performer rather than an actor--unless she could find a vehicle that showcased her heretofore untapped acting ability."

lildogs, this is why I love you. Now if only Rosie herself would realize this before taking on anymore acting roles.

[sanda]

Posted: 10/17/05 at 11:57am

I can never understand the rave for the replaced cast. Beyond imagination.
Oy! Starstruck 'Fiddler' Breaks a String

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 10/17/05 at 12:24pm

Ha ha--LOVE that review.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 10/17/05 at 12:45pm

Glamourous/Can't Sing: GOOD
Plain/Can't Sing: BAD