Bernadette Peters

[BwayLeadman]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 8:52pm

Listening to Forbidden Broadway (Bernadette Peters in GYPSY) The song says "And show all those old Mama Roses this part's for me" knowing that its a joke. So my question is: Did Bernadette Peters "have a role" meaning that she's is or was considered the best in that part?

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 9:07pm

For me, it's the witch in "Into the Woods".

From what I've heard, she was killer in ALW's "Song and Dance" also.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 9:35pm

I saw her in Gypsy 3 times...
the first time: the best performance Ive ever seen on a stage at that point...she lived up to everything I expected

the second: she was VERY VERY sick and actually stopped to cough during Together, Wherever We Go...she talked her way through Everythings Comin Up Roses as well as Some People and was sniffling after every word she said but gave the best Roses Turn out of all three of the shows I saw her in...go figure...

the third: brilliant...toned down a lot to cater to her vocal issues and make the role a bit less loud and strenuous for her but nonetheless, her book scenes were beautiful and her singing was spot on.

All in all, Bernadette delivered the finest performance on a stage that Id seen in a long, LONG, LOOOOOOOOOOOONG while. I absolutley adored her in the role and would give anything to have her and Marissa have tied for Best Actress. I loved her interpretation of Mama Rose. She was a revelation.

[Demitri2]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 9:40pm

I thought so too. After seeing many Mama Roses, for the FIRST time I could understand why Herbie might have hung around for as long as he did. I loved her take on the role.

[BwayLeadman]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 9:58pm

"the second: she was VERY VERY sick and actually stopped to cough during Together, Wherever We Go...she talked her way through Everythings Comin Up Roses as well as Some People and was sniffling after every word she said but gave the best Roses Turn out of all three of the shows I saw her in...go figure..."


I have never seen her as Mama Rose, but now I understand the line in "Forbidden Broadway" the line that says : "Some people think that I pull it off, some people think I just stand there and cough"

[apdarcey]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 10:23pm

when i saw her as mama rose it was the single most thrilling performance in theatre that i have ever seen. it was absolutely incredible. i sat there in awe the whole time. her rose's turn just... words can't even describe it!

[LucilleAndLeoFrank]

Posted: 8/18/05 at 10:27pm

Her Mama Rose made me cry. An incredible performance.

[kjklo]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 12:13am

"Did Bernadette Peters "have a role" meaning that she is or was considered the best in that part?"

Ruby in Dames at Sea
Mabel in Mack and Mabel
Dot in Sunday in the Park with George
Emma in Song and Dance
The Witch in Into the Woods

I think she's pretty generally considered indisputably definitive in all those roles.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 12:14am

Bernadette was stunning as Mama Rose. STUNNING!

[PJ]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 2:43am

Her performance in Gypsy was the best thing I had ever seen on a stage up until I saw the recent revival of A Streetcar Named Desire. Natasha Richardson was stunningly perfect in every way an actress could possibly be. But I love Bernadette and I'll never forget her legendary performance.

[toodramatic]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 2:59am

Many people will argue that Bernadette did not fit the roll of Mama Rose...

these people did not see her stunning portrayal. It was amazing simply beyond words-and apparently I'm not alone in this opinion as at the show I was at when the cast came out at the end to ask people to donate to Broadway Cares, John Dosset said Stephen Sondheim had told him she was the most brilliant Mama Rose of any he had seen.

As for stereotypical Bernadette roles I would say Paula in "The Goodbye Girl" would be it.

[RockabyeHamlet]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 3:02am

she was amazing... the performance of a lifetime

[BwayLeadman]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 3:04am

Now you guys are making me want to go back in time and see her in this role. I have the cast recording, so that's as close as I'm going to get.

[toodramatic]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 3:13am

Not to make you feel worse but, honestly, when she was singing "Roses Turn" and she got to the part where she has her 'breakdown' tears filled my eyes and I just got goosebumps. It was one of those 'that's why I love theatre' moments.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 4:04am

...when she was singing "Roses Turn" and she got to the part where she has her 'breakdown' tears filled my eyes and I just got goosebumps. It was one of those 'that's why I love theatre' moments."

It is and not to take anything away from Bernadette on this (her "Rose's Turn" is prserved on our tapes of the 2003 Tonys) but... it's the material that is good to begin with. That is why every actreess..Merman, Lansbury, Daly, Buckley, Midler - can make such an impact with the number. Each lady brings different values to it and that also is a hallmark of its brilliant construction.

But you are 100% right: it is these moments that make live theatre so thrilling.

[AngusN]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 5:06am

What a wonderful thread - thanks guys. It is so pleasing to see a thread with such praise for the amazingly talented performer's portrayal of Mama Rose, she has an awful lot of negative press for it. Keep up the praise! (I just hope Bernadette reads it)
Remember to watch her sitcom 'Adopted' when it is aired on September 1.

[RockabyeHamlet]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 5:21am

It mde me sad to see such negative press about her, but to each their own....

[jacco]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 6:48am

I LOVE Bernadette. I just didn't care for her Rose. Sorry. Perhaps I was too jetlagged.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 8:13am

toodramatic, I DID see her. And still think she didn't fit MAMA ROSE or play it well.

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 11:18am

Her sitcom is going to air? I thought it didn't get picked up for the Fall season??