Bernadette Peters as Lovett - Will it EVER Happen? — Page 2

"I'd much rather see her in something we haven't seen for a long time on Broadway"

I completely agree. Or, heaven forbid, something original.

"Ethel was 43 and 63 when she played Annie on Broadway and in the Lincoln Center revival"

And the latter was nicknamed 'Granny Get Your Gun'.

---

Bernadette would be a sublime Lovett and would actually bring much needed sexuality to the role. She does not look anywhere near her age. Having just seen her in concert where she came off stage and walked right in front of me in a low cut, high slit gown, the woman is HOT! She takes obscene care of herself, unlike Patti LuPone who hit the wall years ago. As for the person who said she'd need to be carried out on a stretcher, I highly doubt it. If Patti can do it, so can Bernadette. Bernadette is great at playing darker, layered pieces.

I'd love to see it at Encores or in concert. Bernadette easily reads as a character in her 40s when she is made up.

---

"I'd much rather see her in something we haven't seen for a long time on Broadway"

I completely agree. Or, heaven forbid, something original.

I third and second this.


She takes obscene care of herself, unlike Patti LuPone who hit the wall years ago.

while I definitely agree that Bernadette Peters is in phenomenal shape, if LuPone has hit a wall, I hate to think where that puts a lot of other people.

---

When I say LuPone has hit the wall, I mean that she and Bernadette are not going to be offered the same parts anymore, they are drastically different in their physicality. While I think Patti believes she is sexy, she does not read sexy at all. Bernadette is stunning and can still play a wider range of characters. Bernadette can dress herself down or frump up if she chooses, but she is ultimately still a sexpot in concert.

LuPone worked it as well as she could in the 80s. I liked what was said about Bernadette's Rose, that in reality Rose was petite, sexual, and sexy and used those to her adavantage. I saw Bernadette as being able to pull that off far better than LuPone.

While LuPone was a definitive Rose, I didn't necessarily see a man going ga-ga when she pulled up her skirt to show a cankle. But I'm gay, so what do I know about what a straight dude will chase.

---

Updated On: 7/6/09 at 11:28 AM

I don't know why people always need to bring up Patti LuPone as a direct opposite of Bernadette.

I agree it's a bit silly, but I also think it's somewhat of a compliment. I think that they are probably the only two larger-than-life working musical actresses of their stature left--ones lucky enough to emerge in an era where they could be embraced by the general public--and there's really no one of the younger generation who has replaced them. One can make an argument for a few others such as Liza Minelli, but I think Liza has too much of that celebrity thing going on.

Madbrian, can I live where you live, where the 61-year-old women look as good as Bernadette? Because that sounds like a beautiful place to be.

Seriously man, please post a picture here of Bernadette looking just as old as you can find, and let's all vote on whether or not she looks 61!

Besides the obvious fact that Bernadette's too old to play Mrs. Lovett (Aw heck, I can't even TYPE that with a straight face), one problem she WOULD have is the accent. Her British accent in "Song and Dance" is pretty spotty.

Updated On: 7/6/09 at 04:33 PM

Patti completely reinvented the role from her first time playing it in concert. Sondheim promised her the role, so he obviously really likes her Lovett.

"I would really love to see Faith Prince tackle the role!"

She already did, and I remember someone on here posted that she was atrocious.

"Patti completely reinvented the role from her first time playing it in concert."

She reinvented the East London accent as well.

I don't care what show she is in! Just bring Bernadette back to Broadway already!!

Sure, maybe she'd do a better job with the accent this time around; But I'd *anticipate* that it would give her problems.

And on a larger point, why can so many British actors do American accents that sound flawless to American ears, but most American actors can't manage British accents that are believable even to American ears?

Updated On: 7/6/09 at 05:41 PM

I remember just how much I hated the SWEENEY revival (for so many different reasons) but when I saw it the week Judy Kaye took over, I couldn't believe just how much I loved it! It was so refreshing to see someone up there who was actually GOOD! I had so hoped she would stay on with the show until the end.

The highpoint of Bernadette's Sondheim appearances (SITPWG, ITW, GYPSY, concerts, etc.) is undoubtedly her performance as Fay Apple in the ANYONE CAN WHISTLE concert. I recently revisited the recording and was blown away by her vocal performance... and her acting was sublime, really - her best dramatic work I've seen. She was the best I've ever seen her and earned BOTH her encores during the performance.

Check it out for yourself if you don't believe me. "See What It Gets You" is unbelievable.

And Mendes' GYPSY was fine. I enjoyed it for what it was, but I expected a director's "take" and not a facsimile production (or transparently book-oriented production ala Arthur on this and WSS) so I was pleasantly suprised with the various directorial touchs, as heavy-handed or misappropriated as they may have been. Mendes seems to be better with new musicals (THE FIX is a great example of how wonderfully he can direct) than revivals (also, his most sucessful musical, CABARET, was almost a newly created musical it was so different than the original or revivals). Arthur hated it, but I didn't think it was effective enough to hate. It was good - not GREAT, though Bernadette was ON when I saw her and many stood after "Rose's Turn". I saw all the performers that year and let me tell you, Bernadette and Antonio were robbed.

Harvey and Marissa should have gotten a special award, perhaps, but Bernadette in GYPSY and Antonio in NINE gave superior performances in MUCH showier roles that season, so as not to discount the performances or production both of which were divine and HAIRSPRAY rightfully swept most other categories.

Bernadette has another 5 or 10 years to give us a knock-out Phyllis, Desiree or Cora. I've spoken to her up close and in person in the last few years and she does not look her age AT ALL and indeed could play early 40s if so asked.

Interestingly enough, I chatted with her during the intermission at FOLLIES a few years ago in which she said she would only want to play Phyllis, though she loves singing "Losing My Mind" and "In Buddy's Eyes". I think she has it in her to be the definitive Phyllis but she better do it soon.

P

I hope I look as good as her in twenty years when I'm in my early forties!

Updated On: 7/6/09 at 07:09 PM