Bernadette getting out of contract? — Page 2

I just spoke with someone who is on the production staff and indeed NO...she is not thinking of getting out of her contract in any way shape or form. The only thing being discussed is her vacation, which she takes in December (as she did with Annie Get Your Gun). End of story.

And, I can't necessarily agree with the supposition that Rose is a monster. She is a woman. Desperate. Selfish. Even hateful. But to say she is a monster (and to play her as such) lets us sit back and watch and say 'I'd never do that to my kids. Ever.' Watching Bernadette Peter's interpretation of the role, I, for the first time, understood that I have the capability of making horrible choices if pushed to it. Believe me, Voiceanth, people all the time do to their children what Rose did to hers. Being out in LA for pilot season made that awful fact astonishingly clear.

You had your experience seeing the show, and I respect that as well as your opinion. But when we start dealing in absolutes about characteristics of certain roles, we get into very dangerous territory. Rose does monstrous things...but certainly does not have to be played as a monster. If she is, I find little reason to sit through the show.

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Well said, Robbiej, and welcome back. How was your vacation?

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Christine is right, we don't need another amazing performer to have something terrible happen to her voice. If Bernadette needs to leave the show because it may endanger her voice, then so be it.

I really really really really really hope she doesn't leave though....

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Well, considering my brain is dead I couldn't think of another word...sorry about that...

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Everything is just so black and white to you, isn't it Voiceanth?

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It has been awhile since I have seen it, but doesn't Rose slaughter the little lamb and use it's blood to make June's cheeks and lips more glamorous? And offer Mr. Goldstone a lamb chop?

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Sure. That's how we make ourselves feel better. By saying child killers are monsters.

Is that really all there is to the story of Medea, Voiceanth? Not to get all Freshman Year Intro to Drama 101, but do you think Euripides wrote MEDEA to show how much of a monster she was? If so, then why did he write the only tragedy I can think of where the heroine passes from misery to happiness instead of the other way around? You don't think there's more to the story than your giving credit?

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If you have no sympathy for the characters...Rose and Medea included...then what's the point of seeing the show. Part of what Bernadette did that was so great was made the character more human. I wouldn't say likable, but also not some unstopable warhorse.

Wow, how you love to twist my words around. Never once said she was a 'living doll' or a 'good soul'. But your oversimplification truly negates the power of the story. Do you really think Euripides was writing a story to warn all the women of the world that killing your children is wrong? Then why does she have, in some twisted way, a happy ending? I don't know Cherubini's version of MEDEA...I'm not that well-rounded.

I do know she doesn't die in Euripides version. Why? Why let her get away with it? And why make her the focus of a tragedy. By your description, she should be the focus of a horror movie, nothing more.

One of the reasons I hated the last revival of MEDEA was because Fiona Shaw played her as bat-**** crazy (or as a dear friend once said "crazy as a ****house rat"). Making that choice weakens the play and weakens the character. Because we can then 'understand' why she killed her kids. She was loony tunes. But I'm not...so therfore I could never kill my kids. But it's so much harder to understand how a normally sane woman (who is not a monster) can be driven to kill her children. Because then it's possible that any of us may be driven to the same act...or worse...drive someone else to that act. That, I believe, is why the story is important and why it's powerful.

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robbiej I never said you said she was a livin doll or a good soul...I was being funny...I never said you said it...

Well..it just goes to show no one ever sees anything in the same way...least of all female roles involving children (LOL)

LOL! This is a riot! I never said YOU said it was ok...(LOL)....robbiej ...it was more in line with what popcult was saying...

It's rare I disagree with what you say..yes, YOU, robbiej , YOU!!!

popculture and myself on the other hand...we'll...

I think it's because we're really in love..like Maddy and Addison on "Moonlighting"..

sweet jesus...