Bernadette vs. Patti as Rose- Page 2

[NYC4Life]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 1:58pm

I thought Peter's was tour de force. The nights I saw her she was in full voice and nailed Rose. People say she is miscast, but people are only saying this bc they want to compare her to others who have played the role. I was with people who had never seen gypsy and they kept saying she was perfect for the role. I saw so much vulnerability and raw emotion. She might have been reaching but she was reaching as Rose should reach not reaching for the role.

Posted: 3/19/07 at 2:24pm

why not enjoy them both? its not DUELING ROSES.

yep, here's yer old thread
Can someone explain Patti LuPone?

[Smartful Dodger]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 2:39pm

N69N is my new hero! Well done on the rational "love all God's children" position.

AND, for mining previous foolishness from the depths of last year's archives. You should be helping to call presidential candidates on their previous statements and current inconsistencies!

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 2:41pm

Did you see her brilliant performance on the Tonys the year she was nominated? I'd say that's a fair representation of her work in the show.

I thought her Tony performance was a horrendous representation of Rose.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 2:47pm

The Tony performance was what convinced my doubting self to go see the show - I was stunned. And she lived up to the promise of that performance the night I saw GYPSY.

Posted: 3/19/07 at 2:47pm

Since he's a worthy target, I'll most happy to report that I beat Broadway killjoy Michael Riedel by one prediction. (Riedel had a rough Tony night in general--his stock fell considerably when Bernadette Peters, his favorite target, delivered a towering performance of "Rose's Turn" on the telecast.)

http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=29011

And, Peters' place in musical theatre history as one of its greatest actors/singers and "all around warming presences" (thanks, Frank Rich) — is equally safe. And, as for this year's Tony telecast, it will mainly be remembered for that towering performance: those breathtaking four minutes when Peters — with one brilliant song — silenced any of the naysayers of the season past.

http://www.playbill.com/celebritybuzz/article/80129.html

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 3:04pm

In love with the show, and believe it was too soon for a revival, yet I went in with no reservations with Peters in the role, I've been a fan of hers since junior high. I did think she'd sing it better, but was even less impressed with her acting...her lack of vulnerability, charm and warmth.

I've posted enough on this, and respect the other views expressed...but heartily disagree.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 3:09pm

I found Peters' to be overly cold. The chill of her performance left no room for pity for Mama Rose. By the end, I didn't even CARE that she was hurting, or what she had to say in "Rose's Turn". If anything besides unaffected, I found myself groaning with annoyance every time Mama Rose opened her mouth.

While she was overly cold, it also appeared that she was trying so hard to be that way that it hurt. You could see Bernadette in her, struggling to get through it.

It was painful to watch, for me at least.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 3:13pm

And I must add to whoever said it earlier,

I personally worship Midler's performance. I watch her GYPSY every now and then and have always loved it.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 5:11pm

Wanna Be...what was horrendous about that performance?


Peters' Rose cold and lacking vulnerability? Were we seeing the same Bernadette Peters in the role? When did you guys see it? I've noticed a lot of people who saw her particularly early in her run walked out with very different feelings from those who saw her a few months in. I think she settled into it..

[ahmelie]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 5:25pm

It has seemed to me that anyone who actually saw LuPone at Ravinia loved her, even I, a die-hard LuPone fan, didn't think the audio boot was that great. But than I saw a video and it all came together.

Patti has always been a performer that you must experience live to understand, but it seems even more so in this role

For example, her last "For me" in Rose's Turn was a little flat and with the audio boot it didn't make sense to me, but once I saw the video of it, I realized that that note was a big "F*CK You!"

I can't recall hearing anyone who actually saw LuPone in Gypsy hating her.

Oh, and when it comes to Peters, I feel she grew into the role. The recording isn't great, but I thought that Tony performance was magnificent.

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 6:02pm

"Patti has always been a performer that you must experience live to understand"

I have never seen her live, which may be one of the reasons why I don't understand her appeal. I didn't understand Bernadette's appeal until I saw her live, and now I pretty much worship her.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 6:10pm

To say Peters was cold in the role and then go on to say Bette Midler was your favorite Rose is a little, um, interesting. Opinions are opinions, yes. But, Midler just seemed too over the top. Her Rose's Turn was nowhere near a breakdown but rather a concert performance. She was trying to "sell it, sell it, sell it" instead of BE it.

And Foster-what was it that you hated about Peters' Tony performance? I thought that in addition to being brilliant, she gained extra merit for being able to give a flawless performance while doing an abridged version of "Rose's Turn".

[sanda]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 6:12pm

Midler's Rose is such a one dimention, silly comic type. There is no way that she's better than Peters.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 6:17pm

True, sanda.

I love Midler. But Peters' Rose was FAR superior.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 6:26pm

This thread is a hamster wheel. I hate the whole diva versus diva perspective. Anyone has the right to play Rose, including Harvey-who I would kill to see. This thread is like a game of ping pong no one is going to win. Jusy enjoy who you enjoy and stop trying to infuriate people from another diva camp. Every Rose has her strengths and weaknesses.

[rosekwbp]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 6:43pm

I saw Bernadette's Gypsy twice once toward the beginning of the run and once toward the end. Her performance both times was amazing! The vunerablity in the character was very evident. There was a human quality about Bernadette's Rose that made me feel bad for her when June left and when Herbie left. Her Rose's Turn was a complete nervous breakdown and absolutely heartbreaking.

I've never seen Patti in the role but from the clips I have seen I doubt I will be seeing her.

[fakemyway2thetop]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 8:01pm

I also saw Bernadette a few times as Mama Rose and thought she was just fantastic each time. But a good friend of mine saw her during previews and said she had no voice and wished he had seen the understudy. So, what can you do? Side note: One of those performances I saw the understudy for June (not sure of the name) and she was definitely much stronger than Tammy Blanchard.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 8:02pm

I would LOVE to see Miss Patti as "Mama Rose." Patti will do a superb job. While Bernadette is an accomplished singer and actress, her voice sometimes reminds me of Betty Boop. However, my trip to NYC is from May 29 --- June 1st. Talk about bad timing!! O bother....from Roman in Austin, Texas... the official Patti LuPone FANatic

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 8:53pm

Definatly agree with whoever said it.
Push aside Patti and Bernadette (whom I've both seen) and place Bette Middler as #1.

She was the flawless Mama Rose. As for Bernadette, I thought she was just... a bit young for Rose. I don't know, I just got the feeling that she was like a 20 year old playing the role because of her voice. She was very good at the part, but not great. She hit a few wrong notes when I saw it, which led me to hate her, but after listening to the cast recording over 100 times, I loved her.

Patti was great... I mean, Patti LuPone as anything is just a wonder. Seeing that woman live on stage is a true gift. Now Patti, seemed to old for me. I also don't like the slight accent she has in her voice when she speaks, but her signing was sheer bliss.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 9:11pm

fakemyway-Tammy Blanchard, I felt, was not very strong as Louise. She had her moments (primarily during Act 1) but she just didn't really go through that "transformation" into Gypsy Rose Lee (which, I think it was Arthut Laurents or maybe Stephen Sondheim who said that THAT was the same problem with Sandra Church, the original LOuise.) Debbie Gibson was actually a very good Louise, it's such a shame she was opposite Betty Buckley who gave her virtually nothing to work with.

[moljul]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 9:15pm

fakemyway, Tammy Blachard played Louise (Gypsy) not June.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 9:16pm

I think he means in terms of chemistry. The understudy overshadowed Tammy onstage.

[Body Beautiful Beale]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 9:33pm

apples and oranges.....
any good actress will bring her own strengths and weaknesses to any role
personally, i am just happy to have a chance to see one of the theatre's living legends in one of the all time greatest roles!
yippee!!

[LostLeander]

Posted: 3/19/07 at 9:53pm

I feel that Bernadette was doing really really good work in the role, and she was great, but she definately had to work for it.

It's not a natural fit for her. Which is why it was interesting. I wasn't necessarily impressed by her performance (while I did like it, and was in awe of her presence) until Rose's Turn.

She absolutely nailed it, but for the rest of the show, she was just plain good.

Patti's natural brazen nature lends itself more to the part, and it just makes a little more sense on paper.

Peters was like an odd experiment, and not one of the first people that comes to mind for the part, but I have no regrets in seeing her.

But I think Patti might be better. We shall see.