Best Mama Rose

[SondheimFan23]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 1:31pm

Who was your favorite Mama?

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 1:41pm

Genius... do a SEARCH! This question/topic has been discusssed endlessly on this board.

EVERY time a new revival of GYPSY hits Broadway, this same tired question is asked.

Oy!

[SondheimFan23]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 2:19pm

hmm I don't think I asked who can act the most like mama rose. I don't know what your problem is calling someone you don't know stupid. All I asked was who was the best Mama Rose. Why does it matter that it was discussed two years ago? I'm discussing it now. Why did you even post that comment? If your so sick of this question being asked THEN IGNORE IT.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 2:46pm

Lansbury.

[madbrian]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 2:48pm

It's rather harsh to attack anyone on this board for any reason, let alone unfamiliarity with the iffy-at-best search function, let alone someone who joined the board less than three weeks ago.

That said, if the Roses I've seen live (Buckley, Peters, LuPone), I'd have to choose LuPone. However, the clips I've seen of Tyne Daly lead me to believe that I would have preferred hers if I'd had a chance to see it.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 2:51pm

Roz Russell acted it the best

Bette Midler sang it the best

Angela Lansbury made the part her own the best

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 2:52pm

THANK you, madbrian. That was a ridiculous response from BrodyFose. How about "Oh, you may not know, but . . . " Sheesh.

As to the original question, I think it's impossible to answer. Each of us can only choose our favorite(s). Which, for me, is LuPone.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 2:53pm

Patty Duke. She played the part in dinner theater and was amazing.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 3:06pm

I've only seen Bernadette Peters and LuPone live, and while I enjoyed both of them, LuPone was far and away my favorite.

[ahhrealmonsters]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 3:30pm

Same as givesmevoice. I've seen Patti and Bernadette (and Bette in the movie), and I prefer Patti.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 3:33pm

Tyne. She was fantasmagorical.

[HistoryBoy2]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 3:36pm

Mary Test- oh no, I've said too much!

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 3:37pm

"Tyne. She was fantasmagorical."

If your idea of Mama Rose is a barrel that sings like a frog.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 3:53pm

Well Tyne certainly was more realistic and acted the part better than Bernadette or Patti.

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 4:11pm

This question only means anything to me when the people who answer have seen Merman, Lansbury, Daly, Peters, and LuPone LIVE. Otherwise it's pretty pointless.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 4:31pm

As Gertrude Stein once said (albeit in another context): "A Rose is a Rose is a Rose."

I've seen Angela, Tyne, Linda, Betty, Bernadette and Patti live and Roz and Bette on the screen.

Each one was thrilling, although Tyne and Linda acted phenomenally but didn't sing well, Betty lacked humor and Bernadette was miscast. Roz is quite good but the movie is creaky (and it pains me not to be seeing Ethel), and Bette is quite good but the TV version is also creaky.

That leaves Angela and Patti, each one of whom left me feeling that I would never again see a Rose so perfect.

Nevertheless, each one was thrilling to see.

Rather than ask which one was best--a question that seems to be setting up others to argue--why don't you tell us who you've seen (even if it's just on video or amateur productions), what you liked about them--and ask people who've seen others what they liked about them?

And if you haven't seen the Roz Russell or the Bette Midler, you must do so immediately and report back to us!

Updated On: 1/4/11 at 04:31 PM

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 4:36pm

I would also like to add one of my biggest reasons for preferring LuPone to Peters: Laura Benanti and Boyd Gaines were a stronger pair of costars than Tammy Blanchard and John Dossett. I thought that what Benanti and Gaines brought to the production elevated LuPone's performance. The dynamic those three had was simply incredible.

[Almira]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 4:48pm

Tyne Daly. She was extraordinary.

But the role is and will always be Merman's. So for the sake any "who was best" argument, Merman is unfailingly the victor.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 4:49pm

Well, as I said, anyone who has seen more than one can say who their favorite is.

And no one, even if they've seen hundreds, can say empirically who was the best.

[Almira]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 4:54pm

I agree with you Reginald Tresilian, but I think there is an argument for Merman based on the facts that her performance is solidly in the legendary category, every actor playing the role has something of the Merman legacy to at least acknowledge and the show simply wouldn't exist without her.

Updated On: 1/4/11 at 04:54 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 4:55pm

Well, as I said, anyone who has seen more than one can say who their favorite is.

Well best is different from favorite. The OP should have been more specific as they used both words.
I agree that anyone can choose their favorite based on who they have seen. Updated On: 1/4/11 at 04:55 PM

[bryan2]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 4:56pm

Patti Screamed it THAT RIGHT SHE DID
for
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeaaaah

Bernadette popopedoo it-like a cupie doll on a mission

betty was great

Angela was lovable and wicked

Tyne was also it and live was a phenom

Merman cant act and basically was the same character her entire career

Roz was lovable

Bette was a showgirl without a show

Linda Lavin butchered it

Only one I hated was Linda Lavin
the others all had good and great moments with a few bad moments
(patti screaming for me...like norma desmonds decent into hell)

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 5:10pm

"So for the sake any "who was best" argument, Merman is unfailingly the victor."

Obviously you've never heard any other rendition of "Everything's Coming Up Roses". Merman had her moments, but the woman wouldn't know legato if it bit her on her uvla.

[quizking101]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 6:59pm

Going solely on the recordings...Patti sang it best, she had the most feeling.

Bernadette had a slinky, lilting quality to her and when she needed to be powerful, she was.

Tyne Daly...meh

Merman was one I never was a fan of, she sounds like she's singing into a fan ("Louise, I AM YOUR MOOOOOOTTTTTTTTTTTHHHHHHEEEEERRRR")

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 7:08pm

If we base it on cast recordings. Merman and LuPone are clearly the best sung, in my opinion. Lansbury sounds great, but some of her keys are much lower. Daly's singing voice is grating. Peters' should have used lower keys. Some notes were just out of her reach.
And Bette just doesn't do it for me.
Updated On: 1/4/11 at 07:08 PM