Best Mamma Rose?

Bernadette....because she's the only one I ever saw in the role XD

<3

---

I've got to say Bette is my favorite. I've just never been a fan of Merman's. She never did it for me.

---

Even Merman didn't sail through that score. She burst a blood vessel singing it, was out for a week, and had to have the keys lowered. It's a brutal role.

---

Merman: Was a vocal powerhouse, but couldn't act to save her life. Supposedly tapped her foot when she performed the songs on stage.

Russel: Basically the exact opposite of Merman; could act but had no voice.

Lansbury: Definitely a fine actress. The songs had to be changed for her and some of the tempos altered to better suit her ability. However, her "Rose's Turn" is my personal favorite. She's sounds absolutely viscious on that track.

Daly: Probably the best actress to ever tackle the role. I've heard she was dynamite in the theatre. But her recording is atrocious which unfortunately makes her seem all but forgotten in debates such as these.

Midler: Can't act and I'm not a huge fan of her vocals. They're good, just not my cup of tea. And her facial expressions through out are so over-the-top you want to smack her upside the head.

Peters: Fine actress. Good Bernadette-esque vocals. I loved her performance live. However, I do not like her recording either. She only sounds good on "Small World" in my opinion.

--The Next Revival

They need to find someone who can sing like Merman and act like Daly. Don't laugh, but if the recent wave of big belters (Menzel, Espinosa, Bean & Foster for instance) really worked on their acting, any one of them could pull it off. Or at least that's my opinion.

I nominate Vicky Clark as the next Momma Rose. After she wins her Tony for "Piazza", she'll be the huge star that she deserves to be, and she'll need a first post-Tony star vehicle.

The only Rose's I've seen are Rosiland Russell, Better Midler, and Bernadette - and out of those, OBVIOUSLY Bernadette, who I thought was brilliant.

Judging from the cast recordings, I would still have to say Bernadette. I can't listen to Merman's recording - it grates on my nerves and gives me a headache.

---

Tyne Daly.

Sure, Merman is Merman (and of course I didn't SEE her do it - ditto for Lansbury, who is supposed to have been superb) but of the Roses I've seen - Russell, Daly, Midler, Lavin & Peters, Daly comes out on top. Peters found some wonderful moments, but it was Daly who let herself be truly ripped apart. I'll never forget her Rose's Turn.

I'm so with you on Christa Moore, MEF. She was the best Louise.

In 10-15 years, I'd enjoy seeing how Shoshana Bean would handle Mama Rose. It would be fun to watch. I don't think it would be the end of theater. Now, I've seen the films with Bette and Rosalind. I think the latter is a fine actor, but didn't have much of a voice. I enjoy Bette, but didn't care for the film as a whole. I saw Bernadette live, and thought she was great. However, I would have LOVED to see Tyne Daly! I'm such a huge fan of hers, and can only imagine how powerful she must have been. It's a shame there isn't a DVD of her performance, they way they record some shows like "Fosse" and "Smokey Joe's Cafe" and others...they need to do that for everything. Did Tyne win a Tony for "Gypsy"? I'm rather sure she did.

-Vincent

No. Merman didn't win either.

There have been some splendid Roses regionally and overseas, including Linda Lavin, Kaye Ballard, Libby Morris and Dolores Gray. Ann Sothern is reported to have been sensational in the role.

I can't decide on the best Mamma Rose, but I'm happy to jump on the Crista Moore Rocks train... she's great in Big.

---