Best Mamma Rose?- Page 2

[wildcat]

re: Best Mamma Rose?#25

Posted: 3/20/05 at 8:35pm

Not horrible, just...superficial. I saw a tape of her performance only last night and the role is just not a natural fit.

[Marquise]

re: Best Mamma Rose?#26

Posted: 3/20/05 at 8:35pm

Best Mamma Rose I've seen? Tyne Daly followed by Betty Buckley.
I can't weigh in on Merman because I'm judging on acting/singing and I wasn't even born when she originated the role. Bette Midler did a great job vocally but she was "just Bette" to me, she never made me forget she was Midler and playing a character. Rosalind Russell did a great job acting the part but she was dubbed so that knocks her off my list.

As far as the Louise's I've seen Crista Moore tops the list. She is *the best* Louise I've seen. Natalie Wood is a very close second. I didn't really care for Cynthia Gibb in the Midler version and as far as Tammy Blanchard is concerned she just didn't do it for me either.
Updated On: 3/20/05 at 08:35 PM

[stylinbohemian]

re: Best Mamma Rose?#27

Posted: 3/20/05 at 8:36pm

can't choice all so good!!!!ah!!*pulls out hair*

"If There's One Thing to Learn it's You Just Can't Go Wrong If You Follow Your Heart, and End With A Song"

[FOAnatic]

re: Best Mamma Rose?#28

Posted: 3/20/05 at 8:37pm

Roz wasn't dubbed.

"I love talking about nothing. It is the only thing I know anything about." - Oscar Wilde

[Marquise]

re: Best Mamma Rose?#29

Posted: 3/20/05 at 8:39pm

You better tell that to Lisa Kirk because she most definitely was dubbed. Want further proof? Pick up the recently released CD version of the movie's soundtrack which includes all of Rosalind Russell's original (almost unlistenable) renditions of the songs she was *supposed* to sing on the movie's soundtrack.
Updated On: 3/20/05 at 08:39 PM

[wildcat]

re: Best Mamma Rose?#30

Posted: 3/20/05 at 8:43pm

Merman supposedly played Russell's original vocal tracks at parties for a laugh.

[mme. rose2]

re: Best Mamma Rose?#31

Posted: 3/20/05 at 8:44pm

Betty Buckley!!! I can die knowing I had the opportunity to witness her Rose's Turn, which was searing.

I wish I had seen Christa Moore, I'm sure she was amazing as Rose and no spring chicken by then either! She looks too pulled back now...like in a constant wind tunnel!

I've only heard a tape of Merman's final Gypsy performance and it sounds like it was an amazing performance.

Betty Rocks!!

[Marquise]

re: Best Mamma Rose?#32

Posted: 3/20/05 at 8:47pm

Crista Moore never played Rose. She was Louise to Tyne Daly's Rose...

[Unknown User]

re: Best Mamma Rose?#33

Posted: 3/20/05 at 9:29pm

You can't put Rosalind Russell or Bette Midler on this list. They played the role on film, with retakes and thier performances spread over a period of weeks (and RR was overdubbed with Lisa Kirk's voic. The other ladies on this list had to perform the role LIVE, in front of an audience and in one long (LONG) shot. Just try to sing all those songs in a row and see how it feels. It's a grueling job!

I wish more than anything that I could have seen Ethel Merman do this role. She was a creature of the theatre, however and understood that her performances could not be captured. How sad, though, that someone went so quickly from being THE ultimate performer, acknowledged by almost everyone as the best ever, to a punch line of a joke in just one generation.

[Ellie3]

re: Best Mamma Rose?#34

Posted: 3/20/05 at 9:35pm

Bernadette!! Maybe because she was my introduction to Gypsy - I've listened to the other recordings and they just don't sound right!

[Marquise]

re: Best Mamma Rose?#35

Posted: 3/20/05 at 9:51pm

JoeKv99 wrote:
"Just try to sing all those songs in a row and see how it feels. It's a grueling job!

So Joe, who did you play "Rose" or "Louise"?

[DAME]

re: Best Mamma Rose?#36

Posted: 3/20/05 at 10:02pm

The best I have seen is Tyne Daly. The worst was Bernadette.

HUSSY POWER! ------ HUSSY POWER!

[Marquise]

re: Best Mamma Rose?#37

Posted: 3/20/05 at 10:08pm

dammit DAME, that is one friggin' scary @ss avatar you got there! please bring back maggie smith...

[Dolly_Levi]

re: Best Mamma Rose?#38

Posted: 3/20/05 at 10:22pm

In reference to the Cast Recordings:

I will never forget the delight that I felt when I first heard the Merman album of Gypsy. To me, shew is the first and the ultimate. Chills, thinking about it right now.

I must also confess that I love Lansbury's "Rose's Turn." There is a fire there, a rage, a need, that just gets to me. I am not particularly crazy about her takes on the other big Rose numbers, bust she is a fine actress and you can hear it on the record.

I saw Bernadette live and while I liked her, I just couldn't feel her really go there. She was vocally exciting in the Bernadette way (that feeling that at any moment she could crack) and I enjoyed her use of sexuality and playfulness. I applaud her for stretching herself and tackling the dauting role, but would have preferred to see Patti LuPone in the most recent Gypsy.

Laughter is much more important than applause. Applause is almost a duty. Laughter is a reward. Carol Channing

[redmustang]

re: Best Mamma Rose?#39

Posted: 3/20/05 at 10:52pm

I had the honor to see La Lansbury's devastating performance of Gypsy when she took it on tour. Her Rose's Turn was absolutely terrifying to see live. The performance brought her a third Tony Award. (Soon followed by a 4th for Sweeney Todd.) Where's the video copy of THAT song??

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

re: Best Mamma Rose?#40

Posted: 3/20/05 at 11:37pm

It was truly scary when I found out that the original production of Gypsy didnt get ANY Tonys. Nothing! And look at it now; one of the most well known shows in musical theater history as well as one of the greatest. Same goes for Mermans performance of a lifetime. That role forever made her a huge part of the history of Broadway and musical theater and she didnt get the Tony.

[Dolly_Levi]

re: Best Mamma Rose?#41

Posted: 3/20/05 at 11:51pm

Correct, Merman lost the Best Actress/Musical TONY to Mary Martin in The Sound of Music.

Incredibly, there was a TIE for BEST MUSICAL - The Sound of Music and Fiorello, so Gypsy was denied twice - yow!

Laughter is much more important than applause. Applause is almost a duty. Laughter is a reward. Carol Channing

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

re: Best Mamma Rose?#42

Posted: 3/20/05 at 11:59pm

"She was vocally exciting in the Bernadette way (that feeling that at any moment she could crack)"

Dolly, I think half the time the feeling her voice was going to crack was real. LOL. Dont get me wrong, I loved Bernadettes portrayl of Rose but she was so sick during it. When I saw it for the second time, she stopped dead in her tracks during Together, Wherever We Go and her voice cracked multiple times during Everythings Coming Up Roses. It was for her own good that the show closed when it did because I think if it lasted any longer, she could have really permanantly damaged her vocal cords.

[PalJoey]

re: Best Mamma Rose?#43

Posted: 3/21/05 at 12:01am

The best Madame Rose?





<---------Delores Gray.




She told me so herself.

She dug her fingernails into my palm and said, "I was the only one who understood the PSYCHOLOGY!"

Updated On: 3/21/05 at 12:01 AM

[alterego]

re: Best Mamma Rose?#44

Posted: 3/21/05 at 12:14am

That made me laugh! They don't make them like that anymore.

The only Gypsy recording I can listen to is Merman's, then again there is the Kay Medford studio recording...that's different.

[wildcat]

re: Best Mamma Rose?#45

Posted: 3/21/05 at 12:47am

I was HOPING someone would bring up the Kay Medford recording. Legend hath it that, after she had put down her tracks, she asked for a preview tape to take home and listen to, but for some reason the tape she was given played all the session recordings backwards. Next day she returned it to the producer, saying, "Honey, I wanted the GYPSY tape but you gave me some German broad singin' opera."

[jim coleman]

re: Best Mamma Rose?#46

Posted: 3/21/05 at 12:51am

Judy Kaye is great in the role. I saw her in Seattle a couple of years ago. She sings it great and is a first-rate actress.

BatonMan

[cliffarico]

re: Best Mamma Rose?#47

Posted: 3/21/05 at 7:13am

Patty Duke

[BroadwayBaby]

re: Best Mamma Rose?#48

Posted: 3/21/05 at 9:17am

my fav was hands down Maureen Moore.... I saw her do it about 15 times. AMAZING

Betty Buckley rocked 2.

[BWAYboi_yes]

re: Best Mamma Rose?#49

Posted: 3/21/05 at 9:37am

Betty Buckley was the best, it's true. I saw it. She is AMAZING. Bernadette wasn't really righ for it, but she was good. I think that Maria Friedman will be sensational in the coming Texas production. I think she'll be the best, truly.