Everythings Coming Up Roses- Brava Bernadette!- Page 2

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/4/04 at 11:54pm

Corine, for the life of me, I can not understand why you would let Michael Riedel, of all people, make you think you were going to hate Gypsy and Bernadette. It boggles my mind.

This is not the first time a show has posted a closing notice that you finally go to see it and then start wailing about it closing and how unfair that is. Maybe if you had seen the show you could have worked some of your mascot magic as you did for Millie.

Posted: 2/5/04 at 12:06am

Her take (or, more likely, her and Sam Mendes' take) was absolutely different; I think the people who disliked Bernadette are generally people who are intimately familiar with other versions of the character (I'd love to hear opinions to the contrary, though).


Krisjoseph;
My experience at this production of Gypsy was a sad one. What I saw was a performer whom I adore struggle vocally and sound like she was giving line readings. I also saw a physical production that made the peice a world I did not want to sit thru. The whole thing was bland. GYPSY- BLAND! That is just WRONG.

[GladysBumps]

Posted: 2/5/04 at 12:09am

All right you gals, just can it with the drooling over John Dossett routine. He's Michelle Pawk's, and it is not ladylike to covet another divas man! Don't you broads have any klass?

By the way I saw the deliciously humpy Mister D do the matinee of that one man play Keven Bacon couldn't be bothered showing up for at the Roundabout, and was just blown away. This gent is one of the still relatively unheralded treasures of the Broadway Theatre.

Mark My Words,
Gladys

[BroadwayNYC]

Posted: 2/5/04 at 12:20am

TheatreMafia, I still don't understand how you could say that you like Bernadette Peters and then turn around a backstab her.
I still can't believe you are judging one weak performance - if that - and totally throwing her entire performance of Gypsy down the drain. OK she has had a bad day or two.

"and sound like she was giving line readings" come on - she is not a broadway baby. Very disrespectful to the legendary that's Bernadette Peters .

Posted: 2/5/04 at 3:12am

BroadwayNYC,
I am not trying to be disrespectful. I am just telling you what I saw. And from what I have read on different threads and from conversations I have had with different people; alot of people saw the same thing.

[bob8rich]

Posted: 2/5/04 at 4:21am

I saw GYPSY at the end of November. The overall production was very good, but not great. But Bernadette was incredible. She had (as always) immense stage presence and gave a performance that combined superb comic timing with raw emotional power and - the element that often distinguishes a great performance from merely a good performance - pathos. Vocally she was stunning - and Rose's Turn was simply spine-tingling.

With Ms. Peters carrying the show, I believe it could extend its run. Without her though I am not so sure.

[alterego]

Posted: 2/5/04 at 8:35am

I think GYPSY, as much as I love the show, isn't one that grabs the general public's imagination quite the way it seems to grab ours.

It was on Broadway as recently as twelve years ago. If you were a semi regular visitor to New York and saw it then would Bernadette Peters presence in it now make you want to get tickets to see it again? Particularly if you had limited time and there are new shows to see. While Bernadette Peters is popular amongst theatre afficionados, to tourists (particularly from outside the US) she is not a household name. The three previous Broadway Mama Rose's all had higher international profiles (for tourists).

So to my mind the (financial) failure of the show could be based on the fact that the show doesn't grab the tourists attention and neither did the star. Recent weather didn't help either!

[TheBalladeer]

Posted: 2/5/04 at 9:40am

Bernadette was incredible in this production, and I plan on seeing her again. I was a little skeptical about her take on Rose when I first heard she was going to do the role, and I did see it in Previews, and Bernadette was NOT in top form. Then I decided to see it again in July, and she was INCREDIBLE.

Theatremafia, I really can't see how you could say that Bernadette sounded like she was giving line readings....her rendition of Rose was the most beautifully acted, three-dimensional interpretation of Rose, I have ever seen. Granted, I had not seen Merman, or Lansbury - but I do have all the recordings, and judging by renditions of musical numbers alone, Bernadette emotes so much passion, drive, and really makes Mama Rose a character that can be related to, and almost pitiable. Should we feel sorry for Rose? I am not sure about that - but Bernadette definitely makes her a person, in addition to being a force to be reckoned with.

As for her vocal capabilities - I am not going to get into that again, as I have done this in another thread - But Bernadette is fine vocally. I mean, I REALLY prefer Bernadette over all the other actresses who have portrayed Rose....based from the recordings, Merman was SHARP, off tempo a LOT of the time, and you can even hear her snap her fingers during "Some People" if you listen closely during the whole "I had a dream, papa" sequence, not to add that I can't stand her shrill annoying voice. Lansbury on the London recording, just sang the whole score too low, so much so that I can sing all of Rose's songs with ease, and to me, that really takes away from the excitement, and thrills that you get listening to these songs. I ACTUALLY liked Tyne Daly's acting and vocals equally. I really don't have a problem with her recording. It's one of my favorites. The last time I saw Bernadette in Gypsy, she was in top vocal form, and she is on the recording as well. Thank GOD for the faster tempos in this production. It gives all of Rose's big numbers a new life, and really represents the urgency in her big numbers such as "Some People" and "Everything's Coming Up Roses".

I think people who have issues with Bernadette are really stuck on what their conceptions of what Rose should be, whether it be more Merman-esque or whatever the situation may be. I think people who have not seen Gypsy should go see it, and go in cleared of all pre-conceptions, and just go for the ride. You'll really enjoy the show and Bernadette's performance much better, and enjoy it for what it is......a masterpiece.


Cheers,
The Balladeer

Updated On: 2/5/04 at 09:40 AM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 2/5/04 at 9:59am

It's inconcievable that Corine2 can blame Michael Reidel for GYPSY'S demise. The show just isn't doing well at the box office and in order for a show to meet its operating expenses, it has to bring in a certain amount of money. GYPSY isn't doing this. It's not the fault of Reidel or any other columnist. The public isn't going to the show and I doubt that the producers are willing to keep it running solely for Corine's edification.

Grow up Corine! Broadway is a business, not your private little pleasure dome! Perhaps you can discuss the "Business of Broadway" on your new cable talk show.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 2/5/04 at 10:04am

Thank you, alter. I think you said it best.

[Jack42]

Posted: 2/5/04 at 10:05am

Dolly-

First of all, if you have read the O/T board, you will see her new job is with a magazine.

Second of all, don't you realize that if ONLY Corine had seen GYPSY earlier she could have saved this show singlehandedly.

I firmly believe that M.R. is not to blame. It's Corine. I think the producers lost faith in their production when Corine never bothered to buy a ticket, review the show or stalk, I mean interview Bernie, John or Tammy.

Corine is a force on Broadway - and what producer would keep a show open that didn't have her support? Can you blame them for shuttering after 10 months without that?

I mean, really!

[RobbO]

Posted: 2/5/04 at 10:25am

yawn. get a new schtick. it's getting really old.

[TheBalladeer]

Posted: 2/5/04 at 10:46am

Thank you. "Some People" have growing up to do.

And Jack42, you are right in your attempt to create humor with your sarcastic comments toward Corine....it is her fault, among with others who would rely SOLELY on reviews of a show, without going to see it for themselves and make a judgement. Especially Riedel's review which seemed to be nothing but belittling Ms. Peters every chance he got, and completely bashing the production. Obviously, there was some sort of bias going on there, and any self-respecting theatre-goer, and person with common sense would not take any review with either overwhelmingly positive or negative comments as gospel. At least, I wouldn't.

Cheers,
The Balladeer

Updated On: 2/5/04 at 10:46 AM

Posted: 2/5/04 at 11:57am

"I think people who have issues with Bernadette are really stuck on what their conceptions of what Rose should be, whether it be more Merman-esque or whatever the situation may be. I think people who have not seen Gypsy should go see it, and go in cleared of all pre-conceptions, and just go for the ride. You'll really enjoy the show and Bernadette's performance much better, and enjoy it for what it is......a masterpiece."

Balladeer, I am not stuck on any pre-conception of what Rose should be. Again; what I saw was a beloved performer of mine clear her throat constantly, elongate her lines, and have no relatioship whatsover with any other person on tha stage. And the production was boring. I am glad you enjoyed it and had a good experience. But please stop with that excuse of the "pre-conceptions". It is not the case. ( at least with me). And by the way; I second acted it again just a few weeks ago... and she has not gotten any better. Updated On: 2/5/04 at 11:57 AM

[alterego]

Posted: 2/5/04 at 7:49pm

Thank you MasterLcz for thanking me!

Posted: 2/6/04 at 1:56pm

So has boxoffice picked up?

[Mami Caliente]

Posted: 2/6/04 at 3:12pm

Theatermafia,
I just saw the show last night and left annoyed. She was not very good in it. She has a weird habit of overpronouncing every word. Not one thing of her portrayl rang true. It seemed phony. If you listen to the cast album ( which I did a few days ago) you will notice she does the same thing. The rest of the cast seemed bored and just going thru the paces. The Orchestra was 70 % full with the upper floors almost completely empty. I also take offense to the insinuation that those that don't like this production have a pre-conceived notion of it. Not true. Bad is bad is bad. and this production is bad. Updated On: 2/6/04 at 03:12 PM

[Broadwaylady]

Posted: 2/6/04 at 3:30pm

I don't let myself be swayed by reviews. Reviewers are not gods and everyone has a different opinion. If I think I will like something, I go see it. Have a mind of your own.

[Mami Caliente]

Posted: 2/6/04 at 3:33pm

right on broadwaylady!

Posted: 2/7/04 at 1:00pm

Hey Mami,
Is that Celia Cruz? And by the way; is there any recording of Gypsy in Spanish? I know ithas been done... but I wonder if they ever recorded it.