Favourite Mama Rose — Page 2

#26

re: Favourite Mama Rose

Posted: 4/12/08 at 6:34pm

Lupone, Midler, then Peters...

Why do people think Midler sucked?

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You look absolutely terrific, honestly.

#27

re: Favourite Mama Rose

Posted: 4/12/08 at 7:03pm

I dont think Midler sucked. She was good! She had a lot more heart and soul than
the live-lobster-eating performance we are being given in the current revival.

#28

re: Favourite Mama Rose

Posted: 4/12/08 at 7:08pm

I liked Bette, also liked Roz.
But No one has metioned Buckley, That's one I wish I had seen, and ya got Deborah Gibson and Laura Bell Bundy thrown in on that.

Does she actually eat the lobster as she sings?

#29

re: Favourite Mama Rose

Posted: 4/12/08 at 7:12pm

No, I would be much more interesting if she DID eat the live lobster while she sings.

Mr. Musto of the Village Voice wrote that she attacks the role as though she is eating a live lobster.

#30

re: Favourite Mama Rose

Posted: 4/12/08 at 7:16pm

Oh, I thought I missed that scene.

Updated On: 4/12/08 at 07:16 PM

#31

re: Favourite Mama Rose

Posted: 4/12/08 at 7:21pm

Bertha thinks that's so funny she repeats it as often as possible.

Betty Buckley had the acting depth of Tyne Daly with absolutely not one moment of humor. It was more like a musical version of Medea than a musical version of Gypsy Rose Lee.

As a matter of fact, I think the second act climaxed with Rose slaughtering both Louise and June.

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#32

re: Favourite Mama Rose

Posted: 4/12/08 at 7:30pm

E T H E L ..........

#33

re: Favourite Mama Rose

Posted: 4/12/08 at 7:32pm

My pal joey feels the need to follow up my every post here. Wow!

#34

re: Favourite Mama Rose

Posted: 4/12/08 at 7:49pm

I take it that most posters never saw Merman. I did, plus all the others. Merman is still Rose. The others had their strong points, but Merman hit the bullseye. LuPone comes closest and is my favorite of all the others. But it's Ethel's show.

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BroadwayEd

#35

re: Favourite Mama Rose

Posted: 4/12/08 at 8:35pm

Bette Midler! Such a strong-willed performance without being too loud or over the top. Fully realized. A great TV movie.

#36

re: Favourite Mama Rose

Posted: 4/12/08 at 10:21pm

"I take it that most posters never saw Merman." Broadway Ed

That's not a surprise, given that GYPSY opened forty-nine years ago. I did see Merman, and agree that she was the best Rose. But, it is only fair for each generation to have its own Rose. Although
Merman's performance on the OBC album/CD is difficult for anyone to beat.

#37

re: Favourite Mama Rose

Posted: 4/12/08 at 10:25pm

Merman's performance on the OBC album/CD is difficult for anyone to beat.

- Agreed. Her belt is astonishing on the OBC. Her ROSE'S TURN is fierce as hell. But I do dislike how the tempos drag a lot.

#38

re: Favourite Mama Rose

Posted: 4/12/08 at 11:29pm

Having not seen Patti (yet) and never seeing Merman or Landsbury, I have to say Tyne Daly gave, for me, one of the greatest performances I have ever seen on stage. There had to be what seemed like a 5 minute ovation for her Rose's Turn.

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I killed the boss, you don't think they're gonna fire me over a thing like that!!!!

#39

re: Favourite Mama Rose

Posted: 4/12/08 at 11:30pm

Patti LuPone

#40

re: Favourite Mama Rose

Posted: 4/12/08 at 11:32pm

Yes, Tyne Daly was amazing. That particular production was perfect. Outstanding cast, and production values. Oh and Crista Moore!!

#41

re: Favourite Mama Rose

Posted: 4/13/08 at 12:08am

Lansbury was terrific. Gypsy with Lansbury was my first Broadway show. She was perfection.

#42

re: Favourite Mama Rose

Posted: 4/13/08 at 12:34am

For me (pun intended) it was Maureen Moore.

#43

re: Favourite Mama Rose

Posted: 4/13/08 at 10:10am

I'm sure I'm in the minority but for me, it was Bernadette. She was absolutely incredible.

#44

re: Favourite Mama Rose

Posted: 4/13/08 at 10:21am

BertAndrew, I definitely agree with you about the Tyne Daly production (and Crista Moore). Both performances were astonishing each and every time I saw them (9x) as well as the entire production.

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Hey Dottie! Did your colleagues enjoy the cake even though your cat decided to sit on it? ~GuyfromGermany

#45

re: Favourite Mama Rose

Posted: 4/13/08 at 10:35am

Bernadette.

#46

re: Favourite Mama Rose

Posted: 4/13/08 at 11:15am

Merman's ..... astonishing on the OBC. Her ROSE'S TURN is fierce as hell. But I do dislike how the tempos drag a lot.

Where do the tempos drag? I just listened to this CD again yesterday and don't hear anything resembling a slow tempo.

She also sings the line in "Rose's Turn" correctly... so many try to force the rhyme "Battin' a thousand/This time boys I'm taking the bows and..." Merman sings as "Taking the bows! And everything's coming up Roses!" The And is really part of the new phrase.

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Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!

I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com

#47

re: Favourite Mama Rose

Posted: 4/13/08 at 12:23pm

I saw Merman twice, on Broadway and in San Francisco on tour. She never played Rose, she was ETHEL - it was always ETHEL'S TURN at the end. Yes, she sang it marvelously, but in the theater it had no depth, it was "look at me doing a terrific closing number" and I am not alone in this feeling. It was a great star performance, but did not have the depth of character the Lansbury brought to every bit Rose,

Also liked Roz Russell and Bette Midler.

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It Sucks To Be Me

#48

re: Favourite Mama Rose

Posted: 4/13/08 at 12:48pm

Did the people that saw Merman, think that her acting was good?

#49

re: Favourite Mama Rose

Posted: 4/13/08 at 1:01pm

I never saw Ethel Merman perform the role.

On stage, my favorite Rose remains Angela Lansbury, hands down, followed closely by Bernadette Peters and Tyne Daly. Although I wasn't overwhelmed by Patti LuPone at Encores this summer, I'm with holding further comments on her performance until I've seen the Broadway edition. The worst Rose I've ever seen was Daly's replacement, Linda Lavin. An unbelievably disappointing performance from an actress/singer of her caliber.

On film, Russell had her moments, as did Midler, but I'm not completely sold on either performance.

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Cheyenne Jackson tickled me. AFTER ordering SoMMS a drink but NOT tickling him, and hanging out with Girly in his dressing room (where he DIDN'T tickle her) but BEFORE we got married. To others. And then he tweeted Boobs. He also tweeted he's good friends with some chick on "The Voice" who just happens to be good friends with Tink's ex. And I'm still married. Oh, and this just in: "Pettiness, spite, malice ....Such ugly emotions... So sad." - After Eight, talking about MEEEEEEEE!!! I'm so honored! :-)

#50

re: Favourite Mama Rose

Posted: 4/13/08 at 1:08pm

Bernadette.