I'm surprised at the backlash for this. I am the last one who would buy a Fran Descher signed playbill. However, when someone says they 'signed', the common understanding is that it means they held a pen in their hand and made a mark. Given the expense and that it is being sold at a cost for a charity (as opposed to being thrown out of a stage door by an assistant, for example), it only makes sense that the ethical thing to do would be to say up-front that it has been stamped. Being stamped has a different meaning than what most people would understand to mean 'signed'. It is deceptive.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
An autograph is different from a signature. But the commonality between them is that its sole creator is the author. Whether she signed it or stamped it is irrelevant, as it's her unique signature (or autograph).
"An autograph is different from a signature. But the commonality between them is that its sole creator is the author. Whether she signed it or stamped it is irrelevant, as it's her unique signature (or autograph)."
You are talking in technicalities, which is great for an academic discussion. However, regardless of which the common understanding of "signature" is to mean "autograph". This is a great way to spin her behaviour, but she should have been clearer as to not to deceive people about what it was they were selling.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
If she was the one who stamped her own damn signature, that's HER way of signing it and is thus signed by her. You are trying to completely disregard all of this just because she used a different mechanism and motion to place her signature on the poster?! Jesus.
Yeah, I thought this was a pretty obvious thread, too, since it was clearly deceptive.
But it seems the people who say about stagedooring, "You paid for the show, not for the performer's autograph" have had to come up with new arguments (even resorting to legalese) when it comes to people who actually paid for the performer to sign something and still aren't getting it.
I have bought a few BC/EFA things over the years, but don't typically stagedoor and also have no interest in Cinderella or Fran stuff being signed.
"If she was the one who stamped her own damn signature, that's HER way of signing it and is thus signed by her. You are trying to completely disregard all of this just because she used a different mechanism and motion to place her signature on the poster?! Jesus."
Yes, exactly, I'm glad you understand now. What she did is not what most people understand to mean 'signed playbill'.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
PalJoey, you get nothing. You didn't create something new and unique. You just recreated something with no effort and are trying to claim a copy is as valuable as the original...
And then have people who seem to be playing Clara from LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA in real life try and argue that they are the same thing.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
Good lord- I had no idea this would go this far. I was informing people of a discovery, but had no idea it would carry this far. I don't have to deal with her stamp because I didn't buy one. Above is one I got from Fran a couple years ago. The reason I am bothered wasen't soo much about the stamp, but about what I believed to be dishonesty on her part and that even when asked about it- she denied it. Even if she considers stamping actually signing, why did she just own up to it right away instead of beating around the bush. It just came off as lazy and tacky to me. I am a huge Fran Drescher fan and came to NYC just to see her in Cinderella and it bothered me that someone I respected might be being a little (or a lot) dishonest (especially when it came to charity)
Darreyl, coming from someone who can be the biggest bitch especially if I feel I've been wronged, I have a question for you. What do you want your resolution to be, if any? I, too, in this matter, would feel as you do, if I was a collector. But now the deed has been done, she admitted to the stamp, how would you want/like it to end?
I never asked for any kind of punishment. I just thought it should be known that she was doing it for those who might care. I was just voicing my opinion on it and when others offered excuses as to why she did it, I countered them with more questions. it just confuses me that anybody could think that's it's okay for her to do it and then sell it for charity.
@PalJoey - It's not stamped. but most likely Secretarial .
Well, there isn't much that can be done, but I think if i had things my way I would make her sit down and resign everything so she can get sore wrists like the rest of those who took the time. LOL. But seriously, I don't know if any resolution could happen, but I think Fran Could at least admit or acknowledge the point of the people who are rightly complaining.
I am a huge Fran Drescher fan and came to NYC just to see her in Cinderella and it bothered me that someone I respected might be being a little (or a lot) dishonest (especially when it came to charity)
But, would it be worse if she (because of the already mentioned health issues she has regarding the sharpies) pointed out in front of the crowd that "everyone signed it, except mine is stamped" and, therefore, didn't make as much for the charity because people didn't want a stamp of her autograph? I understand it being upsetting to those who collect autographs, but considering what this is for - and the fact that it is still her signature, stamp or not - is the actively pointing out onstage that her signature is stamped worth it for the loss of money for the charity?
No, all she had to say was that it was signed by the cast- not say and I quote "signed by the entire cast including Carly and Me". that way she would be completely correct in that it was signed by the cast- just not her.
No, all she had to say was that it was signed by the cast- not say and I quote "signed by the entire cast including Carly and Me". that way she would be completely correct in that it was signed by the cast- just not her.
This might be one of the silliest things I've ever read on this board, oh my goodness.