GYPSY REVIVAL QUESTION

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/10/03 at 1:09pm

I always assumed that Bernadette Peters was instrumental in getting the revival of GYPSY off the ground. It is considered to be the greatest role ever written for a woman in Musical Theatre History. Why would anyone contemplate a revival without a Rose in mind? BP has the clout to get whatever she wants on the boards. So when it was announced, I just thought, well, it’s her dream role and, by golly, she is gonna do it.
Am I wrong to think this? Was this production planned before she was involved?

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 7/10/03 at 1:13pm

No, the Production was not planned before she was involved. Arthur Laurents had wanted her in this role for years; She finally said yes. As far as I know, she was the only sure thing they had for the show bfore they started the Production process. I don't even think Sam Mendes was involved before her, but I could be wrong.

[tpdc]

Posted: 7/10/03 at 1:22pm

From what I've heard, Robert Fox and Sam Mendes wanted to do a revival of GYPSY. Laurents has said for years that he wanted Bernadette to do the next one. Bernadette has been interested in playing Rose for a long time. Fox and Mendes made the arrangements and wanted Patti Lupone for Rose. Laurents said no and insisted on Bernadette or he'd veto it. I like Lupone but I am glad Laurents insisted on Bernadette. I loved her as Rose.

[SONDHEIM8]

Posted: 7/10/03 at 4:26pm

Both Liza Minnelli and Shirley Maclaine, among others, had made it known that they wanted to do the show. Both of them "auditioned" by putting SOME PEOPLE in their concert tours over the years.

Mr. Laurents only had one person in mind for the part. What Mr. Laurents wants...Mr. Laurents gets. La Peters has shown that his faith in her was more than justified.

[PJ]

Posted: 7/10/03 at 4:36pm

I've heard Liza's version of "Some People" on her Liza's Back cd, and I don't think she could sing the show. Her voice is no longer that good, unfortunately, because I loved her voice in Cabaret. But I don't think her voice is suited for the role now.

Posted: 7/10/03 at 4:49pm

PJ as for Liza not being able to sing the show, well you might have a point, but neither can Bernie! Didja see the Tony's? She was so hoarse and I was afraid she wouldn't make it through. Instead of relaxing and enjoying her powerful performance i Was cringing and praying her voice wouldn't give out.

As for Patti LuPone. I had hoped they would pick her for Rose. But I am glad Mendes wanted Patti first off. That's good enough for me. And in my opinion if Patti was Rose she wouldv'e won the Tony over Marrissa.

I think the reason why Bernie didn't win the tony was because she was so inconsistant with her performaces. One day she'd be great the next, so-so. She also needed warming up to the character as the show started.

I mean think if it this way. Rose is one of the hardest and most complicated, sought after role besides Evita, and mostly every woman whose played her has been hailed to acclaim or won the Tony. But Bernie lost out to a bubble gum bopper musical with a cute girl with a squeaky voice and high energy, over the monstrous Mama Rose? Well then Bernie's doing something wrong, and Marissa's doing something right.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/10/03 at 4:52pm

Laurents does have a reputaion for being stubborn and difficult.

I still say that Lupone would be fierce in the role. mendes is definately a smart director. He has proven that before.

It would have been a lot better for Peters to have had an out of town tryout. I know it has been said before, but it is very true.

Posted: 7/10/03 at 5:26pm

i just think anyone who plays Rose correctly is a shoe in for the Tony, no questions asked, UNLESS that woman was up against an Evita.

[moljul]

Posted: 7/10/03 at 5:28pm

Yes, I agree. If they had put the show up sooner the Tony voters would be watching the type of performances that Bernadette is giving now which are consistently brilliant. Yes, she was inconsistent at first due to the fact that she was sick and also had not settled into the character yet. Most actors get more time before the voters come which allows them to get better in the role. I think everyone is inconsistent at first it has nothing to do with an actor's inabilty to do a role or not being right for it. If the timing had been different, Tony would have definitely gone home with Bernadette on June 8th, not Marissa. Imagine if the Tony voters saw Marissa during her first couple of weeks in Seattle. I'm sure she was much different then she was when they opened on Broadway. I would hope she was a lot better when she got to New York.

And I saw nothing wrong with Bernadette's Tony performance and obviously lots of other people (like say, the thousands of people at Radio City) saw nothing wrong with it either.

I blame Bernadette losing the Tony on whoever decided the timing of the production. And I'm sure they are kicking themselves now.

[magruder]

Posted: 7/10/03 at 5:29pm

Gee, Rob, then Merman must not have known what she was doing, since she didn't win for her Rose either.

Posted: 7/10/03 at 5:39pm

no, i know Ethel didn't win it, no one ever credited her with being a great actress, just the one and only belter. Her interpretation wasn't better than Angela's and so forth, so I understand why she didn't win.

As for settling into a character, well if you're a good actress it doesn't take you two months after opening to finally find it. That's all I'm saying.

I went to a Patti LuPone conert where she was inducted into the Hall of Fame and as soon as the first chords for Don't Cry For Me started Patti was completely ready and in character and gave a stirring performance. She also sang the new Ahrens Flately song "I was Here" and blew EVERYONE away. She's ALWAYS so intense and finds the character the moment the first chord strikes.

As for Bernie. I know she's amazing, I just can't help but think she was terribly mistcast if it's taken her this long to find the character.

Her performance on the Tony's WAS riveting, yet I found myself pryaing her vocal chords weren't gonna fly outta her throat and jump into some throat spary solution. She was hoarse, and could barely hit half the notes.

I'm not Bernie bashing, just commenting.

[magruder]

Posted: 7/10/03 at 5:49pm

Ever hear that Tyne Daly took 4-5 months on the road to find HER Rose, and was almost fired in the process? Merman broke her Rose in out of town, Lansbury did it first in London and on the road, and Daly toured for about 8 months before coming into town. Bernadette had to iron out her performance in front of the most miserable hateful audiences in the world - the New York preview community. Her illness didn't help her cause either, but regardless of not winning, it certainly doesn't negate the performance she's currently giving eight times a week.

There would be absolutely nothing wrong with Lupone doing the role (apart from Laurents' objections to her), but her Rose would most likely be cut from the Merman mold. It has been interesting to see a different take on the character, thanks to Bernadette's efforts and Mendes' stewardship.

Posted: 7/10/03 at 5:56pm

cheer's to what you say magruder and i understand and agree with most of it. Audiences can be rude and critical, i for one have been overly critical but in any case.

I suppose Rose is a gragantuan part, and in order to play it it requires an actress that's extremely versatile and incredible. Maybe they mistcast Tyne Daly as well. All I know is, it doesn't get much better than Rose or Evita. And for them to cast an Evita who's still trying to find the character can be disasterous! I just was wondering why it took Bernie so long to find her comfortable spot, that's all.

[tpdc]

Posted: 7/10/03 at 10:19pm

Moljul and Magruder, I agree with everything you've written. I enjoyed Daly in the role but I thought Bernadette's Rose is a fresh and riveting take. I like Lupone but suspect she, like Daly and probably Liza, would be working from the Merman tradition. What's great about this production is the drastically different approach to Rose which brings so many new colors to the show. With a different type of Rose, Louise comes off differently as well. That's also due to Tammy Balnchard's equally fresh and interesting performance. Daly has been very honest in interviews about GYPSY. She said she found her Rose only in previews in NY after a long pre-broadway tour. She got terrible reviews here in Washington. I thought she was uneven but when she got something right, she was great (like Everything's Coming Up Roses and Rose's Turn). As you say Rob, Rose is a monster role and it takes an actress time to capture all of it. Bernadette was in fine voice when I saw her. But it's not her singing of the big three songs that defines her Rose, it's all those wonderful moments of great acting all night long that makes her Rose unforgettable. You should see her.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/10/03 at 11:16pm

Living in the hinterlands (sort of) I rarely get to see B'way casts. So of the Roses mentioned, I really only know the recordings or TV/Film versions. I thought Roz Russell was a ham. And Bette Midler,though I was excited to see the show done so thoroughly, was doing a pretty bad Merman impression. This role is acting first then singing. I would rather a Rose thrill me with her emotions than hit all the right notes. Pretty singing ain't what this role is about. By the way, BP blew me away on the Tonys. I really did not expect that.

[PJ]

Posted: 7/10/03 at 11:22pm

I think it takes all actors a while to get into their role...no matter what it is. Broadway, tv, movies, it takes time to become comfortable in a role. Like others mentioned, unfortunately Bernadette had to find her way in the role in front of a new york audience on broadway.

[alterego]

Posted: 7/10/03 at 11:31pm

If there is a paying audience out front, then the performance should be there when the curtain goes up. Not a couple of months into the run.

[billyweeds]

Posted: 7/10/03 at 11:52pm

Did you see Merman and Lansbury in the role? I did, and I'm here to tell you that Merman stills owns the role lock, stock, and barrel. She may not have been as great an "actress" as Lansbury, but she was ten times the "performer" (this is not to criticize Lansbury, just to assert that Merman's style was more powerful in the role of Rose). As for Tyne Daly, Rosalind Russell, and Bette Midler, fuhgeddabout it. It's La Merm all the way! (Haven't seen Peters yet; doubt that I will after enduring her vocal problems on the Tony award show).

[magruder]

Posted: 7/11/03 at 10:33am

Sorry, alterego ... maybe in a perfect world. But that's not how it happens.

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Posted: 7/11/03 at 10:44am

this production of GYPSY was mounted to star Bernadette Peters.

Luckily, her mesmerising and brilliant performance on the Tony awards has been heralded by columnists and theater folk worldwide.

people are still talking about the thrill of that performance and i have viewed it now many times.

how "right on" it was to feature Rose's Turn(although it was an abbreviated version) on the Tonys.

This performance of Bernadette Peters doing Rose's Turn has already reached legendary status and I hope Ms. Peters continues to create those wonderful goosebumps and thrill theatergoers with her special magic.