Kay Medford in "Gypsy"- Page 2
Kay Medford in "Gypsy"
#25Kay Medford in 'Gypsy'
Posted: 7/6/16 at 10:24am
The late Dolores Gray once said me to, as she dug her fingernails into my palm, "I was the only one who understood Rose's PSYCHOLOGY!"
Here, in an audio excerpt from a Jule Styne tribute, she diva-splains it to the rest of us:
#26Kay Medford in 'Gypsy'
Posted: 7/6/16 at 10:31am
ABB2357 said: "Does anyone remember the hilariously misguided Tovah Feldshuh as Rose? One moment flashing her underwear at the audience, the next grunting "FUHME FUHME FUHME FUHME" like she was having a stroke? Those press reels were one for the ages."
Absolutely!! Those clips are burned into my memory!!
The track I listened to of Kay Medford made me smile for all the wrong reasons.
I have to say, I wasn't thrilled with Linda Lavin's interpretation of Rose.
Hey Dottie!
Did your colleagues enjoy the cake even though your cat decided to sit on it? ~GuyfromGermany
#27Kay Medford in 'Gypsy'
Posted: 7/6/16 at 10:57am
Favorite Rose: Ann Sothern
Least favorite: Jo Anne Worley (her acting arc ran the gamut from A to B)
As far as Dolores Gray "understanding the psychology of the role" supposedly her mother was the GREATEST stage mother of them all. Her mother actually "became" her daughter as illustrated in the link below
.
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=dolores+gray+and+mother+photo&view=detailv2&qpvt=dolores+gray+and+mother+photo&id=1887BAE46F8F630204EBF5FE394FF7E56FFEE1E0&selectedIndex=10&ccid=saCM8kFO&simid=608045925678777800&thid=OIP.Mb1a08cf2414e867f6a5f07c12f3a6625o0&ajaxhist=0
#28Kay Medford in 'Gypsy'
Posted: 7/6/16 at 3:11pm
Did anyone save those Tovah clips? That was something else. I remember Mommie Dearest levels of insanity. I'll never forget it, but now, no one believes me.
Liza's "Rose's Turn" from the 80's was always my favorite version of the song. I think she could have been a terrific Rose back in the day.
Dolores' version is excellent and scary.
I'd love to see Andrea's take on it. I heard it was quite odd.
I'm still not sure what the hell Linda was going for with her version, but it's...there. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyvlr7pvoZk
#29Kay Medford in 'Gypsy'
Posted: 7/6/16 at 3:52pm
Arthur Laurents was show a video of Liza's 1981 "Some People" and said, "She never play Rose while I'm alive."
#30Kay Medford in 'Gypsy'
Posted: 7/6/16 at 4:49pm
I loved it, if fact the rawness of it felt genuine emotion-bum notes and all--who cares with that song[?]. It's about grief and loss and dreams unfulfilled and fcuk you all.
And PLEASE , someone find and post Tovahs' rendition--now THAT one had my mouth on the floor, with disbelief. It vanished very quickly.
#31Kay Medford in 'Gypsy'
Posted: 7/6/16 at 5:02pm
I loved every sour minute of it.
Keeping BroadwayWorld Illustrated
morosco
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/10/04
#32Kay Medford in 'Gypsy'
Posted: 7/6/16 at 5:14pm
From a review of Tovah as Rose:
And the big final number, "Rose's Turn," stops the show for all the wrong reasons: Feldshuh does seemingly random high kicks, flashes her undergarments, and does two cartwheels, all while singing with a heavy, slurring vibrato.
Wait. What? CARTWHEELS?!?!?!?!
https://www.talkinbroadway.com/page/regional/philly/phil187.html
#33Kay Medford in 'Gypsy'
Posted: 7/6/16 at 5:44pm
The clips of Tovah's "Rose's Turn" sound life changing. I do hope somebody can find it and post a link!
“I knew who I was this morning, but I've changed a few times since then.”
#34Kay Medford in 'Gypsy'
Posted: 7/6/16 at 7:00pm
I now need to see Tovah's "Rose's Turn" like I need oxygen to survive.
It sounds like irresistible camp to me!
morosco
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/10/04
#36Kay Medford in 'Gypsy'
Posted: 7/6/16 at 11:47pm
http://through-my-memoirs.tumblr.com/post/131234439825/tovah-feldshuh-sings-roses-turn-from-gypsy
haven't been able to find any video, but here's an audio of Tovah's Rose's Turn. Ouch.
#37Kay Medford in 'Gypsy'
Posted: 7/7/16 at 12:22am
Miserent said: "http://through-my-memoirs.tumblr.com/post/131234439825/tovah-feldshuh-sings-roses-turn-from-gypsy
haven't been able to find any video, but here's an audio of Tovah's Rose's Turn. Ouch.
"oh my, it's true some people just don't have it!
#38Kay Medford in 'Gypsy'
Posted: 7/7/16 at 1:44am
I know everyone is having fun with Tovah Feldshuh but let me be the one to come to her defense. Tovah is and has always been an extremely dedicated and talented actor. Her resume is impressive in its' range and Thank God she remains so much in demand, and is still performing, impressing and entertaining audiences. Of course in this business, performers are always singled out for what is perceived as a bad performance. That will never change. However, her theater credits are amazing, receiving many awards and nominations.
She has received multiple Tony, Emmy, and Drama Desk awards and nominations. She holds the record for starring in the longest running, one-woman play in Broadway history playing Golda Meir. She's won the Drama Desk, Broadway World and even a Drama Desk Special Award and has been nominated for a Tony four times. Recently she replaced Andrea Martin in Pippin and got great reviews. She performs Off Broadway and in cabaret shows. Her TV credits range from Holocaust to soap operas to The Walking Dead. She's currently doing Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. I'm too young to have seen her in all these productions but I'm always looking for them online and on cable.
As for Mama Rose, IMO this is an incredibly complex role that often the audience does not get, the director and actors cannot agree on, and sometimes even just getting a "name" to sell tickets. (Tovah Feldshuh even had differences with directors of other productions on motivation and style). Rose's Turn is a very tricky number to do. It's not a feel good, happy ending song, but a moving expression of lament, loss and self realization. Through the videos and clips and performances I've seen I still think Ethel Merman is the best. Tyne Daly is also very good in her performance. You could say that their singing and voice for Rose isn't "Streisand style lovely", (but Tyne Daly does sing very well). The song comes through so strong in character and a different voice. Based on what I've heard and clips, it's like Hepburn in Coco or Bacall in Applause. Huge theatrical moments of electricity come through despite their singing is not "pretty, sweet, pretty".
So let's give Tovah some love too. Heck! Ruth Gordon was even her Maid of Honor! She has an amazing and dedicated resume. Actors like Tovah should be celebrated.
I Can Has Cheezburger With This?
#39Kay Medford in 'Gypsy'
Posted: 7/7/16 at 2:22am
No one said she wasn't talented and peachy keen. Not everyone is right for every role.
#40Kay Medford in 'Gypsy'
Posted: 7/7/16 at 2:48am
Listening to that clip and hearing descriptions of Tovah flashing her knickers at the audience, it sounds like she fell into the trap that the song is somehow about sexual repression, which it's not. Rose has a man for most of the show. Some actresses just take the "psychological melt down" too far and lose sight that the song is mostly about a woman fantasizing her moment to be a stage star.
“I knew who I was this morning, but I've changed a few times since then.”
henrikegerman
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/29/05
#41Kay Medford in 'Gypsy'
Posted: 7/7/16 at 8:07am
Steve C., as excoriated as her Rose might be, I don't think anyone is besmirching Tovah's stature as an actor.
#42Kay Medford in 'Gypsy'
Posted: 7/7/16 at 9:17am
I love me some Tovah just as much as the next gay. I even e-mailed her a couple of years ago to let her know and she was so kind and responded back. The first thing I ever saw her in was the television mini series "Beggarman, Thief" which was a sequel to "Rich Man, Poor Man", but I really fell in love with her in "The Idolmaker" opposite Ray Sharkey and Peter Gallagher.
morosco
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/10/04
#43Kay Medford in 'Gypsy'
Posted: 7/7/16 at 9:24am
Steve C. - As a follower of Tovah's career can you confirm that she did cartwheels during "Rose's Turn" ?
#44Kay Medford in 'Gypsy'
Posted: 7/7/16 at 9:40pm
I think you can actually hear her doing the cartwheels in that sound clip and then the audience clapping afterwards.
One thing I did like about it was the audience cheering right as the song starts, letting us know we're in Rose's head now. It's a directorial choice, but I still like it.
God, I wish I could find that clip again. It was released in a montage of clips from the production that's still on YouTube, but it's an edited version without "Rose's Turn." They must have heard all the negativity when it was first released, because they pulled it quickly and re-released it without that clip. Very strange.
#45Kay Medford in 'Gypsy'
Posted: 7/9/16 at 3:19am
Please don't knock Tovah.
I saw her as Rose. Yes she flashed underwear and did cartwheels. Her Rose was a scary force of nature.
#46Kay Medford in 'Gypsy'
Posted: 7/9/16 at 12:13pm
Did Tovah do a cartwheel after every "FOR ME! FOR ME! FOR ME! FOR ME! If not where did she fit it in the number? I recall seeing the clip on YouTube before it was removed and do remember her pulling at her under garments but totally missed any cartwheels.
#47Kay Medford in 'Gypsy'
Posted: 7/9/16 at 2:41pm
Apparently, Ms. Feldshuh has a history of incorporating cartwheels into her performances.
#48Kay Medford in 'Gypsy'
Posted: 7/9/16 at 3:36pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1efj7eoPOk
Kay is wondaful in this clip...
#49Kay Medford in 'Gypsy'
Posted: 7/10/16 at 3:55pm
No, Tovah did the cartwheels right after "Hold your hats and hallelujah, mama's gonna show it to ya." in the that little musical interlude before "Mama's takin' loud...."
It's strange, because as odd as that clip was, I really enjoyed her take on it. It made sense to me. I found an audio recording of her entire performance and she didn't sing the role that well, but she made some interesting choices in her interpretation that I liked. Rose is a very hard role to completely mess up. Even the worst Roses I've seen have done something interesting with at least one line or one scene where I stopped and thought "huh? That's an interesting way to do that."
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