Kay Medford in "Gypsy" — Page 2

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.

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

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.

I now need to see Tovah's "Rose's Turn" like I need oxygen to survive.

It sounds like irresistible camp to me!

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1efj7eoPOk



Kay is wondaful in this clip...