Momma Rose / Gypsy Debates

I would like to have a column where we can just talk about Gypsy, one of the most wonderful musicals ever to be acted on a stage. Before I state my opinion, I want to make it clear that these are based on recordings alone, except for Bernadette Peters' Gypsy, which I have seen twice. Angela Lansbury is my favorite Momma Rose. Tyne Daly was horrible (recording, solely)...Ethel Merman was...well, Ethel Merman, need I say more? Bernadette Peters does a wonderful job, despite what the critics have had to say...Now, favorite moments and songs: My favorite moment in the show is when Rose pretends that Mr. Kringleiner (whatever the last name is), the landlord, has attempted to rape her...it shows what kind of woman she is...my favorite song is, of course "Rose's Turn", but "Together" is one of the best, also...thoughts? questions? anything?

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nuggestmonkeys,,first off, "Bernadette Peters does a wonderful job despite what the critics say?"

i read some wonderful reviews of Ms. Peters in GYPSY and she slayed me with her performance on the Tony awards...I can't wait to see her and hear the new GYPSY OCR.

I liked the original film with Rosallind Russell alot....and Natalie Wood was great at Louise.

I saw Angela twice and found her thrilling. I do remember saying after the first time I saw Angela that I felt she was holding back until Rose's Turn...i don't remember terribly well, i was quite young, but I do remember saying that...i also vividly remember her Rose's Turn performance was amazing (let's face it...that is quite an amazing piece of theater, Rose's Turn. I also remember liking Zan Charrise alot (niece of Cyd playing Louise) and Rex Robbins, was excellent and delightful as Herbie...i had recently seen him naked in the play, The Changing Room.

I like the production with Tyne Daly alot and thought she did some great stuff as Rose. Her musical performance heard on the cd makes one happy there are other recorded versions available.

I loved the tv film with Bette Midler. I thought she gave a huge, thrilling, delightful and sometimes surprising performance as Rose. Her singing was simply sublime....I loved her and the tv film of GYPSY.

one of the most significant things i can say about Bernadette's performance on the Tony awards, is that it made me put down what i was eating.

she absolutely slayed me. I loved it...and I'm very excitied about seeing her and hearing the cd.

GYPSY, is quite simply, probably the most wonderful musical ever. Even in this year of 2003 with the current revival...anyone asking me to recommend what show to see with only one show to see, i could not imagine recommending anything other than great seats for GYPSY as choice number one.

the songs i love the most in Gypsy:

All I need is the Girl
You'll Never Get Away From Me
Everything's Coming Up Roses (that song is kinda almost like a theatrical national anthem, no?)

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Updated On: 7/20/03 at 05:55 PM

Nugget...from what I recall...most of the critics here in NYC wrote glowing reviews of Ms Peters...well deserved.

Yeah, it's strange -- because of Michael Riedel's negative reports, Bernadette's illness and her Tony loss, some people believe Bernadette got a negative critical reception. While there were naysayers (Daily News, Newsday and Newark Star Ledger), the New York Times, New York Post, USA Today, Associated Press, Newsweek, New York Magazine, Newsweek, The New Yorker, Gannett Westchester, WOR Radio, New York One, Washington Post and The New York Observer all filed raves or positive reviews for Bernadette's Momma Rose. Given her controversial casting, some negative reviews were to be expected, but by and large, Bernadette and the production fared very well.

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PJ -

Most of the reviews I listed are posted on the Gypsy website. www.gypsythemusical.com

They DO say she's great.

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Mermen = Unnecessarily loud and brassy; almost yelling rather than singing

"Ethel Merman was...well, Ethel Merman, need I say more?"

UMM, yeah. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
I liked Ethel's personality, but not her singing. I did think it was cute when she was at the Judy Garland Show the day Barbra Streisand was there. They mentioned Gypsy lol

Bernadette is definitely amazing in the role. Certainly unlike any other woman that has played Rose. She puts so much feeling into the acting AND singing. I also cannot wait until the CD is released.
David Burkta is my favorite Tulsa. His "All I Need Is The Girl" number is great.

I've only heard Angela's take on the role (never saw it), but she's ok. Not my favorite. I prefer some of her other roles that she has done; but she's not terrible.

I don't like Ethel's recording.....but, if I had to pick one song that she does well, it would be "Everything's Coming Up Roses."

Bette was terrific in the TV movie version. She seemed to act like Ethel in a way, but her singing voice is so awesome. I think she did a great job portraying Rose. One of her best performances.

I never saw Tyne, and I don't like to judge her on the recording b/c I know she was sick when she recorded it. I imagine I would have liked her in the role. She is one of my favorite actresses.

I saw Rosalynd Russel's movie version once, and I barely remember it. I can't judge it until I see it again.

I think each number suits each singer/actress differently.
My picks:

Bernadette: Small World
Bette: You'll Never Get Away From Me
Tyne: Rose's Turn
Ethel: Everything's Coming Up Roses
Angela: Some People

Once I have every recording, I'm gonna make an ultimate Gypsy CD for myself. LOL I did that with every version of "Some people." Well, not every version. I have Bette, Bernadette, Ethel, Angela, Tyne, Judy, Liza, and Linda Eder. It's so interesting to hear the different takes.

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Updated On: 7/22/03 at 11:33 PM

And the funny thing is, I wasn't able to match any one of them with my favorite number from the show......"Together, Wherever We Go."
I love the way each one of them does that number with the different Herbies and Louises.

Did anyone else ever see the movie "Dubary Was A Lady." It starred Lucille Ball and Red Skelton. "Together, Wherever We Go" was performed in that movie as well.

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Updated On: 7/22/03 at 12:42 AM

>Mermen = Unnecessarily loud and brassy; almost yelling rather >than singing

I believe the problem was that Ms. Mermen was a product of the stage "pre-miking." Her voice never bothered me, it seemed to fit her physical character.

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By "Ethel Merman was...well, Ethel Merman, need I say more?", I meant that she gave a performance like she does on every other song she "sings"...yelling...

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Don't trash 'the Merm'! She came from an era when you only had your God given talent to get your voice to the back row, all the other Rose's mentioned have been miked to the hilt.
I would suspect without today's miking you wouldn't hear Tyne or Bernadette (and probably Angela) much beyond the fourth row.

And if Merman is yelling, then what are Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner doing on the recording of 'I Will Never Leave You'?

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TheatreBaby,

It was SO rehearsed. And apparently, Barbra wasn't nervous, she was mortified. She HATED doing that.

By the way, on the Judy Show dvds (or tapes) have you ever seen June Allyson do "The Doodlin' Song". She's wasted and it's BRILLIANT!

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