Momma Rose / Gypsy Debates

[NuggetMonkeys]

Posted: 7/20/03 at 3:31pm

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?

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 7/20/03 at 4:26pm

I have never seen or heard Gypsy. Right now at a local theatre it is playing. I think I might go see it. I can't wait until the recording comes out on the 19! :)

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Posted: 7/20/03 at 5:55pm

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?)

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

[PJ]

Posted: 7/20/03 at 6:12pm

Angela's recording is my favorite as well. For now, atleast.
Then Tyne's...Then Ethel's...and then Bette. I don't like Bette whatsoever. I'm hoping that when I see GYPSY this December that Bernadette will be my new fav.
I agree on the powerfulness in her Tony's performance. It was great. Too bad they had to cut some parts out for time which made the song seem to have gone a lot quickier than usual. But it was a fantastic performance on Bernadette's part. I'm also really excited to see Tammy Blanchard. I saw a clip of her singing Let Me Entertain You on Broadway.com and my jaw dropped. From what I've heard she has a pretty damn good voice.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 7/20/03 at 8:48pm

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

[NuggetMonkeys]

Posted: 7/20/03 at 10:27pm

everyone trashed the show except the Times...

[magruder]

Posted: 7/20/03 at 10:33pm

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.

[PJ]

Posted: 7/20/03 at 10:46pm

Yeah, I agree w/ magruder. With her just being cast was enough to bring about negativity. But most of the articles I've read about the performance don't say it's bad, but they don't say it's great either. Who knows. Maybe she's probably gotten a lot better in the past few months. Come review her now.

[magruder]

Posted: 7/20/03 at 10:52pm

PJ -

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

They DO say she's great.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 7/20/03 at 11:13pm

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

It would be nice if you could.

[PJ]

Posted: 7/20/03 at 11:15pm

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

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 7/21/03 at 4:57pm

Yes...everyone trashing her but the times is far from true.

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 7/21/03 at 11:33pm

"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.

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

[PJ]

Posted: 7/22/03 at 12:04am

I really like your choices about your favorite number for each actress, TheaterBaby.

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 7/22/03 at 12:42am

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.

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

[PJ]

Posted: 7/22/03 at 1:02am

I love the "Together, Wherever We Go" number. I've seen clips of Bernadette, John, and Tammy and it looks very good.

[lensman55]

Posted: 7/22/03 at 8:44am

>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.

[lensman55]

Posted: 7/22/03 at 8:47am

>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."

The irony was that she was allergic to roses. Everybody kept thinking it would be clever to send bunches of roses to her dressing room!

When she did "The Muppet Show," they did a tag where they handed her roses. She said something like; "Are these going to turn into a monster and bite me?" Kermit responds; "No, real roses for a real lady!" You could tell the roses were real... they were also completely wrapped in cellophane so she couldn't touch or smell them!

[NuggetMonkeys]

Posted: 7/22/03 at 10:40pm

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...

[PJ]

Posted: 7/22/03 at 10:44pm

I'm not familiar w/ her other work, but her "Everything's Coming Up Roses" is the only song I can stand from her recording.

[alterego]

Posted: 7/23/03 at 9:55am

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.

[magruder]

Posted: 7/23/03 at 10:11am

Gotta agree with alterego. I like a lot of Roses I've seen - Midler is the only one I have troubles with, even though on paper she should have been terrific - but Merman owns that role. And the comedy in the book scenes just IS Merman. It was sculpted around her style of delivery. Her way of putting over a song may sound strange and foreign to young ears ... but I encourage those wanting to figure out what Merman is all about to seek out the bits and pieces of The Merm's TV appearances (especially that Judy Garland Show trio with the young Streisand, who looks terrified). That style of planting yourself center stage and belting it out of the park is just pure, brash show business. And even though it's a deadly movie, Merman is fun to watch in There's No Business Like Show Business.

[robbiej]

Posted: 7/23/03 at 2:19pm

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

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 7/23/03 at 10:37pm

Like I said, I do like Ethel's personality; it's her singing I don't particularly enjoy.
Though I do enjoy her on Judy's Duets CD.

I was actually watching that Judy Garland epsiode last night. LOL I always wonder if Judy really didn't know Ethel was going to be there, or if she did know. It seemed a little rehearsed to me.
So funny that Barbra was so terrified. Then again, if I was standig next to Judy Garland and Ethel Merman I would probably be shaking.

I also enjoyed Ethel in "Musical Comedy Tonight" which was hosted by Sylvia Fine Kaye. I believe it took place during the 1970's. Funny that Ethel Merman and Bernadette Peters took part in the same one night only show. Ethel was incredibely funny with Rock Hudson. I think I got my copy of that televised show from someone on ebay. If you can get a hold of it, it's definitely worth it!

[robbiej]

Posted: 7/24/03 at 9:51am

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!