Patti LuPone as Mama Rose?- Page 3

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 10:25pm

I couldn't agree more, Gov. Her Lovett is many things (I happen to love her in the role), but bland is certainly not one of them.

[JustABernieFan]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 10:28pm

Mrs Lovett is such a demanding role...will she do matinees too? And how long of a run? It just seems so demanding, that role.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 10:28pm

A few years ago I saw LuPone in concert in New Jersey. At one point she said to the audience that there's one show she's always wanted to do (meaning HAIR) but I shouted out "GYPSY" and Patti shot me a look that could wither me. Afterwards we went backstage and I asked her why she gave me such a vile look from the stage. She said, "Do you know who they signed to play Rose, do you? Bernadette!" It was obvious that she was hurt by the fact the role had gone to Miss Peters. Later on I learned that she was the choice of everyone involved in the production except Laurents.

I waded through his over-written memoir to see if he mentioned the source of his hatred for LuPone, but he scarcely mentions her.

[aegeusrocks]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 12:40am

Who else saw her in Anyone Can Whistle? IMHO, while her acting was wonderful for Cora, her singing was pretty....strange.....She scooped every, single note, and slid almost every interval more than a third! It was bizarre. Though I would love to see her as Mama Rose, if just to see if it's brilliant, or a disaster or both at the same time (I'm with ya on this one, Garland Grrrl). And yes, it is only two performances for each show they do, which sucks. I live a block from there, and I wish they did more so I could see it a lot more (and make it easier for others to see it as well!). I wonder how Audra will be involved in this one...and Michael, too.

[RockabyeHamlet]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 12:55am

I can see Patti as Madame Rose. Its scary, but I can.

And there has already been a Gypsy movie.

[PJ]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 1:16am

La Patti would be a ferocious Rose.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 1:32am

I'm sorry but I am glad Arthur Laurent preferred Bernadette Peters over LuPone for the Gypsy revival, maybe because it was the first show I saw on Broadway but Peters' portrayal of Rose still causes a great impact in my mind, I mean her "Rose's Turn" haunted you till long after the show was over (which I accept has a lot to do with the song itself, given how brilliantly written it is). I am skeptic about LuPone being Rose but maybe she deserves a chance indeed, I am extremely happy Bernadette Peters got to do it on Broadway though and I think that was the best choice they could've made.

[Chip1012]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 2:35am

Laurents really makes me angry...often. Not sure if many people know this, but there were plans to film the recent revival of Gypsy for PBS' Great Performances (they were going to film at the end of it's run). Everyone had signed the permission forms, cast/crew/creative team...except one person. Yep. Laurents said no and the plans were scratched.
UGH!
(this information is from a cast member of the production).

[wickedfan]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 2:46am

ray- I too saw Bernadette and thought she was wonderful (which caught me off guard because I went in hoping to dislike her and ended up loving her). I, too, have seen Betty Buckley attempt Rose while barely making the radar of past Roses. I have watched the movie version with Rosalind Russell who only played one side of Rose, the determination and not much else. And I saw Bette Midler do it in the TV version and she was very good. If these women have been able to play Rose I believe it is time for Lupone to do the role she was born to play. If I am at all available to see this I am driving over there at 100 miles per hour to get any ticket I can. Lupone+Rose-Laurents' influence=Brilliance.

Updated On: 9/3/05 at 02:46 AM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 8:29am

Please drive safely. The life you save may be mine.

[tthomas76]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 8:32am

I think Patti would nail the part of Mama Rose... She is so perfect for the role...

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 8:45am

LuPone should play Rose. Somewhere. And it might as well be at Ravinia. It's the Hamlet of musical theatre roles, and it would be a true shame if LuPone were to join the (small) ranks of classic divas who never got to tackle the role.

If she plays the role, the show will basically be sold out before tickets go on sale -- but I'm sure "reports" will surface.

I do hope, however, that this doesn't mean we have to sit through Audra as Louise and Michael Cerveris as Herbie. I love all three performers but why are they suddenly the DelRubio triplets?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 10:54am

"I love all three performers but why are they suddenly the DelRubio triplets?"


HA!

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 2:53pm

MB, I nearly spit my soda on the screen after reading the last few lines of your post. Thanks!

Actually, I heard that Cerveris is going to play Louise and McDonald is signed on as Caroline the Cow...

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 2:55pm

Mb, your post makes my sides hurt.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 9/3/05 at 6:00pm

OK,you've all convinced me, I guess she does deserve a chance to make this role but if Sam Mendes does a production on the West End or if they film a concert for DVD Bernadette Peters is the one that deserves to play the role!

[BWayBoy88]

Posted: 9/4/05 at 11:32am

I'm not really a fan of Patti-but she would be a really good Rose. I could see her playing the fierce and determined side of Rose very well. As someone said earlier-her voice is very similar to Ethel Merman's who the role was written for.

I would LOVE for them to wait a few years and have Audra play Rose instead. I would pay so much money to see Audra perform "Rose's Turn"

[gustof777]

Posted: 9/4/05 at 11:45am

EXACTLY!! The only problem here is that they don't have roles for Audra and Michael and i love patti i do but in the last three years the star of the night at Ravinia has been Audra. I'm sure lupone would rock the sh#t out of Rose but we all need our dose of Audra

[pattifan2]

Posted: 9/4/05 at 11:53am

LuPone has got everything this role takes, both vocally and emotionally. Her 'Matters Of The Heart' shows she can play sexy, flirtatious, powerhouse and vulnerable. She also has a wicked sense humour. She has to do this part - the sooner the better.

[Pinaud]

Posted: 9/4/05 at 12:30pm

I personally would rather see Ravinia do a concert of Into the Woods with Patti as the Witch(not ideal, but she's kind of a package deal it seems with Sondheim-Ravinia concerts), Audra as the Baker's Wife and Cerveris as Baker(again, not ideal but he's part of the package, it would seem for the trio).

Of course, my main reason for this concert casting is to have Audra play the Baker's Wife which I was praying for when they first announced the revival.

[Pinaud]

Posted: 9/6/05 at 12:21am

bump