Patti Lupone rose's turn

[alxscrz2]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 1:57am

I was watching a video of Patti Lupone performing rose's turn. I noticed that she doesn't stutter when she says momma, like a lot of actresses who have played the role have. Does anyone know why ? Also when she yells momma, it seems to me like she's calling out to her own mom. But I always thought she was stuttering on the word because she's realizing what she is saying and doesnt want to give into the thought of letting go of louise and her dream. Lol now I'm a bit confused about which one is she really doing Updated On: 8/7/08 at 01:57 AM

[E.Davis]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 2:01am

She took it in a different way in her portrayal. Its a mental breakdown to some but for Patti's rose its a complete psychotic meltdown. He whole life work has just been stomped on and she snaps. i prefer this to all the others cause this is how i see the character. And No it doesn't man shes crazy.

[jeniferrenepatricia]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 2:17am

I see it that way also, edavis, as far as a "psychotic meltdown." On the flip side, I also think that she is reaching out to or looking for her mother during the "mommas."

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 2:20am

Didn't Laurent's say the stuttered "mommas" had nothing to do with her own mother?

[mormonophobic]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 2:30am

I echo the sentiments of E. Davis. LuPone's Rose starts the song out as a fun sort of look-at-me moment, but by the end of it, she has a complete and utter meltdown. The first time I saw it from the mezz. and realized somewhat the power of this song, but more recently (this past weekend) I saw it front row center. Although these seats are partial views because the stage is higher than most (and the tiny lights outlining the stage block it even more), you can see every nuance, every exchange, everything important right up close.

When it came to this song, I was already a wreck because of some mixture of this part of the show always having me emotional and the overwhelming feeling of being that close to La LuPone at such a pivotal moment in the show. But watching her up close, you can see her break down as a human being. Her voice captures a lot of this, but as for the acting alone: it was like watching the final scenes of Requiem for a dream as Ellen Burstyn falls apart in front of our eyes. Only with Miss LuPone, over the course of ONE song, she goes from jovial attempt-at-narcissistic-show-stopping-headliner ("Here she is world - here's Rose!!") to a walking, talking (well...more like belting) trainwreck. With each "for ME", she drives the stake further and further into the coffin of her dreams and simultaneously stabs the audience right in their collective hearts.

[alxscrz2]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 2:30am

Ljay889, I also think that the stuttered mommas have nothing to do with her own mom. But on the video I saw of Patti, it seems like rose is calling out to her mom, which to me makes no sense because her mom is not really in the story at all. She's only mentioned like once

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 2:33am

I think it would make sense. Her mother walked out on her, and that's mentioned a couple times. It would be a perfect time for Rose to call out to her own mother, but I don't think that was Laurents/Sondheim's intent.

[alxscrz2]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 2:38am

What was Laurents/Sondheim's intent for the stuttered mommas ???
Updated On: 8/7/08 at 02:38 AM

[jeniferrenepatricia]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 2:41am

I don't think that was their intent either, but I can't help but feel that way. I know that her mother isn't mentioned much in the dialogue, but we do know that Rose's mother abandoned her. At this point, Rose is feeling abandoned (among many other feelings and a breakdown) so that's why I think it brings up memories of her mother.

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 7:33am

As far as I know, she doesn't perform the song the same way every single night. Sometimes she does, sometimes she doesn't stutter.

[alxscrz2]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 7:51am

Does anyone know if she stutters on the cast recording ??? Also what was Laurents/Sondheim's intent for the stuttered mommas ??

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 8:06am

What makes you think there is one definitive answer?

The power of that piece of writing is that it is subject to a multiplicity of interpretations, like Hamlet's line "The rest is silence."

At various times in your life, it will mean different things to you. Enjoy the ambiguity.

[philcrosby]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 8:29am

Well said, PalJoey.

A great work of theater -- a great role in the theater -- can be subject to multiple shadings and variations in interpretation.

Who was the best Hamlet? Who was the best Rose? Who was the best Dolly?

Does anyone really care -- as long as each one was a great performance?

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 9:49am

I've seen Patti's Rose four times, and she's never done the "momma's" the same way twice. She keeps exploring that moment as an actor and coming up with different (all valid, to me anyway) reasons for that moment to occur.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 10:34am

The "stutering" was in the original musical score.
I heard Sondheim tell a story about teaching Merman ROSE'S TURN.
Merman couldn't understand where to say the words. Sondheim told her, she was having a breakdown and at that moment she was thinking of her own mother and her feelings were so strong she couldn't get the word m, m, m, mama out.
And Ethel said, "yeah, but is in on the beat or off the beat?"

[Dollypop]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 10:50am

Ethel Merman was not a skilled actress the way LuPone is. When they were working with her on "Rose's Turn", the creative team had to work with her in almost a paint-by-numbers approach to get anything close to what they wanted in this number. Getting her to stutter the "mamma"'s was one way they could get the approximate emotions they wanted from her. Somehow the stutters remained until LuPone and company really took a critical look at the material.

Updated On: 8/7/08 at 10:50 AM

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 11:16am

Angela Lansbury's ROSE'S TURN was even more of a psychotic breakdown than Patti's.

And can be found on the site of which we dare not speak.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 12:15pm

"Ethel Merman was not a skileed actress the way LuPone is"

Thank you, Uta Hagen.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 12:35pm

OOO....Uta Hagen as Rose...

Sorry, continue the discussion.

[alxscrz2]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 1:47pm

Well does anyone know what was Laurents/Sondheim's intent on the stuttered momma ??

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 3:40pm

Why don't you research it and get back to us on that?

[bdboston]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 3:48pm

Mormonophobic-- which row is front row center? BB or A? I have tickets for row B center, and was curious if that's the second or third row.

Thanks~

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 4:34pm

Having been in the fourth row, aisle seat the Tuesaday after the Tony wins, I can honestly say Patti/ROSE'S TURN will never be better.

She had the whole house stunned, silent, scared, sad... sympathetic... and accusing... then on their feet cheering.

If/when the actress/Patti chooses to do the stuttering - I have heard/seen Patti do variations and other actresses do it differently many times- I think it adds to the "break down" losing control emotions.

She's simply trying to talk, but can't... Calling for her own mother?... Trying again... Her physical emotions making her voice crack whrnh she tries again...

[Dollypop]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 4:44pm

Patti LuPone is the sun, the moon and the stars--and a skilled actress, as well!

[antiandrewx]

Posted: 8/7/08 at 4:47pm

bdboston - Row B is third row.