Recent GYPSY revival - Controversial?- Page 2

[Bwaybaby109]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 1:31am

I was very forunate to see her and I thought she was amazing! She played it very different and that's what I loved about it! I saw her in late May 2003 and I think she was still getting over her infection because she sounded really hoarse in Everything's Coming Up Roses...poor thing I felt bad for her. After intermission she sounded fine and later she kinda struggled during Rose's Turn. But she still did a commanding performance and her being sick didn't bother me. I commend her for her hard work. And I really enjoyed the show period. It was nice to see it revived. And I totally think she should have won that Tony too.

[SirLiir]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 1:45am

I had the pleasure of seeing her three times (and the final performance to boot) and I must say I really enjoyed her more human Rose as opposed to the forces of nature the Merm, Roz, Angela, and Tyne portrayed her as. I felt she breathed a different life into a very difficult character, one you could even *gasp* feel sorry and pity for when Herbie leaves her. I agree that she did struggle with the songs (I never saw her having great difficulty but she did seem a bit off all three times) but her acting more than made up for any vocal weakness. Any actress who could make Mamma Rose a beleivable woman instead of a crazed fiend deserved a Tony (but thats another story...)
Updated On: 3/23/06 at 01:45 AM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 2:12am

I saw Ms.Peters' performance in Gypsy and I found it mesmerizing, inspiring, and haunting. It was my first time watching a show on a Broadway house and I remember by the end of "Rose's Turn" I just had this feeling that I was part of something great, the audience was very responsive to it which enhanced the experience. I have heard many times about her problems singing the score, I do consider myself lucky enough to have seen her giving a fierce and intense performance.
I have a question though. I am only 19 so I wasn't old enough to see the Tyne Daly revival in the early 90s. I do own the cast recording and Daly's performance in the recording is disappointing and her voice is quite unpleasant to listen to, some of my older friends criticize her for her vocals in the show(although they praise her acting). My question is why is Daly hailed as one of the best Roses while Peters-who had some issues singing the score, yet when she was ok her vocals were quite powerful-is being overtly criticized and was snubbed to receive the Tony award? I am just asking since I never got to see Daly live.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 2:21am

Daly acted the hell out of it and was more the expected physical type for Rose. Her singing was definitely less than pleasant, at her best she was not as good as Peters at her worst - she's just not a singer.

Peters was working at a deficit from the beginning - no one expected her to pull off Rose - she's tiny, she has that high pitched voice - who would think she could come close to what was needed to play the mother of all stage mothers? Then when she became ill and missed previews, all the doomsayers were able to gleefully wring their hands and proclaim that they had been right all along - she couldn't handle the role.

Tyne Daly is a big tv star who came in and did a fabulous job overcoming a glaring weakness. That's why she won.

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 3:52am

I don't think Rose should be a flawless singer.... because if she was flawless then why isn't she famous...

Bernadette was amazing because she put soooooo much energy and love into Rose.

and yes she DEFINTLY deserved the tony over marisa

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 4:20am

Rose's singing isn't "singing" for an audience. All of her singing is expressing her emotions. So it's not really Rose herself showing her singing voice - it's only the actress's singing voice. GYPSY isn't CABARET.

Updated On: 3/23/06 at 04:20 AM

[Jim Colyer]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 10:55am

I always wanted less Rose and more stripping.

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 11:13am

I have nothing really new to add here, but I wanted to chime in on the debate -- especially since I know I'm in the minority.

I thought the production was brilliant. I show-within-a-vaudeville show production style was inspired, and the casting was pretty much perfect all around.

With the exception of Peters. I know the woman is talented, and there are plenty of roles for her out there...but Rose isn't one of them. I have no problem with an actress reinventing the role, infusing sexuality and playfulness, and straying from the Merman mold. What I do have a problem with is a clearly mis-cast actress, struggling through not only the songs, but the dialogue as well. What I saw on the stage that night was a talented, well-intentioned actress gasping for air in a role that so obviously a physicial ordeal for her to get through. She never for a second inhabited the role or made me forget that it was Bernadette Peters up there, just trying to get herself through the evening.

I had a wonderful, golden-age-Broadway experience that night seeing Gypsy...but left thinking, "I still feel like I haven't seen a good Rose."
Updated On: 3/23/06 at 11:13 AM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 11:34am

I saw the production and had more problems with the direction and Tammy Blanchard's performance. Bernadette was better than I expected, but still not my favorite Rose.

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 11:34am

Rath - Or is she? it is all a choice of how the charecter is played.

[Flippancy]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 11:45am

I saw Angela, Tyne, and Bernadette in the role. [I was a mere pup when I saw Angela...trust me!] Anyway, to me it breaks down like this:

Angela: A classic musical comedy star performance.
Tyne: She scared the hell out of me as "Rose" -- in a good way. True, her vocals were sketchy, but she DID act the hell out of it. Her "Roses" gave me chills, and the penultimate fight scene with "Louise" in the Minsky's dressing room was phenomenal.
Bernadette: Like someone said before, I finally realized why Herbie would stay with this Rose all those years. A completely different take on the role, but no less effective. I guess I was one of the lucky ones who saw the show on a night when no vocal problems were evident, because she sang it very well.

"Rose" is the "Lady Macbeth" of female musical roles, and is open to individual intrepretation of the actor and director. I guess it's all in your personal preference. For me, I think I remember Tyne Daly's performance the most.

[mallardo]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 11:51am

I saw Bernadette on a good night but I agree that the vocal strain showed at crucial moments. In a curious way that worked for her, especially in Rose's Turn, where the rawness and desperation of some of her singing amped up the emotion.

[hushpuppy]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 11:52am

I have a question for anyone else who was at the final performance of GYPSY with Bernadette Peters. I clearly remember a standing ovation when she came down the aisle ('Sing Out Louise') and a standing ovation after 'Rose's Turn' but I'd swear even the overture got a standing ovation. Am I right or am I just hallucinating? Or am I just old?

[Pippin]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 11:59am

I was there. no ovation for the overture, but the wild clapping started as soon as she opened her mouth from off stage with "sing out, Louise", and then when she came on stage, everyone stood immediately.

and Peters was amazing at this performance. she didn't have to hold anything back, and didn't. I'll never forget it.

[stanton]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 11:03pm

Well Patti Lupone should be Rose! I always would think if a production wants to make big bucks on GYPSY that need to cast Patti! Come-on whatever hang ups Arthur L has on her get over it and then watch the money come!

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 3/24/06 at 12:01am

I've never heard the score but I'm interested in hearing it. How difficult is it? Not to drag Wicked into this, but I would think that Wicked would be a hard score to sing 8 x a week.

Also, did this revival recoup? I remember it playing in NYC when I went, but I don't remember hearing if it recoup. I mean, considering the whole thing was worked around Peters, i know it didn't tour.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 3/24/06 at 12:13am

Listen to a copy of Gypsy, Rentboy. There's no comparison to Wicked, no matter who's singing it.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 3/24/06 at 12:15am

Well, I didnt mean to compare the scores, but I mean vocally. Is that what you were talking about? Peters is coming to my school in April, thinking bout going to see her. Never been a HUGE fan of her voice.

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 3/24/06 at 12:26am

Rentboy, Peters is one of those theater legends that one must see live at least once in a lifetime I believe. She just has something about her that makes you really wonder how one person can have so much to give on stage. In person, she is so charismatic, humble, and fun you just want to hug her all the time, but you can't because she is Bernadette Peters, you know?
Gypsy is not Wicked. Listen to the Peters cast album and you'll understand why the score is so difficult for someone to perform 8 times a week. The show was built around Ethel Merman whose voice power is legendary so that can tell you something about the difficulty of singing this role.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 3/24/06 at 12:34am

Okay, I'll def. pick it up. and you've inspired me to go check her out. She's performing with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, so it should be interesting. Ben Vereen is also coming.

[philcrosby]

Posted: 3/24/06 at 12:31pm

Rentboy, you should go see Peters in concert. You must never miss a legend perform if you have the chance. I passed up seeing both Merman and Martin when I was yojngster because they were "past their prime." I kick myself for that constantly.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/24/06 at 1:06pm

There's no comparison to Wicked, no matter who's singing it.


-- SO SO True. There is a reason why GYPSY is considered by most, the best musical of ALL TIME. The material is just amazing. Momma Rose takes a lot more vocal strength than say - Elphaba. Momma has to carry the majority of the score, usually she's belting, but that's not just it. She needs to keep a fierce intensity in her voice when she belts. That is where most Momma's fail, besides Merman. Merman's voice didn't falter at all, she kept her belt so intense and forceful. A lot of Momma's sound weak on the belt, because they can't keep the intensity - and some even need to lower keys.

Now, I will say. I think LuPone will be the best belted Momma since Merman. I am positive she can carry the intense belt throughout the whole show.
Updated On: 3/24/06 at 01:06 PM

[StageDoorMatty]

Posted: 3/24/06 at 1:06pm

I have to question the remark that Patti LuPone had "dibs" on the role. It was my impression that Ms. LuPone was never considered for the revival and that it was created for Peters at the urging of Laurents.

Truth be told, Bernadette Peters was the first actress to play the show on Broadway that LOOKED similar to Rose.

I found her performance magnificent--and I believe the Tony belonged to her that season. She combined the necessary sexuality and the force-of-nature attitude to make a sensational Rose.

Just my .02

[flamingo]

Posted: 3/24/06 at 1:07pm

So, original poster, it should be fairly obvious that, nearly 3 years to the day that the Mendes/Peters "Gypsy" opened (previews started March 31, 2003), that the casting/performance/abilities of Peters was the "controversy".

To the poster who asked about Bernadette in concert:I've seen her in concert maybe 5 or 6 times, as well as several Broadway shows. A chance to see her in concert is simply not to be missed, as others have pointed out. Here is a brief review from one of her latest concerts, in Denver in Feb. 2006:

"Bernadette Peters has Broadway down pat

Bernadette Peters must be the greatest Broadway performer alive.

If there were any doubts, she exploded them during an electrifying, sold-out concert Saturday evening as part of the Colorado Symphony's pops series.

As hard as it is to believe, Peters turn 58 on Tuesday. She looks far younger, still bursting with energy, zestiness and sex appeal to rival any 20-something performer.

Though related in some ways to what can be heard in jazz clubs or cabaret rooms, Broadway singing is like nothing else. It can be big and brassy or slow and sentimental, but it has to have show-biz flair and emotional honesty at its core.

Peters presented a wonderfully varied program - familiar and not-so-familiar songs from Broadway shows past and present - with surprisingly complex lighting that significantly enhanced the evening.

For sass and spunk, nothing could top her all-out take on "There Is Nothing Like a Dame" from "South Pacific." Peters has a special affinity for Stephen Sondheim, and she offered memorable takes on several of his songs, including a touching version of "No One Is Alone" from "Into the Woods."

That's entertainment."

- Kyle MacMillan, Denver Post, Feb. 24, 2006

And keep in mind that her husband died in September 2005, so we can only imagine the emotion and difficulties she must be going through.


Updated On: 3/24/06 at 01:07 PM

[hushpuppy]

Posted: 3/24/06 at 1:55pm

Rose was such a taxing role that even the iron-throated Merman was sidelined with a broken blood vessel in her throat not long after the opening of GYPSY in 1959.

Interesting side note: As far as Broadway Roses go, at age 55, Bernadette Peters was the oldest. Merman was either 51 or 53 (depending on which source you use as her birthdate), Linda Lavin was 52, Lansbury was 48, Tyne Daly was 43. On film, Rosalind Russell was 51, Bette Middler was 47.