Roses That Never Were
Roses That Never Were
OuttaTowner
Leading Actor Joined: 5/30/05
#1Roses That Never Were
Posted: 1/10/25 at 1:18pm
Another thread is asking us to rank the Madame Roses. This got me thinking about actresses that I would have liked to see play the role - but who never did, to my knowledge - in their prime.
I’ll start with two: Carol Burnett (she certainly had the vocal chops), and the late, beloved Chita. I would love to have seen what these women would have brought to Madame Rose.
#2Roses That Never Were
Posted: 1/10/25 at 1:22pm
I know I'm not alone in saying Judy Garland's Rose opposite Liza's Louise would have been beyond marvelous.
Georgeanddot2
Leading Actor Joined: 2/20/20
#4Roses That Never Were
Posted: 1/10/25 at 1:36pm
Judy is the correct answer. She should've done the film. I think she would've been definitive.
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#5Roses That Never Were
Posted: 1/10/25 at 1:38pm
FolliesCabaret said: "I know I'm not alone in saying Judy Garland's Rose opposite Liza's Louise would have been beyond marvelous."
#6Roses That Never Were
Posted: 1/10/25 at 1:45pm
Georgeanddot2 said: "Judy is the correct answer. She should've done the film. I think she would've been definitive."
Absolutely correct. Unfortunately, for as good as the movie is, Rosalind Russel's performance doesn't quite do it for me and her Rose's Turn is disappointing. I can imagine Judy in it, and it could have been a triumph. (It would also have been a much better fit than her aborted attempt at Annie Oakley...)
#7Roses That Never Were
Posted: 1/10/25 at 6:30pm
I’ve always wanted to see Donna Murphy in the role.
#8Roses That Never Were
Posted: 1/10/25 at 6:39pm
ChiDoc said: "Georgeanddot2 said: "Judy is the correct answer. She should've done the film. I think she would've been definitive."
Absolutely correct. Unfortunately, for as good as the movie is, Rosalind Russel's performance doesn't quite do it for me and her Rose's Turn is disappointing. I can imagine Judy in it, and it could have been a triumph. (It would also have been a much better fit than her aborted attempt at Annie Oakley...)"
Although generally a huge Rosiland Russel fan, she's abysmal in the movie. She tries to make Rose into Auntie Mame, sometimes even recycling the same mannerisms (the way she rushes to Louise with her arms held straight out, just as she did with adult Patrick after their fight over O'Banion) and "eccentric" costumes.
#9Roses That Never Were
Posted: 1/10/25 at 10:31pm
Laurents offered the role to Chita in the early 60s for the London premiere, but she turned it down. Elaine Stritch famously was announced to star as Rose when it was finally ready to hit London, but the financing fell through, ultimately leading to Lansbury getting the role. It's such a shame Stritch never got her chance.
#10Roses That Never Were
Posted: 1/11/25 at 12:25am
I'll give you two, one for the cinema and one for live theater, with the caveat that the latter may be more of an "it could happen if someone moves fast."
Screen
By the time she finally essayed it, it might have been too much, too little, too late, but as someone who's read the second draft of Barbra's proposed Gypsy film*, it's perhaps the best screenplay I've ever seen for the property (and that includes straight-up filming Arthur's libretto word-for-word for Bette's rendition) and would have been a magnificent book-end to Barbra's screen career.
* In the words of Rose: "This people's got it, and this people's spreadin' it around..." ;)
Stage
Jenifer Lewis mentions within the first few pages of Chapter One of her memoir, The Mother of Black Hollywood, that playing Rose was an as-yet-unrealized dream. With all kudos to Audra, who seems to have pulled it off despite the negative nancies, I think Lewis would do a credible job, perhaps even one that might go over better with the aforementioned detractors. You'd have to pick the keys very carefully, the vocal would be no Merman except in volume, but the acting would be electrifying.
Formerly gvendo2005
Broadway Legend
joined: 5/1/05
Blocked: After Eight, suestorm, david_fick, emlodik, lovebwy, Dave28282, joevitus, BorisTomashevsky, Seb28
Broadway Legend
joined: 5/1/05
Blocked: After Eight, suestorm, david_fick, emlodik, lovebwy, Dave28282, joevitus, BorisTomashevsky, Seb28
#11Roses That Never Were
Posted: 1/11/25 at 12:46am
Had she not gone down such a destructive path, I would have loved to see Whitney Houston do Mama Rose.
In the future, I'd love a Lady Gaga Mama Rose.
Georgeanddot2
Leading Actor Joined: 2/20/20
#12Roses That Never Were
Posted: 1/11/25 at 12:50am
A Gaga Rose would be amazing in like 10-15 years. If there's any role that I think she would be amazing in, it's this one.
#13Roses That Never Were
Posted: 1/11/25 at 3:46am
I know she had issues with the show but would have been interesting to see June Havoc play her mother!
#14Roses That Never Were
Posted: 1/11/25 at 4:37am
Bea Arthur sang Some People in her one woman show and talked about how she wanted to play the role. Maybe she wouldn’t have been the best to ever sing the role but I think she would have been great. It’s a shame she never got to play it.
The Other One
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/1/08
#15Roses That Never Were
Posted: 1/11/25 at 7:03am
It would have been a game-changer for Ann Miller and I bet she would have been brilliant.
The Other One
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/1/08
#16Roses That Never Were
Posted: 1/11/25 at 7:22am
joevitus said: "ChiDoc said: "Georgeanddot2 said: "Judy is the correct answer. She should've done the film. I think she would've been definitive."
Absolutely correct. Unfortunately, for as good as the movie is, Rosalind Russel's performance doesn't quite do it for me and her Rose's Turn is disappointing. I can imagine Judy in it, and it could have been a triumph. (It would also have been a much better fit than her aborted attempt at Annie Oakley...)"
Although generally a huge Rosiland Russel fan, she's abysmal in the movie. She tries to make Rose into Auntie Mame, sometimes even recycling the same mannerisms (the way she rushes to Louise with her arms held straight out, just as she did with adult Patrick after their fight over O'Banion) and "eccentric" costumes."
I'm the opposite on this. I think Russell is terrible in just about everything, but her artifice serves her pretty well in Gypsy. She even manages to drop it to good effect in just the right moments.
AEA AGMA SM
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/13/09
#17Roses That Never Were
Posted: 1/11/25 at 12:27pm
Carol Burnett has long been my answer when asked about Roses I wish had happened.
In that vain, not a Rose, but I wish at some point Cloris Leachman had played Tessie Tura
halfhourcheckwithmerman
Stand-by Joined: 9/25/22
#18Roses That Never Were
Posted: 1/11/25 at 12:29pm
The Other One said: "It would have been a game-changer for Ann Miller and I bet she would have been brilliant."
I'll be thinking about this all day!!!
"I feel safe with you, and complete with you / I'm always finding money in the street with you."
-Sheldon Harnick
#19Roses That Never Were
Posted: 1/11/25 at 2:17pm
CATSNYrevival said: "Bea Arthur sang Some People in her one-woman show and talked about how she wanted to play the role. Maybe she wouldn’t have been the best to ever sing the role but I think she would have been great. It’s a shame she never got to play it."
She proved she'd do better with Roz Russell/Lisa Kirk's keys than either of them did, I'll tell ya that much.
Formerly gvendo2005
Broadway Legend
joined: 5/1/05
Blocked: After Eight, suestorm, david_fick, emlodik, lovebwy, Dave28282, joevitus, BorisTomashevsky, Seb28
Broadway Legend
joined: 5/1/05
Blocked: After Eight, suestorm, david_fick, emlodik, lovebwy, Dave28282, joevitus, BorisTomashevsky, Seb28
Jarethan
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/10/11
#20Roses That Never Were
Posted: 1/11/25 at 3:26pm
Georgeanddot2 said: "A Gaga Rose would be amazing in like 10-15 years. If there's any role that I think she would be amazing in, it's this one."
The thing that I find so ironic is that Gaga is already OLDER than Rose was through all of Act 1.. Gaga is 38. Gypsy was born when Rose was 22. Based on Gypsy's making June younger than she actually was when she got married...she was 22, the show makes her more like 16 - 18. That would make Rose 38 - 40 when June runs off.
I actually think the next production of Gypsy should have a Rose who is in the 35 - 45 age range. I think it wouls be very interesting to see.
I agree that Garland and Streisand represent a gold standard for the role. I think that Cate Blanchette and Kate Winslet could do a great job with the acting, but I have no idea if either could even approach the score. I would like to see Lea Michelle do it and in 15 years, at 53, she would be at an age consistent with other Roses, even if I would prefer to see her in the next 5 years (ain't gonna happen). Finally, since I believe that she can do anything, I would second the Donna Murphy suggestion.
Georgeanddot2
Leading Actor Joined: 2/20/20
#21Roses That Never Were
Posted: 1/11/25 at 3:37pm
I think Amy Adams would make a good Mama Rose in a film adaptation (God knows she needs a good film project).
Ke3
Broadway Star Joined: 6/25/20
#22Roses That Never Were
Posted: 1/11/25 at 4:21pm
g.d.e.l.g.i. said: "I'll give you two, one for the cinema and one for live theater, with the caveat that the latter may be more of an "it could happen if someone moves fast."
Screen
By the time she finally essayed it, it might have been too much, too little, too late, but as someone who's read the second draft of Barbra's proposed Gypsy film*, it's perhaps the best screenplay I've ever seen for the property (and that includes straight-up filming Arthur's libretto word-for-word for Bette's rendition) and would have been a magnificent book-end to Barbra's screen career.
* In the words of Rose: "This people's got it, and this people's spreadin' it around..." ;)"
I know playing Rose was the main driving force for Babs but I soooo wish she had made the movie and just cast another actor.
Owen22
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/24/11
#24Roses That Never Were
Posted: 1/12/25 at 12:39pm
Just because I think they should always be in more prominent stage productions, I’m going to say Carolee Carmello and Toni Collette. I guess they still could do it, but time is running out (unless you ask Barbra or Glenn).
ErmengardeStopSniveling
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/18
#25Roses That Never Were
Posted: 1/12/25 at 12:54pm
Georgeanddot2 said: "A Gaga Rose would be amazing in like 10-15 years. If there's any role that I think she would be amazing in, it's this one."
This is why I’m in no rush for a GYPSY movie. Gaga is perfect for the role and given the time span of the show could do it tomorrow or in 20 years.
It would need a really good director to translate it to the screen, though. I don’t know who that person should be, but I think a literal translation of the stage property would not work well as a 21st century film. Film actually feels like a good medium to show us the inner mania of Rose’s mind during her big numbers (or at least during Rose’s Turn). Damian Chazelle?
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