Saw Gypsy tonight...

[Copeman63]

Posted: 8/27/03 at 12:18am

Now first off, I should say of my respect for Bernadette and her career, and I also should mention I have seen her perform in this show 3 times, and second acted it numorous times. My Mom is visiting from Colorado, and all she wanted to see was the famous Bernadette Peters and this show she's heard so much about. So after an hour wait at TKTS, we got two orchestra seats for tonights show. The audience started out strong, but quickly lost it's momentum, possibly because the over-hyped above the title player, was having an off night. I'm not sure what went wrong, but Bernie was really bad tonight! Either her mic or she herself were not loud enough, she cracked on some notes and kept fiddling with her wig the whole first act. She proceded to yell and stomp through the first act and most of the second, until Rose's Turn started, and she suddenly seemed to perk up. Overall, I have never been more disapointed in a performer. There has been so much hub bub over her on this board lately, but tonight I thought she'd knock my socks off! I hope it was an off night, or this show is gonna go downhill fast. PS- This was not just my opinion, the audience around me was talking about how they were disapointed as well.

[StinKer Roadmann]

Posted: 8/27/03 at 12:22am

I think it could've been an off night because I saw the show on Saturday August 23rd, and Bernadette was as vivacious as ever. The audience was roaring the whole time and she was just really being funny and her singing was superb, too. The whole atmosphere of the show was like none I've ever been to before.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 8/27/03 at 12:25am

It was absolutely an off-night. She was absolutely incredible when I saw her at the beginning of this month. I'm sure she hasn't lost it for good. Everyone has their off-nights, Bernadette isn't a God. Nobody's perfect, everyone has their bad days.

[BenjaminBraddock]

Posted: 8/27/03 at 12:39am

Bernadette, gave an "electrifying" performance, this past August 19th, when I saw the show....:)! Hopefully you will catch a better performance the next time (or more so, hopefully your Mother will...).

[magruder]

Posted: 8/27/03 at 1:26am

Heard from a company member that your audience tonight was particularly dull and unresponsive, Copeman. It goes both ways.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/27/03 at 8:05am

I think it could have been an "Off" role....

I notice that so many people on this board defend her doing this role...

..but what if she walks away from it with nodes on her voice..what if, she somehow damages the throat..takes any luster left from the voice..

...what if much like Julie Andrews, she can not sing again...

There should be plenty of song coming from this woman in the future...but this role and her inability to sing it will hinder her if she does not get out...now!!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/27/03 at 8:27am

Strap on the wig and go audition as a replacement Anth! Why, with your extensive training and your technical know-how, it seems perfect. Go have the dream!

[alterego]

Posted: 8/27/03 at 10:02am

The audience was "particularly dull and unresponsive".
What the!? That is no excuse for giving a bad performance. I'm sure that if they were getting what they paid for they would have perked up. How many thousands a week does she get paid to deliver the goods at every performance? Updated On: 8/27/03 at 10:02 AM

[Hello Gorgeous]

Posted: 8/27/03 at 10:10am

It's a shame that you caught her on such an off-performance. When Bernadette is up and kicking, that she is phenomenal (sp?). I saw it way back when in June, and was just blown away by every number in the show.

[magruder]

Posted: 8/27/03 at 10:20am

She could have had an off-performance, certainly. But a bad, dry, audience sucks the energy out of the theatre. You can have a hit show, playing like gangbusters one night, that will sit like a pile of wet laundry the next night, all due to the chemistry and the make-up of the crowd.

[Copeman63]

Posted: 8/27/03 at 10:30am

The audience started out great, applauding the trumpet solo and getting pretty loud at the end of the overture. It was after Bernie started that they got worse.

[TheBalladeer]

Posted: 8/27/03 at 10:31am

Magruder, I totally agree, and as a performer/actor, I know that can affect your performance. You try not to let it affect you when you have an unresponsive audience... but if they are extremely unresponsive, in some instances, an actor might notice that, and it might inadvertantly affect their performance. Especially when the theatre and the space you are acting in, is smaller and much more intimate.

Anth, I don't think that Bernadette is so stupid as to continue to sing something that will eventually damage her voice. Unlike Julie Andrews, Bernadette obviously had developed some technique that worked for her all these years that hasn't destroyed her voice, or damaged it without the possibility of repairing it. Julie had been singing incorrectly for most of her career.

As for Bernadette's performance....I DEFINITELY think you saw her on an off-night...Especially when you mention her fidgeting with her wig...I've never seen her do anything like that. Something must have been going on that night. And I saw Bernadette two weeks ago, and she seems to be at her best vocally. She sounded terrific. I am not defending her because I am an overobsessed fan, it's because I know what I saw, and she was wonderful in the role when I saw it recently.

Cheers,
The Balladeer

Updated On: 8/27/03 at 10:31 AM

[emmamia]

Posted: 8/27/03 at 10:40am

i didnt know that the audience is the reason that stars give a bad performance ... arent they are paid to give their best no matter what the audience is like??

When I saw it 2 weeks ago our audience was pretty dull but I think she/cast gave one of her/their best performances ever ... and yes i had seen the show before ... during previews.

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 8/27/03 at 10:57am

I went with Camp Broadway on August 6th, and the audience was amazing, as was the performance. Everyone went crazy after Bernadette sang "Some People", and from then on, she got thunderous applause after all of her showstoppers. And after Rose's Turn, she got a least 2 or 3 minutes of a standing ovation from the audience. And of course, when she came out to take her bow the audience was wild. I agree- I didn't see her fiddle with her wig or crack on some notes at all. She was in great vocal condition when I went. I, too, think that this was an off night.

[TheBalladeer]

Posted: 8/27/03 at 11:09am

"i didnt know that the audience is the reason that stars give a bad performance ... arent they are paid to give their best no matter what the audience is like??"

That is true, and if you read my post carefully you would have seen that I mentioned something to that affect. However, actors are human beings too, and if they happened to perform for an extremely unresponsive audience, don't think that they don't notice it, or that it doesn't affect them, or in some extremes, their performance. To think that, is ridiculous. Especially if you are used to a certain amount of response and applause on a consistant basis - For example, to have a night where you get hardly a response for a supposed show stopper that you are used to getting it for, (i.e. "Some People") might be a litte jarring. But it is expected for the actress to not let it affect them. But after numerous instances of this during a particular performance, then something is strange, and the performer does notice.

Cheers,
The Balladeer

[magruder]

Posted: 8/27/03 at 11:09am

Emma - I did not say the audience is the reason a star gives a bad performance. What I am saying is when an audience sucks, a desperation can set in among the performers. Either everything turns lifeless, or actors begin to push, mug or strain harder for effect.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 8/27/03 at 11:57am

just to clarify, i remember reading that Julie's vocal problems were due to a botched surgery, but that of course could have been "spin." i'm not convinced that Julie misused her voice for years. Nodes are still pretty mysterious things, and a time of stress or misuse (even a short period, and especially at Julie's age) could result in their forming. As to Bernadette not singing Rose well or as intended, that's why they make different flavors or ice cream, so everyone can have what they prefer. Sounds to me like an "off night" either vocally and/or emotionally, and trying to analyze why in hindsight is pretty frustrating. Bernadette has a reputation for a very strong technique as a performer, so i think she could be allowed some off nights after her career. If people are insistent that the product they buy be of the same quality every time, that's why there are movies and videos. Not all of the "magic of live theatre" can be goosebumps and electricity; part of the bargain is that sometimes it might be a yawns and misfiring spark plugs!

[Hello Gorgeous]

Posted: 8/27/03 at 12:03pm

TxTwoStep is right...about Bernadette and Julie.

To me, just because a performer isn't up to par every night of the week in a show doesn't mean that they're misusing their voices...even they need a rest here and there...

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/27/03 at 1:22pm

well that seems very hypocritical.

why should Bernadette be allowed to have an off night without criticism, but if it was a no nmae/ unknown actor having an off night, they would get trashed by people saying that if they can't take eight shows a week they should be gone??

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/27/03 at 1:55pm

If a role is not suited to you vocally…all the technique and professionalism in the world will not help you…

If this board considers Miss. Peters technique to be quite good…lets look for a moment at the technique and vocal problem of Miss. Leontyne Price. One of opera greatest stars.

In 1961, at the height of her vocal powers and career momentum, Miss. Price accepted the coveted role of Minnie in Puccini’s opera “La Fancuilla Del West”. The opera would premiere on the equally important opening night of the season..

In other words, this was a coup that would be hard for any soprano to turn down..

While, Miss. Price was a very great Verdi spinto soprano with an exceptional technique and voice, the role of Minnie was just not her cup of tea.

The tessitura of the role pounded on an area of Miss. Price’s voice that was her most difficult to control and sustain.

Miss. Prices voice was quite big but, the orchestra for this Puccini opera was much bigger than what she was used to in Verdi operas …..and very bombastic…

On top of that, she had allergies..

On top of that, Miss. Price misjudged how she was hearing herself in relation to the orchestra and sang much louder than needed to compensate for what she felt was her underpowered singing.

By the end of Act One, a strange acting, uncomfortable and fidgeting Price was getting hoarse.. (sound familiar).

My Act Three, she blew out her voice.

Miss. Price did not return to The Metropolitan Opera for almost a year. In fact Miss. Price did not sing anywhere for 9 months. For 6 months she was not allowed to even whisper so as not to hurt the damaged cords…

She did come back and resumed her regular round of Verdi soprano roles and while her voice seemed to return to normal…the juiciness, the glamour, the gorgeous tone of that voice pre 1961, never fully returned.

I'm not saying this could happen to Miss. Peters...nor do I dislike her...I think her version of "Anyone Can Whistle" is the most stunning version I have ever heard..it's perfect in every way for her and she breaks your heart with it...

But compare that song, a type of song which she excels in and then listen to "Rose's turn" or "Everything's Coming up Roses"..

Something is not quite right.......

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/27/03 at 2:13pm

You know who I like is that Courtney Love. She's quite good and has a new album out this fall, "America's Sweetheart."

[FrontRow]

Posted: 8/27/03 at 3:02pm

Hey, I was there too on Tuesday night!

Bernadette does sound strained sometimes (dialogue as well as singing), but it's not necessarily a "bad night." That role can do that to you. I didn't feel it spoiled the show.

Didn't you love Herbie? That's got to be the most thankless role in theater history (playing opposite Rose), but John Dossett really did something with it. Dick Latessa is cute in Hairspray, but I would have given the Tony to Dossett. They're definitely the only Rose & Herbie I've ever seen with any sex appeal.

I don't know why anyone would say the audience was unresponsive. It was the first time I'd ever heard an overture get an ovation IN THE MIDDLE! (which that overture totally deserves) And there were long ovations at Bernadette's entrance and after Rose's Turn.

The numbers with the kids were very cute. Overall I thought it was excellent.

[PJ]

Posted: 8/27/03 at 7:16pm

She was most likely tired, as someone else stated. She's only human for cryin' out loud. A human who could very well be going through what women refer to as "the change."

[moljul]

Posted: 8/27/03 at 7:30pm

Oh come on, PJ! Let's not be ridiculous enough to go there. Not only is it rude and a complete invasion of privacy it is ludicrous for you to bring it up. She was either tired, having an off night or the audience was unresponsive. No one will know for sure so let's move on.

[singnyc]

Posted: 8/27/03 at 9:06pm

whoa.. a bit defensive are we? I don't think PJ was asking for confirmation of this. He was just adding his opinions on what is a fact of life( well if you're female).