Saw Gypsy tonight...

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.

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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...).

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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!!

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

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.

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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

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

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.

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.

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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...

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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.......

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.

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.