The male equivalent of Mama Rose? — Page 3

Max Bialystock had to have been a killer role. Lots of singing and outsized energy, and then to have to sing "Betrayed" so late in the show?

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Updated On: 7/29/07 at 09:40 AM

Jean Valjean sounds like a reasonable choice, since he's onstage almost the entire show and has to age from young-ish to a father-age to old man, in the confines of on evening. But he doesn't have that moment to let loose, such as Rose's Turn or Epiphany, to really put me over the edge.

I agree with many of the excellent suggestions people have named here, and I DON'T think that women have cornered the market on all the good roles, just because they've been wringing the drama out of them lately.

That may be a personal choice (or fantasy) of you individuals, but I'm VERY happy with the musical theatre characters that are the equivalent of "climbing the summit" for men.

I also disagree strongly with those of you who've said that some of these male roles aren't that demanding. I would argue that neither is Mama Rose, if an actress chooses to "walk through it." You just haven't seen it done WELL, yet.

My list would include:

Sweeney Todd
Georges Seurat
Billy Bigelow
John Adams
Tony Esposito
The King (and I)
Tevye
Max Bialystock
Guido Contini
Sky Masterson
Bobby
Franklin Shepherd
Jean Valjean
The Phantom
Pal Joey
Albin
Coalhouse Walker Jr.
Harold Hill
Henry Higgins
Jellyroll Morton

...and others I'm forgetting.

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Oh duh, Guido... he even has his own Rose's Turn at the end of the show.

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maybe its just me but i think franknfurter from Rocky Horror could be pretty challenging... i know its not the MOST but its definitely a big character with a bizarre emotional journey and a song selection that makes it hard not to copy tim curry's flawless interpretation... this may be a stretch though... i agree with sweeney and tevye and valjean (though i loath les mis because of the most recent production)

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My top 5 would be:

Bobby in COMPANY

Don Quixote in MAN OF LA MANCHA

Jean Valijean in LES MISERABLES

Tevye in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

Guido Contini in NINE

and maybe a sixth... maybe not:

The Emcee in CABARET

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Sweeney, George, and Bobby.

True, but he doesn't sing a note till "Lullabye of Broadway"

The title role in Barnum

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I think a lot of it has to do with the energy that's put into the role, not only the emotional journey that a character goes through. Performing in a role like Harold Hill is in no way demanding emotionally, but energetic-wise it is extreamly demanding.

Barry Dennen played Pappa Rose is a West Hollywood production of GYPSY...