Tyne Daly's Rose: An Appreciation

With all the press and hoopla about the newest Rose on the block... the memories of my definitive Rose keep pushing themselves to the forefront.

Of course, would Rose do anything but push?

I was in Los Angeles at the time when my best friend and I decided to drive downtown to see Cagney or Lacey.. in GYPSY. We figured the stunt casting would be terrible.. I mean.. Tyne Daly? please! But we couldn't pass up a class "A" production of a legendary show.

We got insanely great orchestra seats for $6.00. No lie. And sat down to endure that TV actress.

Little did I know.. how could I?... that I was a about to witness a performance that has stayed with me till this very day. I can almost remember every choice.. every detail.

I was electric with the sensation of being fully PRESENT for that performance. I absorbed every minute. I was on that stage with them. I was every character.. but mostly.. I was Rose. I was her drive,rage, pain, charm, triumph, ruthlessness.

The distance and sense of separation that can come from "diva worship" played NO part with this Rose.

That would be too easy.. too cheap.. This Rose was tough.. she didn't give a damn about whether you knelt at the altar of Daly.... but, somehow, as a result, you liked her, you admired her guts. You secretly wished you had that drive too.

Like the cut song says.. "Nice, she aint"

I once wrote this about her singing:

My ultimate Rose is Tyne Daly. Hands Down.

There are two schools of thought on Rose's talent. She is either VERY talented and frustrated that she is not acknowledged as a performer... or she is has limited talent but mammoth drive that she transfers to making a career for her children.

I think the later is the more interesting choice. Daly's vocal limitations at odds with her fierce determination was just the right combination to dynamically say something about the character's over-reaching tendencies.


I still believe that.

So.. what is that rant all about? I don't know. Maybe my little way of keeping alive a performance that pulled no punches, asked for no love.. but gave you everything in return.

I truly, Truly, TRULY wish that each and everyone one of you have at least one such performance to cherish, remember and grow with in your life.

BFB

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Updated On: 6/11/08 at 12:33 AM

Rose is grating.

But I'm not here to defend Daly. I don't need to..like the title says... this is an appreciation.

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Updated On: 6/11/08 at 12:36 AM

I guess your first Rose is your favorite and Tyne Daly is mine. I saw her in it here in Pittsburgh on it's way to Broadway and I was astounded. Her "Everything's Coming Up Roses" blew me away.

A few months later, I was in New York and saw it again and it was still phenominal.

And a part of it was the surprise factor, you expect Patti and Bernadette and Angela to be able to handle Rose because they do musicals. Tyne came out of nowhere and did this. Many kudos go to Fran Weissler who saw Tyne sing on the short lived Dolly Parton show and kept her in mind when they were planning therevival.

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Just found this re-print of an article from a 1989 PEOPLE magazine.

Wow!!! Daly was chomping at the bit to play this role. Never knew.

Love her confidence and goal she set of being THE Rose of her generation.

http://www.bookmice.net/darkchilde/tyne/gypsy.html

I think she succeeded.

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Updated On: 6/11/08 at 01:47 AM

My favourite by far and I've seen a few. Simply knocked you out.
She was all set to bring that production to London and then Sadam went and invaded Kuwait.

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Never got to see Ethel or Angela in the role, saw Bernadette, haven't seen Patti, yet. Tyne Daly is Rose to me. I can't put it as elegantly as BFB, but it was a performance I will never forget.

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BFB---I saw it here in L.A. too, pre-Broadway, just like you!

I was a box office manager in town back then, and scored house seats.

Tyne (and the entire production) blew me away. Your description of it brought back those wonderful memories. Thanks for the post!

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I wish someone would have the good sense to bring a production of Ballroom back to Broadway with her as Bea. I've heard her do "Terrific Band" and "Fifty Percent" and she was almost more earthshattering than Dorothy Loudon was.

Of all the Rose's I have missed, Tyne is the one I wish I could go back and see live.

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It sounds likeher performance benefitted from her not being associated with musicals or "diva" roles. I wish I could have seen it.

sondheimboy, I'm sure Fran would love to take the credit and probably has, but it was actually Barry Brown who saw Tyne sing on the Dolly Parton variety show and brought the idea to the Weisslers, who then co-produced GYPSY with him.

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Thanks for the post BFB. I love to hear tributes like this.

Daly is such a powerhouse performer. Is she doing any TV now. She got such acclaim from this role, I would think it wouldn't take too much coaxing to get her back on stage.

A real error was made in filming "Gypsy" for television and not casting Tyne only a year after her production had been on Broadway. She was a huge TV star, who'd won a Tony for playing the role on Broadway. Did they think people wouldn't watch? Midler was just Midler. Tyne was Mama Rose.

I totally agree. I love Bette Midler, but she was not a good choice for that role. She was acting like her characters in Ruthless People, Big Business, and Outrageous Fortune. Her finest moment was in "The Rose" and "Beaches"- good choices for her. Tyne Daly should have been asked.....

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