Universal, Barbra Streisand And Joel Silver Tap Julian Fellowes To Script ‘Gypsy’ — Page 3

I don't think a 20-30 year old Rose is appropriate for GYPSY, even if it is based on a real character around that age. The musical is an adaptation not a biography.

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Emily name me one late twenties, or early thirties actress today who can handle rose. Oh and a girl in her late teens whos parents won't faint when they learn about 'the strip'.

If I remember correctly. "A Musical Fable" was one of the authors' ploys to secure June Havoc's blessing on the project. "Fable" tells everyone it is a work of fiction, and liberties have been taken with real-life events and characters.

Streisand is far from being a fool. She would not take on this project if she didn't feel she could do it, or be in "fighting shape" to play the role. She doesn't need the money, she doesn't need the further fame, she doesn't need the challenge. She is, at her own admission, fairly lazy about work at this stage in her life and must be internally motivated about the project to want to take it on.

And it wouldn't even be considered as a film project without Streisand's involvement. The only other star I could think of who could get a new "Gypsy" onscreen would be Streep. (And she should do a new "Mame".)

Its worth remembering that Rose's vocal line in GYPSY is really only one octave. Its not a rangy score. The challenge that women have had in singing it in the theatre is the amount of material and sheer forcefulness some of the songs require, not so much reaching the notes. I can't imagine Streisand wouldn't be able to still pull this off to exciting effect in a recording studio.

Those songs are only half a range so she shouldn't have any problem with those either.

It's interesting you bring that up, emily, because someone on the other board raised a connected point. Streisand played Dolly in HELLO, DOLLY! far too young at the age of 27 (while, in my opinion, still mustering up one hell of a thrilling performance.) Though she's going to the other extreme here, it would have been really interesting to see her play Rose in a film of GYPSY at that age, which speaks to your point of casting an actress who is actually historically appropriate in terms of how old Rose really was when these events took place.

Still, I maintain my belief that she remains well within her capability to knock this role out of the park. Those debating her ability to sing the score are acting as if she's going to have to sing it live eight times a week. Having seen her live in her last tour a few years ago, I found her to be in remarkable voice for someone her age, and there's no reason to believe, as Michael Bennett said, that she won't absolutely nail these songs in a recording studio. If she couldn't, then I guarantee you- she wouldn't be doing this.

It's funny- Streisand's entire career has been people telling her she can't, shouldn't, or couldn't do things and her turning around and doing them anyway, usually with huge success. "A girl who looks like that will never have a career in feature films," "An actress can't just decide to direct a major motion picture," "Who does she think she is, producing her own projects?," etc. Why should this be any different? I'm sure she's well aware of the doubts placed upon her when it comes to this material, but I'm even more sure she's relishing the opportunity to take it on and show everyone just how wrong they are. If history's any indicator, we're in for one hell of a performance.

Pretty apt for playing Rose, if you ask me. You've either got it or you ain't, and Streisand's got it.

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Updated On: 3/14/12 at 01:36 PM

philcrosby is correct about the reasoning of GYPSY being originally called "A Musical Fable". Laurents felt that the production might be sued by June Havoc. David Merrick, co-producer and a lawyer in his own right, actually thought up the idea of calling it "A Musical Fable", with Baby June being called Baby Claire in the Philadlphia try-out, for safety's sake. June Havoc relented, feeling that the publicity surrounding the production could actually help her career. When GYPSY came to Broadway, the " A Musical Fable" was replaced by the ubiquitous "A New Musical"; that is what my lobby card for the Broadway Theatre says. It proudly hangs in my living room. I realize that there are some CD's that still use the subtitle " A Musical Fable."

As for Barbra Streisand playing Rose, I don't know what to think. Hollywood just might pull it off! I don't think that Hammond makes any convincing argument for Streisand playing Rose, though. Anything would be better than the God- awful 1962 film starring a miscast Rosalind Russell. I won't allow it to be shown in my house, despite a charming Natalie Wood and the original Tulsa from Broadway, Paul Wallace. I will follow this GYPSY gestation period with great interest, and I know that I WILL see the finished film. How could I not?

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"It's funny- Streisand's entire career has been people telling her she can't, shouldn't, or couldn't do things and her turning around and doing them anyway, usually with huge success. "A girl who looks like that will never have a career in feature films," "An actress can't just decide to direct a major motion picture," "Who does she think she is, producing her own projects?," etc. Why should this be any different?"

This is absolutely the biggest load of BS ever posted on this board. EVERY single performer encounters adversity and Babs is no exception. The only difference is she felt it necessary to turn the same criticisms and difficulties faced by every performer into the MAJOR CHORD of the symphony of her life.

"A girl who looks like that will never have a career in feature films"? Yeah sure, somebody said that I'm sure. But there was also enough people who felt the opposite that she got a HUGE MULTIMILLION DOLLAR contract to act in FEATURE FILMS!

You want to know why Babs has the reputation for being difficult to work with? BECAUSE SHE'S DIFFICULT TO WORK WITH. Even people who LOVE AND WORSHIP her agree- she's a relentless perfectionist who drives people crazy demanding re-takes, specific flattering camera angles, a lengthy rider that specifies exacting specifications for everything under the sun. It's part of her SCHTICK. "I hear she rehearsed the orchestra for eight days to get that 30 seconds of intro music PERFECT."

Maybe she's a genius and needs to be coddled. I'd rather work with one of the hundreds of huge stars that aren't touched by G-d and can show up, take off their jackets and get to work.

Oh and a girl in her late teens whos parents won't faint when they learn about 'the strip'.

Daytime TV talk shows survive on the those families. So does Bravo. Just walk into a Forever 21 and take your pick, basically.

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Actually and while acknowledging her considerable gifts, I think Streisand "gets it done" in a way that always says, "Look at me, I'm Barbra Streisand!"

So I think it remains to be seen what she will do with GYPSY.

All these worries about verisimilitude.

Just wait til you hear a 70 year old Mamma Rose say "'Cause I was born too soon and started too late!"

NOW THAT'S VERISIMILITUDE!

The very idea of directing Ms, S. has to be making Hollywood go Hmmm.
Nichols is an interesting choice but how about a career changer for Penny Marshall?