What Is Left For Bernadette?

[EdEval]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 10:36am

Now, after her triumphant revival of Hello Dolly, what remains available for the wonderful Bernadette Peters to do?  Unless someone writes a new musical  that has a matrure woman in the cast she can follow the Angela Landsbury route by doing Mrs.Lovett in Sweeney Todd,  perhaps a revival of Dear World,  play Granny in Pippin, Madame Hortance in Zorba,  lastly Desiree's mother in Little Night Music.  Her Ethel Merman repertoire has dried up and too old for Mame.  Next is the one woman concert in lounges and hotels.

[John Adams]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 10:59am

EdEval said: "Unless someone writes a new musical that has a matrure [sic] woman in the cast she can follow the Angela Landsbury route "

The "Angela Landsbury route" also includes a 12 season run of Murder, She Wrote. Ms Peters also works in TV and films. Who knows what great opportunities lie ahead for her? Will you be disappointed by her next success?

 

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 11:09am

Perhaps Bernadette can read the phone book or Yelp reviews. Either way, I will be there to enjoy a perfectly marvellous woman and performer.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 11:40am

At some point, there are some great featured roles, e.g., Fanny Cavendish in The Royal Family (whatever happened to the musical version of that???).  Frau Schneider in Cabaret (who says she has to be a frump?). Matron Mama Morton in Chicago...bet that would bring the grosses up (I have wondered whether Chicago should at some point bring in some real names for a six month engagement...the value of the publicity would last longer than the length of the engagement and remind people who haven't seen it in 15 years that it is still opened).

I would love a revival of Over Here with her and Patti Lupone in the lead roles, perhaps at the Roundabout.  Neither role is actually very large, and they don't have more than a few songs each, so the physical demands would not be the same as carrying a musical.  Imagine the excitement about that one.  

I have not seen a revival of Hay Fever in 30 years (last time I saw it, it was Rosemary Harris 40ish years ago).  Given how young BP looks, I wonder whether she could play Judith Bliss.  Re Lansbury roles, how about the next revival of Blithe Spirit, in a decade or so.

 

  .  

 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 11:52am

EdEval said: "Now, after her triumphant revival of Hello Dolly, what remains available for the wonderful Bernadette Peters to do? Unless someone writes a new musicalthat has a matrure woman in the cast she can follow the Angela Landsbury route by doing Mrs.Lovett in Sweeney Todd, perhaps a revival of Dear World, play Granny in Pippin, Madame Hortance in Zorba, lastly Desiree's mother in Little Night Music. Her Ethel Merman repertoire has dried up and too old for Mame. Next is the one woman concert in lounges and hotels."

Why such a bitchy post?  I'd be very surprised if at this stage in her life she wants to develop a brand new musical -- but who knows?  Also, were you not aware that she regularly does concert tours with large symphony orchestras --- she's not quite been reduced to playing the lounge at the local HoJos. She also regularly does TV work (The Good Fight, Katy Keene, Mozart in the Jungle, etc.). Finally, when you say her "Ethel Merman repertoire", which Merman shows has she done besides GYPSY?  

Updated On: 2/25/20 at 11:52 AM

[Jarethan]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 12:03pm

I agree with your response, but would point out that  her biggest hit (performance-wise) was probably Annie Get Your Gun, also a Merman role.  

 

[NOWaWarning]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 12:11pm

Dolly is also a role that Merman played to great success, but it was hardly a Merman’s role despite being written for her. I actually wish Bernadette had dipped into the Merman pond more. She would have been a fabulous Reno Sweeney.

Anyway, I know I’m not alone in having long wished to see Bernadette take on Lovett. I doubt it’ll happen, though. I’m sure if she’d been interested, she could have done one of the thousands of concerts or revivals over the years.

Maybe there’s a role for Bernadette in Sondheim’s new piece. And whatever happened to that revival of I Do! I Do! that she and Martin Short were attached to? Have they aged out of those roles?

I’d love to see Bernadette do a play or two. She’s a fascinating and versatile actress who is great at both comedy and drama.

[binau]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 12:32pm

I’ve been waiting for 10 years but sadly I think beyond a Sweeney concert, which have been done to death basically everywhere in the world, there is no opportunity or suitable outlet. However, I do agree if she really wanted to she would have done it. She could have done it off-Broadway even. If she went knocking. When asked about it she has expressed interest but not desperate interest. Indeed, when asked about it 10 years ago she said she’s actually really interested to play Sally (and it happened).

I think she is in fine form to do an amazing performance in The Visit or Dear World.

She is too old for Mame but could still pull it off. It would be more like Traci Bennet who played it successfully in the UK recently, even if it was a bit lower energy and slower vocally than Lansbury.

[uncageg]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 12:43pm

fashionguru_23 said: "Perhaps Bernadette can read the phone book or Yelp reviews. Either way, I will be there to enjoy a perfectly marvellous woman and performer."

And I will be right there with you!

 

[BWAY Baby2]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 12:52pm

I love Bernadette- would love to see her again in concert. She puts on an awesome show. If she really wants to work on BWAY- she will find a role or a role will find her. 

[Dollypop]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 1:37pm

How about a musical version of ARSENIC AND OLD LACE? Jerry Herman and I were working on one, retitled ELDERBERRY WINE. It was being written for Carol Channing, Angela Lansbury and Eric McCormack. Jerry lost interest in it but I saved all my notes.

It would be a great vehicle for Bernadette. Goldie Hawn and Charlie Stemp. (We had already agreed that Mortimer would be a dance critic in this version with frustrated ambitions of being a Broadway dancer. We planned a big second act dance number for the character)

[MadisonGuy]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 1:51pm

I would love to see her in Sweeney Todd. 

[patrickj88]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 7:03pm

Bernadette still has "lots of life" in her.. however, she is very particular with what work she does.

Bernadette has been given many opportunities over the years for new musicals and other works, but (and

rightly so) very particular of what she does at this point in her career. I'd love to see Bernadette go the

"Lansbury way" later in her career and focus more on stage plays instead of just musicals. Bernadette can

 be a hoot on stage (as we all know) and a really good comedy would be amazing for her

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 7:27pm

I’d actually love to see her as Gretta in a revival of “James Joyce’s The Dead”. It’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen and I’d so love to see it done again, especially with an actress like Bernadette. 

Updated On: 2/25/20 at 07:27 PM

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 9:04pm

How about following that Angela Lansbury line in the other direction. The Mayoress in a long-needed revival of Anyone Can Whistle?

 

[David10086]

Posted: 2/25/20 at 11:37pm

If they ever revive “ Allergist’s Wife” she would be great in that. But who could play her friend?

[broadwaybabywannabe2]

Posted: 2/26/20 at 9:03am

MarkBearSF said: "How about following that Angela Lansbury line in the other direction. The Mayoress in a long-needed revival of Anyone Can Whistle?

YES YES YES!!!...oh please Broadway Gods make this happen...