What was the problem with Peters as Momma Rose?

I didn't see "Gypsy" with her... can someone explain why many felt that she was awful? Thank you!

At "Gypsy" with LuPone Saturday night at intermission people were saying how Peters was a joke compared to Patti.

I thought Patti was phenomenal and plan on seeing her again soon!!!

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It depends on your perspective and when you saw her.

My argument is this. Every actress who played Rose got to try it out first away from New York. Merman had an out-of-town try out. Angela Lansbury did it in London and on national tour before New York. Tyne Daly was on the road for a year with Arthur Laurents whipping her into shape before New York. Patti LuPone had Ravinia and City Center.

Bernadette is the only one who had to learn how to sing it and act it before the meanest bitches in the world - New York audiences. Early previews, you could see the strain. It wasn't a performance yet. Then, she got sick after about three weeks of previews and missed some shows. Recovered, was in fine form for opening it, but then got sick again. All with Michael Riedel covering every step in caustic detail to the glee of the theatrical community.

It takes some time to figure out how to negotiate that role so that you have the lungs to sing it and act it 8 times a week. She got there, but it took a good six weeks or so. For someone who is not the type of loudmouth broad that usually gets to play that role, Bernadette ended up giving a thoughtful and well-sung performance. I think things might have gone differently had she had the chance to break in her Rose somewhere else before braving Broadway.

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smaxie, thanks for such a great analysis.

I never saw her in an actual performance as Rose, but when I saw her performance on the Tony Awards I was seriously doubting Marisa Jaret Winokur's chances of winning. She is a brilliant interpreter of song and she just wasn't given her fair shot at playing the role. She wasn't bad, she didn't get the preparation that the other Rose's got.

And well said Smaxie!

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I only have the cast recording to go by for Peters performance, but based on that -- and only that -- she ranks only just above Daly in terms of being able to deliver the score. Not as an actress mind you, as a singer. The songs, even though she is very carefully negotiating them, are clearly taxing for her. Not surprising, considering who they were created for.

Well, I wholeheartedly disagree with the idea that Bernadette had warmth. I didnt see it in her performance. The only Rose I've seen with less (professionally) was Buckley at Papermill. The most important thing in portraying Rose is that you MUST buy into the fact that Herbie, Louise and even June love her. We dont have to love her since we can see what she's doing to each of them, but there must be a reason for them all to stay and put up with her. Otherwise the journey we go on is not satisfying. Her relationship with Herbie is pivotal since the girls have to be with Rose, but Herbie is choosing to stick around.
This is where LuPone and Daly truly delivered, for me, and Peters fell a bit short, and Buckley failed. I believe that Gaines and LuPone are in love and that Larkin and Benanti adore their mother, in spite of herself. Daly did that as well, beautifully, but she didnt sing the part very well...but LuPone has both. I dont understand how anyone cant see her love for her children, and the sparks with Herbie.

Peters seemed afraid of the role to me...she seemed to be on a marathon counting the mile markers. Her Rose's Turn felt like she could finally see the finish line and finally let go...but even the final scene where she lets her guard down and admits she did it for herself and that she simply wasnt good enough didnt have the impact of Daly and LuPone.

I expect, and have heard, that Lansbury was the best Rose, and that is the #1 performance I'd have liked to have seen...I bet she was stunning.

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It's funny, Doodle, of the Roses I've seen (Daly, Lavin, Buckley, Peters, Lupone), Peters was the first time I thought Rose could be Dainty June's mother. It's the first time I could see why Herbie would want to stick around. I thought Peters was the warmest of the Roses I've seen and the moments of crazy came out of her like she couldn't help it.

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I did see Lansbury -- twice -- and she was brilliant.

Peters was a revelation in the role IMO. It seems like many people here seemed to like her. I saw her later in the run and I think she was at home when I saw her perform. I think she was the most petite and sexiest Momma Rose who was experiencing a parallel process with her daughter, Gypsy. Both were in a way using themselves as a tool to get what they wanted. Peters was brassy, but never in an over the top "drag queen" way. She acted the part very well. She broke my heart.

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I don't think there is ever going to be agreement on a definitive Rose because a) not all of us have seen every actress to try the role and b) every actress is going to bring something new to it.

Is there a definitive Hamlet? King Lear? Willie Loman? Blanche DuBois? Amanda Wingfield? Dolly Levi? There will always be the creator, of course. But past that .....

I saw Peters as Rose and I totally loved her performance. I remember leaving the theatre wanting to attend the evening performance that day. However, I have no desire to see the show at the moment with Patti in it. I may catch it around the summer if I have time.

Bernadette Peters was incredible as Rose - and Stephen Sondheim went on record to say he thought she was the best ever. Her Rose was multi-dimensional - showing not only her strength but also a certain vulnerability that made the character more sympathetic and believable. I have booked to see Patti Lupone in May but she is going to have to be seriously awesome to overtake the memories I have of Bernadette's performance.

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She can't act. She always looks out of place and the costumes and wigs don't help