What was the problem with Peters as Momma Rose? — Page 2

She can't act.

Pathetic statement.

---

I agree it's stupid to say Bernadette can't act. But it's no secret that her voice wasn't up to par with the score. Same with Tyne Daly. Bernadette atleast made the score listenable. But I absolutely believe that Patti is the first Broadway Rose to sing the score in the style of Merman.

Updated On: 3/11/08 at 12:57 PM

Well, so far, every woman who sang Gypsy on Broadway came to some grief at some point with singing it 8 times a week. Merman burst a blood vessel, missed a few shows, and the keys were lowered upon her return. I've seen some postings on the net from people who saw Lansbury in tattered voice, but still managing to pull it off. Daly of course, is in famously bad shape on the cast recording. Even old ironsides, Betty Buckley, missed a week's worth of shows at Paper Mill. Peters, as I mentioned earlier, had two blow outs, one prior to opening and then immediately after, but then settled in and really had no incidents of losing her voice for the rest of the run of more than 400 performances.

So far so good with Patti, but if it happens to her, there's certainly a history of that role being a vocally taxing workout for the best of the best.

---

I saw Tyne. I saw Bernadette. I'll take Bernadette. She was likable.

I agree 100% with smaxie.

I am not a huge fan of Bernadette but Gypsy made me a bigger one than I was. She was definitely having vocal troubles and definitely navigating her way through the songs.

Didn't care for her Witch or her Annie Oakley, but I liked her Rose - quite a bit. Maybe it was because I did not have high expectations. I am sure that helped.

Never saw her live, but I have seen her in the role by other means. Everyone who likes her in the role has pretty much described my feelings about her brilliant performance. I will add though, that the line "she would have made a hell of a stripper" (or however the line goes) truly resonated with her in the role, and created a sort of haunting connection to the beginning of "Rose's Turn" when she goes "I was born too soon and I started too late." Hers is my GYPSY cast recording of choice, not the best sung, but in my mind, the best acted.

---

I saw Bernadette's performance towards the end of the run. Unfortunately I was too distracted (and freaked out) by a mouse that kept running up and down the aisle and in my row. I saw the Tyne Daly revival 9x, saw Jana Robbins (understudy and her first night as Rose) and Linda Lavin (don't even get me started). I wish I remember something of Bernadette's performance, but I don't. I just remember not really liking that particular production. I actually remember more from Jana Robbins and Linda Lavin.

---

But, munkustrap, what would we do on BWW if we didn't beat dead horses?

---

Every woman who has played Rose on Broadway was brilliant in the role, except for one, and to quote Dottie "don't even get me started" on her.

---

I've seen the show with five different Roses. The first time was in stock with Ann Sothern (my favorite), then Lansbury, JoAnne Worley (least favorite), Daly and twice with Peters. Peters was wonderful as Rose. Each actress brought their own interpretation to the role. Both times I saw Peters(which was near the end of the run) her voice was in fine form which was not necessarily the case with Tyne Daly. I too feel Peters was unjustly treated by that geek from the N.Y. Post. And yes I saw the original cast of "Hairspray" and how Peters lost the Tony Award to Winokur is beyond me.

This points up why this show is revived so frequently: there is no single correct way to play teh charactera nd teh variety of interpretations is never less than fascinating.

Somone in another thread complained that it was too soon for another Broadway revival. Classic shows like GYPSY should be in active repretoire and brought back every few seasons to reach new audiences. Much in the same way the classic operas are brought back time and again by teh Met and NYCO. (I never hear anyone complaing that it's too soon to see CARMEN staged again.)

---

I'm sorry, Wanna Be A Foster and everyone else *blushes* *smiles* The KSO is the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra

And have I mentioned how much I love Bernie and her Rose and her Witch and everything about her *lol*

---

SMAXIE thank you SO much for your thoughts on Bernadette's Rose. VERY INSIGHTFUL!

We came over to see the show for the first preview and then again towards the end of the run and the difference was remarkable. She really developed in the role and as so many others have said she brought a depth of humanity which can be so easily missing. Bernadette does have a huge amount of personal warmth and she took you through a journey with Rose which was ultimately incredibly moving. Vocally she did not disappoint for one moment.

We saw Patti last week and she is incredible but the experience is very different. It is extremely powerful and enjoyable but not nearly so emotional. I didn't feel at the end that she was having a breakdown whereas with Bernadette we had the breakdown with her. I was a wreck after the second time we went to the show and we were visiting Bernadette after and I was still crying backstage!!

Biggest let down for Bernadette was the very poor sets but God knows they looked a $1m next to Patti's high school production!

NB We love Patti and Bernadette!

---