Your favorite Momma Rose...

I'm in a very GYPSY mood today and thought I'd ask around. I'm sure this has been discussed before but I felt like asking.

Which is your favorite Momma Rose?

1)Ethel Merman
2)Angela Lansbury
3)Tyne Daly
4)Linda Lavin
5)Rosalind Russell
6)Bette Midler
7)Bernadette Peters

Post away!

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who i've seen? Peters.

based on recordings? Lansbury by a landslide!!

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My three favourite Momma Roses...Bernadette, Bernadette, Bernadette...

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Ethel, Bette and Linda in that order.

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I just watched the original movie. And I think Roz was amazing, even though she got some vocal help, you can tell when she is doing her own singing, and "Rose's Turn" was mostly her.

I thought Natalie Wood was sooooo fantastic. It's so refreshing to finally hear her sing. The woman could definitely sing - Maria might've been out of her range - but she did damn good with Louise.

*Is in deep regret he missed the revival with Bernadette*

But knowing Gypsy - I'm sure it will be back on Broadway in the next decade - this show never stays away too long.

Okay, chita - here I am.

That's hard - every actress has different take. I will stick to the ones I've seen. Tyne was a bulldozer, fantastic, although her singing was just not there. She acted her way through the songs and it worked onstage.

I loved Bernadette - I didn't expect to, but she was actually, to me, a more dimensional Rose than Daly. I really was impressed with her.

Lavin - couldn't stand her. Like a yippy little dog.

Midler - she was fine. No strong feelings either way.

One of the best Roses belongs to Jana Robbins, who played Mazeppa and u/s Rose for Daly and Lavin. I saw her go on many, many times.

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Updated On: 7/15/05 at 06:06 PM

ugh....how can you pass up Lansbury in favor of Merman?!?! I know, I may be the antichrist for saying that but GAH....just listen to Lansbury's Rose's Turn....the woman is AMAZING...sure, it may be a little odd to hear the British accent, and sure they lowered the keys, but EVEN SO!!!

i'm not terribly passionate about much, but i AM passionate about La Lansbury's Rose.

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On stage: Daly

On CD: Merman

Definitely Merm!

Merm!

Peters

ETHEL MERMAN -

for a number or reasons:

1. She brings the most intesnse anger to the role of any of the ladies

2. The role was written for her and the songs tailored to her unique voice

3. Lansbury acted the hell out of it. Sondheim said in a recent interview that Ethel was better in the low comedy of the first act but Angela got the most out of the darker second act and the staging helped her make Rose's bows after "Rose's Turn" the fantasy in her head. BUT ... Angela's voice doesn't have the range or the belt of Merman and on the CD I hear her straining for some of the notes.

4. Daly was fantastic in the role and deserved her Tony (though her speech was a bit much!) But she is not in great voice on the recording.

5. Midler is too busy being Bette Midler to rally bring Rose to life.

6. Russell can't sing it and makes her Rose into Auntie Mame's cousin. Still the movie isn't as bad as some people caliam and Natalie Wood makes a plausible Gypsy.

7. Peters, like Lansbury, has a smaller voice but she also acted the hell out of it. Her "Rose's Turn" thankfully shown almost complete on the 2003 Tonys was brilliant. (her understudy was even better in the role, but lacked the requisite Box Office appeal.)

Ethel Merman's "belt" bothers some people but I can't think of any role where it is more appropriate. What a concept: Cast Miss Merman (a loud pushy dame) as Rose (A loud pushy dame!)

You want a test of the role: Listen to the spoken line in "Some People" ("Then I'll get it someplace else. But I'll get it! And get my kids OUT!!") Listen to Merman's reading of the line and compare with all the other versions and you'll see what I mean.

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From the recordings and Rose's that Ive seen:

1)Bernadette Peters
2)Angela Lansbury
3)Bette Midler
4)Rosalind Russell
5)Ethel Merman
6)Tyne Daly

Sorry, never heard or saw Lavin in the role.