why is Max Bialystock considered the male Mama rose?

[broadway guy]

Posted: 8/15/12 at 2:44pm

Ive heard so many people say that and I cant really figure out why? I havent watched the show in a while but that just seems a little off for people to think that?I was going through the message board achives and saw people stating that, but they never really fully explained why they thought that.Sorry if this has been brought up before.Im just curious.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/15/12 at 2:46pm

I've never heard anyone say that. Who are you talking to? They sound like idiots.

Updated On: 8/15/12 at 02:46 PM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/15/12 at 2:46pm

Who says this? That Betrayed song is sort of an homage to Rose's Turn, but I've never heard the roles compared as analogous to each other.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/15/12 at 2:57pm

You've been talking to After Eight & Goth again, haven't you?

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 8/15/12 at 2:58pm

I hope not...

[followspot]

Posted: 8/15/12 at 3:04pm

Yes, aside from the "Rose's Turn" riff in "Betrayed" (which I suppose could indicate that Max identifies with Rose in his mind), I've never heard the comparison made.

(And it's Madame Rose. Mama Rose serves pizza on 10th and 49th.)

Updated On: 8/15/12 at 03:04 PM

[Wynbish]

Posted: 8/15/12 at 3:11pm

Max is not considered the male Madame/Mama Rose.

CASE CLOSED.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 8/15/12 at 3:17pm

Well, he sort of is.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/15/12 at 3:29pm

Besides the fact that only gay men play both of those roles I see no comparison whatsoever.

[broadway guy]

Posted: 8/15/12 at 3:29pm

THANK GOD im not the only one who thinks that is crazy! there was a thread a few years ago asking why there is no tour de force roles for men and than people commented characters such as sweeney todd,phantom, tevye as tour de force roles and than there were like 2 pages of people commenting on how Max is the new mama rose and its such an emotional and physically demanding part... i was so confused

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 8/15/12 at 3:29pm

The role of Max is a bruiser of a role. Vocally taxing, physically exhausting and requires an expertise in comic acting that few other roles do. So...are they analogous? Not completely...but because both roles are probably the hardest musical comedy roles of the respective sexes, I can see the comparison.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 8/15/12 at 3:35pm

I'd go so far as to say they're the same role, really.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/15/12 at 3:41pm

Did anyone mention Pseudolous? Because that role is a BITCH, though I'd argue Hysterium is equally as taxing.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 8/15/12 at 4:00pm

Here's the difference between Bialystock and Pseduolous/Sweeney/Harold Hill, etc. You have to work harder to make the show work. The writing is good. For the other characters, the writing is GREAT. And it's always easier to do great writing than good.

[Jon]

Posted: 8/15/12 at 4:07pm

The real male equivalent to Rose's Turn is Hubie's "All of My Life" in DO RE MI.

[followspot]

Posted: 8/15/12 at 4:31pm

"Is Max Bialystock considered the male Mama Rose" and "Is the role of Max Bailystock considered the male equivalent of Mama Rose in difficulty" are two different questions.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/15/12 at 4:46pm

"why is Max Bialystock considered the male Mama rose?" is a third!

[broadway guy]

Posted: 8/15/12 at 5:00pm

it never even really occured to me that max was a challenging role.When i think of a challenging male character i think of che in evita or javert in les mis.Max does sing alot in the show though...but i still dont think he even comes close to the demand of rose.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/15/12 at 5:34pm

"there was a thread a few years ago asking..."

Was there, really? A "few years ago"?

And yet you joined only last year.

What was your screen name when you saw the thread "a few years ago"?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/15/12 at 5:34pm

"there was a thread a few years ago asking..."

Was there, really? A "few years ago"?

And yet you joined only last year.

What was your screen name when you saw the thread "a few years ago"?

[sassylash3s]

Posted: 8/15/12 at 5:44pm

Those are silly questions to ask, considering that one doesn't need to register in order to read the boards, and the fact that the thread in question--from 2007--really exists.

https://cabaret.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.php?thread=942996&page=1

[broadway guy]

Posted: 8/15/12 at 6:31pm

BOOOM

[biggs bunny]

Posted: 8/16/12 at 1:37am

because only fat people can play it

[JeanGudio]

Posted: 8/16/12 at 5:29am

I do not think any male roles are like mama rose

[JasonM12480]

Posted: 8/16/12 at 6:55am

I don't think anyone is saying that Max Biaylstock is "the same thing" as Mama Rose - obviously both characters and shows are very, VERY different. I think the question is, as others have intelligenty pointed out, "What's the male tour de force of musical theater?" This is always going to be a very opinionated topic, and not everyone will agree.

All I can do is add my two cents, and as someone who has played Max Bialystock, and will be reprising the role again this fall for the second time - it IS a monster of a part; exhausting, physically demanding, requiring a high level of energy that never stops, and requires that an actor safely carry the comedic weight of a show on his shoulders for almost 3 hours a night. When I was asked to do it again this fall, initially my stomach sank and I thought "Oh god...really? Hope I survive!" But it is such a fun piece, and if you have a great supporting cast and ensemble, it's even better. No, there's no "Rose's Turn" ("Betryayed" is only comparable in that it's the 11 o'clock number), and I don't think Mel Brooks is in any danger of taking away the memory of the great music of "Gypsy." But is Max the "male Mama Rose?"

I'd say he's certainly up there with the Monsters of Musical Theater.