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.
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.)
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
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.
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.
"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.
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.
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.
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.
