Merman Closing Night 'Rose's Turn'

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/13/16 at 10:12pm

 

Talk about your final performances...

Compared to all of the recent Roses, Merman seems uncharacteristically subtle. 

(AUDIO ONLY)

 

[Owen22]

Posted: 7/13/16 at 10:16pm

Yeah, but listen to that orchestra....

[morosco]

Posted: 7/13/16 at 10:54pm

I wonder if this was recorded from the pit perhaps by a musician? The orchestra is very loud and Merm sounds so ...un-Merm in terms of volume.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/13/16 at 10:58pm

I believe I heard a long time ago that this was recorded from backstage or the wings, which would account for the sound.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/13/16 at 10:58pm

I believe I heard a long time ago that this was recorded from backstage or the wings, which would account for the sound.

[sng]

Posted: 7/13/16 at 11:32pm

am I that nerdy for kinda tearing up when the orchestra kicks in? Gypsy's score remains the absolute BEST

[lovebwy]

Posted: 7/14/16 at 1:44am

I'll tell you what I love- how the tempo SLOWS for her final three "Everything's coming up Roses"- they've never done that in any production that I ever heard and it works beautifully. You can hear people cheering after the first one.

[Theater_Nerd]

Posted: 7/14/16 at 9:27am

Wow! How amazing was that! 

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 7/14/16 at 3:28pm

Just goes to show Merman was NOT the perpetual steam roller she is made out to be (mostly by people who didn't actually see her in her heyday I might add).

The orchestra overall seems a lot more dynamic than later versions or even on the OBC.

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 7/14/16 at 3:31pm

I love that all Merman had to do was perform the song. Without some of the histrionics or indulgences we've come to see with this show. That's the definition of a star and it's most thrilling.

[lovebwy]

Posted: 7/14/16 at 4:18pm

QueenAlice said: "I love that all Merman had to do was perform the song. Without some of the histrionics or indulgences we've come to see with this show. That's the definition of a star and it's most thrilling."

This is why I always say that Merman is the end-all-be-all when it comes to Rose. Every actress how has followed her in any major revival always tries to play the psychology of the character. Merman just played it AS WRITTEN, and she was right to. She told Gypsy Rose Lee on her talk show that she thought Rose was a great lady and a loving mother! THAT is why Merman is the best! That is how she played it!

BTW, I did adore LuPone in it, but I think Ethel is the ultimate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqCgnX0s0M8
 

 

 

 

Updated On: 7/14/16 at 04:18 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/14/16 at 4:27pm

 

And here's some silent footage.

 

 

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/14/16 at 4:30pm

And a presidential-tribute performance of "Everything's Coming Up Roses" live at JFK's inaugural celebration:

 

 

 

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/14/16 at 4:39pm

 

And a "Some People" with the little-sung (if ever) introductory chorus:

 

 

[lovebwy]

Posted: 7/14/16 at 4:53pm

This has been lamented many times before here and elsewhere but it's unbelievable to me that in what must have been well over 1000 performances (including the tour she did) no one ever thought to aim a camera and film Merman doing Rose.

Obviously, in those days, it was much easier said than done. But I also think it shows a lack of foresight on the part of everyone.

All I can do is imagine her performance as Rose. Thankfully there ARE these few great clips of her doing the numbers outside the show, and that fantastic, precious silent footage. Thanks for posting, PalJoey!!

 

 

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 7/14/16 at 5:03pm

PalJoey said: "And a "Some People" with the little-sung (if ever) introductory chorus:"

Aside from the part where she liberally quotes "People" from Funny Girl, there are actually some really great elements in this performance that you don't hear in most other versions of "Some People." A more adventurous revival should incorporate them.

Updated On: 7/14/16 at 05:03 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/14/16 at 5:20pm

 

I always cringe when she adds in the "People" borrowing, but would Steve really allow that verse to be sung in a revival? (It doesn't really fit the scene with Rose's father...)

 

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 7/15/16 at 9:56am

My conceit would be that, to some extent, she is always performing for the audience in her head (to whom she addresses the introductory verse, as a "Get a load of my dumb dad" aside to people who aren't there), and everyone in her life has just had to get used to it. Finally, even her audience abandons her with "Rose's Turn" (i.e., when she snaps back to reality), but maybe Louise won't.

Updated On: 7/15/16 at 09:56 AM

[ComingUpRoses2]

Posted: 7/15/16 at 1:43pm

g.d.e.l.g.i. said: "My conceit would be that, to some extent, she is always performing for the audience in her head (to whom she addresses the introductory verse, as a "Get a load of my dumb dad" aside to people who aren't there), and everyone in her life has just had to get used to it. Finally, even her audience abandons her with "Rose's Turn" (i.e., when she snaps back to reality), but maybe Louise won't.

 

"

Maybe Streisand's listening. That'd be a good idea for her movie version.

[ChairinMain]

Posted: 7/15/16 at 2:11pm

I don't think the extra lyrics in this performance are by Sondheim. In his book Finishing the Hat, he discusses how when he decided to write an opening verse: "Jule and I duly wrote [an opening verse],... which I can no longer remember or find. In it Rose told papa to go to hell, But Ethel refused to sing it because, she claimed, her fans would never forgive her for cursing her father. And they're the cue to the song sits. Rose didn't care what people thought of her, Merman did."

[Peter2]

Posted: 7/15/16 at 2:22pm

PalJoey said: "And a "Some People" with the little-sung (if ever) introductory chorus:"

 

Interesting! I guess the changes must have been made to make the song more upbeat and less abrasive for concert performance. The verse can't be the one Sondheim wrote, because he says it included a lyric where Rose tells Poppa to "go to hell" (and how I'd love to hear that!). Does anybody know who made these changes and additions? Have others recorded the song this way?

 

[Broadwayhunk]

Posted: 7/15/16 at 3:54pm

Those old time guest star medleys were sure great.  I miss them.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 7/15/16 at 6:18pm

lovebwy said: "QueenAlice said: "I love that all Merman had to do was perform the song. Without some of the histrionics or indulgences we've come to see with this show. That's the definition of a star and it's most thrilling."

This is why I always say that Merman is the end-all-be-all when it comes to Rose. Every actress how has followed her in any major revival always tries to play the psychology of the character. Merman just played it AS WRITTEN, and she was right to. She told Gypsy Rose Lee on her talk show that she thought Rose was a great lady and a loving mother! THAT is why Merman is the best! That is how she played it!

BTW, I did adore LuPone in it, but I think Ethel is the ultimate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqCgnX0s0M8
 

 

 

 

 

"

I agree with your praise of Merman, but I promise you Angela Lansbury didn't play the part as Hamlet.

[ComingUpRoses2]

Posted: 7/15/16 at 9:02pm

I, too, think Merman was so successful in the role, because she trusted the creative team for the most part and they tailored the part just for her. Instead of playing "Everything's Coming Up Roses" as a gasp of frenzied desperation like almost everyone else after her, she just planted her feet down and sang it as if it was the most upbeat song ever written and let Louise and Herbie look horrified. That's far more chilling to me, because it makes it appear as if Rose really has no idea what damage she's causing to those around her. There was the genius (maybe even accidental genius) to her Rose. Her Rose truly never felt like she was in the wrong. When she asks "Herbie, why does everyone always walk out?" she really wanted to know. When she sang "why did I do it?" she was really asking. I love that about it. 

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/16/16 at 2:19pm

And another Merman closing night (audio only): "Before the Parade Passes By" from the closing night of Hello, Dolly.