Now, after her triumphant revival of Hello Dolly, what remains available for the wonderful Bernadette Peters to do? Unless someone writes a new musical that has a matrure woman in the cast she can follow the Angela Landsbury route by doing Mrs.Lovett in Sweeney Todd, perhaps a revival of Dear World, play Granny in Pippin, Madame Hortance in Zorba, lastly Desiree's mother in Little Night Music. Her Ethel Merman repertoire has dried up and too old for Mame. Next is the one woman concert in lounges and hotels.
EdEval said: "Unless someone writes a new musical that has a matrure [sic] woman in the cast she can follow the Angela Landsbury route "
The "Angela Landsbury route" also includes a 12 season run of Murder, She Wrote. Ms Peters also works in TV and films. Who knows what great opportunities lie ahead for her? Will you be disappointed by her next success?
At some point, there are some great featured roles, e.g., Fanny Cavendish in The Royal Family (whatever happened to the musical version of that???). Frau Schneider in Cabaret (who says she has to be a frump?). Matron Mama Morton in Chicago...bet that would bring the grosses up (I have wondered whether Chicago should at some point bring in some real names for a six month engagement...the value of the publicity would last longer than the length of the engagement and remind people who haven't seen it in 15 years that it is still opened).
I would love a revival of Over Here with her and Patti Lupone in the lead roles, perhaps at the Roundabout. Neither role is actually very large, and they don't have more than a few songs each, so the physical demands would not be the same as carrying a musical. Imagine the excitement about that one.
I have not seen a revival of Hay Fever in 30 years (last time I saw it, it was Rosemary Harris 40ish years ago). Given how young BP looks, I wonder whether she could play Judith Bliss. Re Lansbury roles, how about the next revival of Blithe Spirit, in a decade or so.
EdEval said: "Now, after her triumphant revival of Hello Dolly, what remains available for the wonderful Bernadette Peters to do? Unless someone writes a new musicalthat has a matrure woman in the cast she can follow the Angela Landsbury route by doing Mrs.Lovett in Sweeney Todd, perhaps a revival of Dear World, play Granny in Pippin, Madame Hortance in Zorba, lastly Desiree's mother in Little Night Music. Her Ethel Merman repertoire has dried up and too old for Mame. Next is the one woman concert in lounges and hotels."
Why such a bitchy post? I'd be very surprised if at this stage in her life she wants to develop a brand new musical -- but who knows? Also, were you not aware that she regularly does concert tours with large symphony orchestras --- she's not quite been reduced to playing the lounge at the local HoJos. She also regularly does TV work (The Good Fight, Katy Keene, Mozart in the Jungle, etc.). Finally, when you say her "Ethel Merman repertoire", which Merman shows has she done besides GYPSY?
Dolly is also a role that Merman played to great success, but it was hardly a Merman’s role despite being written for her. I actually wish Bernadette had dipped into the Merman pond more. She would have been a fabulous Reno Sweeney.
Anyway, I know I’m not alone in having long wished to see Bernadette take on Lovett. I doubt it’ll happen, though. I’m sure if she’d been interested, she could have done one of the thousands of concerts or revivals over the years.
Maybe there’s a role for Bernadette in Sondheim’s new piece. And whatever happened to that revival of I Do! I Do! that she and Martin Short were attached to? Have they aged out of those roles?
I’d love to see Bernadette do a play or two. She’s a fascinating and versatile actress who is great at both comedy and drama.
I’ve been waiting for 10 years but sadly I think beyond a Sweeney concert, which have been done to death basically everywhere in the world, there is no opportunity or suitable outlet. However, I do agree if she really wanted to she would have done it. She could have done it off-Broadway even. If she went knocking. When asked about it she has expressed interest but not desperate interest. Indeed, when asked about it 10 years ago she said she’s actually really interested to play Sally (and it happened).
I think she is in fine form to do an amazing performance in The Visit or Dear World.
She is too old for Mame but could still pull it off. It would be more like Traci Bennet who played it successfully in the UK recently, even if it was a bit lower energy and slower vocally than Lansbury.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
fashionguru_23 said: "Perhaps Bernadette can read the phone book or Yelp reviews. Either way, I will be there to enjoy a perfectly marvellous woman and performer."
I love Bernadette- would love to see her again in concert. She puts on an awesome show. If she really wants to work on BWAY- she will find a role or a role will find her.
How about a musical version of ARSENIC AND OLD LACE? Jerry Herman and I were working on one, retitled ELDERBERRY WINE. It was being written for Carol Channing, Angela Lansbury and Eric McCormack. Jerry lost interest in it but I saved all my notes.
It would be a great vehicle for Bernadette. Goldie Hawn and Charlie Stemp. (We had already agreed that Mortimer would be a dance critic in this version with frustrated ambitions of being a Broadway dancer. We planned a big second act dance number for the character)
I’d actually love to see her as Gretta in a revival of “James Joyce’s The Dead”. It’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen and I’d so love to see it done again, especially with an actress like Bernadette.