then maybe Bern, Midler, Tricia Williams, the woman who played it in my production that i directed a few years ago, Merman, Daly...Russell & Buckley are LOOOOOOOOOW on my list.
"I'll eat some breakfast then change the world."
"I hate you, and I hate your ass face!"
"For me, THEATRE is an anticipation, an artistic rush, an emotional banquet, a jubilant appreciation, and an exit hopeful of clearer thought and better worlds."
~ an anonymous traveler with Robert Burns
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.
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.
Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson
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.
"I'll eat some breakfast then change the world."
"I hate you, and I hate your ass face!"
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird
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.
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks." Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com