Salome and Gypsy

[Rod Hagen]

Was anybody else hurt by this weekend's two disappointments, namely, Pacino bowing out of the Q&A Monday evening after their reading of "Salome" (an opening of his new movie is a flimsy excuse, where does a film open on a Monday night?) and Bernadette Peters' (wrong for the part anyway) cold getting in the way of "Gypsy"?

[+ Cock Eyed Optimist]

Rod,

I hadn't heard anything about B. Peters and Gypsy until your post. Did they postpone the opening night? I was wanting to see the reviews. I have tickets in June. I agree she won't make the best Mama Rose, but I would go see her in anything!

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

Out comes the 'musical theatre gay gene' in me...

 

I actually think Peters could stretch and play MR if she could only get away from that cutie-pie act that she's shelled out for so long. Her performance in AGYG was truly horrible due to her inability to do so (well, that and then add a horrendous southern drawl which was barely understood by the audience).

 

I once remember watching one of her concerts live while she was performing Sondhiem's 'Sooner or Later' and thinking Madonna did it more justice on the Dick Tracy soundtrack. Why? Because Peters just spent the entire song coo'ing and pissing her way through it, making it just plain boring. It wasn't sexy at all. It was like watching a 12yo girl putting on her mother's pearls, lipstick and hat then trying to be a real 'woman.'

 

I was lucky enough to see the amazing Tyne Daly as MR on a pervious tour of this show. For what she lacked in vocal power, she made up with it in immense character and the creation of a whole (and believable) person. Her three-dimensional portrayal of Momma was what sold it for me. She didn't have to rely on her star-power to sell her character.

 

 

 

That being said, i'm not a Bernadette Peters hater by any means. Into the Woods & Song/Dance were amazing pieces for her, as she was able to be the big ol' ham that she always has been. Broad, schtick-driven characters work well for her. With Sam Mendes directing this new interp of Gypsy, i can't fathom her fitting in too easily. I suppose only time will tell...

 

 

 

Warmest Always,

 

 

 

 

Benjamin (Brantley) Nicholas

[Rod Hagen]

I saw Gypsy this weekend, she's not right for the part. To make matters worse she was suffering a horrible cold.

 

Pacino, Wiest, and Tomay under Estelle parsons direction (guidance) in the reading of Salome, now that was something special, as was the Q&A afterward, I just wish Pacino had stuck around for that QA time.

-Hagen

[Guest alanm]

Vote for Peters (and Merman)

 

I also saw "Gypsy" this weekend & was impressed by Peters' performance despite the bad cold. A lesser performer would not have gone on Saturday afternoon. She has been out of the musical since Saturday. Peters used very few of her cute mannerisms. I thought she was particularly effective singing "Rose's Turn" despite the vocal problems.

 

I saw the original production with Ethel Merman when I was sixteen; it was a truly great performance in a role than was written specifically for her. Either Tyne Daly had a bad night when I saw her version or the memories of Merman were still fresh, but I totally disagree on her performance. Daly can act, but her singing is average at best. The supporting cast was not even close to the Peters and Merman versions. To be fair, I saw Daly in a half filled theatre near the end of the run. But, I doubt if Merman ever played to half filled theatre, so that says something as well.

 

To some degree Pacino has become the non-musical theatre's version of Mandy Patinkin. I liked his over the top performance in "The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui" last fall, but will pass up "Salome." One Pacino theatre experience a year is enough for me.

[Rod Hagen]

RE: Vote for Peters (and Merman)

 

>The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui" last fall,

>but will pass up "Salome." One Pacino theatre experience a

>year is enough for me.

 

I saw "Resistible" as well, and will tell you that Pacino's performance in Salome is quite reminiscent-his tone of voice, and to some degree his mannerisms, are similar and I'm sure the critics will point that out after previews-and yet different and certainly worth seeing in addition to "Resist".

 

 

-Hagen

[Donnie]

>For what she lacked in vocal

>power, she made up with it in immense character and the

>creation of a whole (and believable) person.

 

That took a lot of gaul, huh?

[uwsider]

I'm weighing in on this with first admitting that I haven't seen Bernadette Peters performance in Gypsy. I somehow believe that with the right director to pull it out of her, that she might be completely capable of playing "Mama Rose." However, I recognize the inherent obstacles for her. As someone else reported, I have seen her be devastating when performing Sondheim. I'm sure she has all of the emotional component necessary to assay the role. however, it involves a real risk for her, AND the courage to exhibit an unlikable side -- as far as I know she's never played a really "unlikable" character. I'm reserving judgment, but I truly hope that someone can get through to her and facilitate her in getting through to the performance that I'm sure she's capable of. The only actress that I saw perform the role onstage was Angela Lansbury -- needless to say --she was extraordinary -- but WHEN has she not been?

[Guest Dan]

I spoke to a client this a.m and he said that Peters was good in the first act, but didn't sell it in the second. Particularly Rose's Turn. I am not suprised. I just don't see her doing it. I too saw Angela Lansbury do it when I was a mere babe. (I think I was brought to the theatre in a basket.) I remember even now how great she was.

 

I'm hoping to see Pacino when I'm there. I'd hardly say that his missing out on a Q&A is a case for whining. At least not from you Rod. I give you more credit then (than?) that! Pacino's one of my favorite actors, but I wasn't too crazy about him in Hughie a few years ago here in L.A. at the Mark Taper Forum. That probalby had more to do with his choosing that play to make his L.A. stage debut. I though his performance in Insomnia last year ranked among his best.

 

Dan Dare

http://meetlocalmen.com/mlm/dandarela.html

[Guest tcd31]

>I spoke to a client this a.m and he said that Peters was good

>in the first act, but didn't sell it in the second.

>Particularly Rose's Turn.

 

Since I'm that client, I will elaborate on what I told Dan, for the benefit of any show queens in the audience.

 

My best friend has been working on this production and took me to the third public preview; through him I've been hearing a lot about what's going on backstage too. I was looking forward to this, since it may be the best American musical ever, and I have always enjoyed watching the movie and the Angela Lansbury and Tyne Daly revivals (I am too young to have seen Ethel Merman.)

 

I'm not sure whether Peters was "good" in the first act, but at the intermission I was thinking: she's doing something very interesting in that she's not playing Mama Rose as a monster. She's playing a woman who's desperate to do the right thing to make her daughter a star but doesn't know what that is and is making it up--improvising--as it comes along.

 

The second act, when this doesn't pay off at all, proved that my idea was wishful, generous thinking. She sings fine, but in terms of getting a grip on Mama Rose and presenting a coherent characterization, she's in way over her head.

 

She hasn't been helped by her director, Sam Mendes (here's my backstage gossip), who since previews started has been tinkering with the sets, the costumes, and some of the staging, but not trying to coax a performance out of his leading lady.

 

As for Bernadette's cold, mentioned earlier in the chain, she missed 4 performances (Monday-Wed. of this past week). Her understudy was wonderful. My friend's boss said to him, who was not very familiar with the show before accepting the assignment, said "THIS is what it's supposed to be like!" In the production meeting following that performance, Mendes said "First things first. Maureen was brilliant tonight," and then moved on to discuss problems with light cues, etc.

 

If anyone likes the show, you should still go--Tammy Blanchard is the best Louise I've ever seen--but expect to read the words "woefully miscast" in all the reviews next week.

[Guest DaddyIsACunt]

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