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| Author | Topic: Wikipedia |
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Karen
Registered User
Registered:
5/3/2002 | posted: 7/2/2006 at 11:53:18 PM ET
Since we were recently talking in a different thread about Wikipedia and some of its quirks/flaws, I happened to go there just now and reread Bernadette's entry. Someone has been busy editing it. There's a sentence that's been there for a while--only it's now been changed.
Old version: "She is frequently named one of the greatest current living musical theater divas alongside Betty Buckley, Patti LuPone, and Elaine Paige."
New version: exactly the same except Elaine Paige has been replaced by Karen Ziemba. Karen Ziemba? No offense to her and her fans, but really now! All I can imagine is that it's either the work of a relative or a very crazed fan, or possibly someone's idea of a joke.
Like I said, no offense intended--I just thought it was amusing.
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 Jean
Registered User
Registered:
6/7/2003 | posted: 7/3/2006 at 6:26:03 AM ET
Oh that's too funny. I added the paragraph about her concerts, but I swear I didn't do the Ziemba change! I also made a few other minor changes, which you can see in the history--
If I changed that paragraph, I would probably remove the Buckley reference (no offense) and add oh, Merman, Martin, someone like that. But then I thought the entire point of the old paragraph was to mention the Sunset Boulevard connection. At least the person who made the edit added the word "current" so I guess it's not that bad (gah!).
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Karen
Registered User
Registered:
5/3/2002 | posted: 7/3/2006 at 8:53:18 AM ET
Oh, that's right. The original point was that Bernadette was the only one mentioned who hadn't played Norma Desmond. Now it's just pointless and, with the inclusion of Ziemba, silly.
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Karen
Registered User
Registered:
5/3/2002 | posted: 7/3/2006 at 6:51:53 PM ET
LOL! Now it says Angela Lansbury and Mary Martin--only it still says "current living."
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 Sister Rose
Registered User
Registered:
5/4/2004
From:
NYC | posted: 7/3/2006 at 11:45:08 PM ET
Snicker snicker.
http://sarahbsadventures.blogspot.com/
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Jean
Registered User
Registered:
6/7/2003 | posted: 7/4/2006 at 6:51:21 AM ET
I changed the diva paragraph just a bit, to add "the late" Mary Martin. (If anyone reading this made the original change, I hope that's ok, no offense meant. )
My ISP is 69.243.81.191 so you can tell what I've done, I haven't created an account and I think I'm finished now.
(Even I just said "yeah, right"!)
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Scottie
Registered User
Registered:
3/6/2006
From:
Edinburgh, Scotland | posted: 7/4/2006 at 6:55:04 AM ET
There was some talk of Bernadette's true height in another thread but it sort of ties in with what I wanted to say about this Wikipedia subject. Elaine Paige, who was one of the most famous Norma Desmonds in the ALW musical, is only about 4'11". It constantly amazes me how these little women get to have such big voices! Another great Norma Desmond on stage was the pint-sized Petula Clark. Pet has a surprisingly huge theatre voice and was wonderful in the role of Norma and proved herself to be one of the better actresses to have taken on the role. Judy Garland was only 4'10" I believe as was Edith Piaf. So Bernadette is in great company. Little lady = big voice.
as Bernadette says....just keep moving on.....
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Scottie
Registered User
Registered:
3/6/2006
From:
Edinburgh, Scotland | posted: 7/4/2006 at 7:50:19 AM ET
Just re-reading what I said in the post above ... it looks like I'm suggesting that Bernadette is only 4' something, and that's not what I meant at all. 
At 5'2" Bernadette positively towers over Elaine Paige (in every sense of the word!)
as Bernadette says....just keep moving on.....
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 Mandy
Registered User
Registered:
8/14/2003 | posted: 7/4/2006 at 8:39:39 AM ET
This thread just proves the fact that Wikipedia should not be considered a highly reliable source of information. While I love to use it, I use it for pure entertainment value and nothing more. It is beyond peppered with inaccuracies (not just the BP entry) because anyone who has computer access can go in and change information that may or may not be correct. In particular, subjective opinions that may appear as fact to some, can be altered to fit anyone's point of view on any given day.
Don't get me wrong, I love the site for the shell of information I can often gather about things/people etc, but I take everything I read with a grain of salt. I know the majority of people, at least on this board, understand that about Wikipedia as well. It worries me though that there are some out there in cyberspace that may take whatever is written in Wikipedia as gospel. Yikes!
Getting off my soapbox now. Feeling rather punchy today!
"Let's admit one thing right upfront: With the possible exception of Bernadette Peters, not everyone stays young and cute forever." (NYPost 2/2/05)
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Sister Rose
Registered User
Registered:
5/4/2004
From:
NYC | posted: 7/4/2006 at 9:19:34 AM ET
Wikipedia is a good start for fun information and then you should be encouraged to do further information. Usually there are links to other sites and informations, so that's a good thing.
Scottie - great point about "little lady = big voice". Another one is Patti LuPone - I'm not sure of her height, but she couldn't over 5'2" either. I'm just over 5'1" and I rarely wear anything but flat shoes...and w/ heels, BP and PL don't tower over me. I'm always astonished when I meet stage performers. Some of them seem so big on stage and then so tiny in person. It's part of the larger than life thing.
http://sarahbsadventures.blogspot.com/
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Karen
Registered User
Registered:
5/3/2002 | posted: 7/4/2006 at 10:08:15 AM ET
Short, yes, celebrities usually are. But I've never met one who didn't have a gigantic head. It seems to be a necessity. I guess you don't look good on stage or screen without one. [I'm speaking from the point of view of an envious pinhead  ]
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Sister Rose
Registered User
Registered:
5/4/2004
From:
NYC | posted: 7/4/2006 at 10:48:29 AM ET
So true about the head and facial features. Renee Fleming, the opera singer, said that one of her teachers told her that she'd be good on the opera stage because her face was so huge that the audience would be able to see her. Both Patti LuPone and Kristin Chenoweth have big mouths and Bernadette's face is pretty big and her mouth is distinctive. Angela has those enormous expressive eyes. Who else?
http://sarahbsadventures.blogspot.com/
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Scottie
Registered User
Registered:
3/6/2006
From:
Edinburgh, Scotland | posted: 7/4/2006 at 11:55:38 AM ET
I adore Renee Fleming - at times her voice reminds me so much of Leontyne Price who is my all time favourite opera singer. Actually, L. Price does have a very big head and face area come to think of it. Elaine Paige has quite a big round face - one of my friends who has worked with her (and dislikes her) describes her as being "all teeth and hair".
I've never noticed that BP was particularly over-endowed in the head area.
But I was told by an opera singer friend that Bernadette has the perfect jaw-line for a great singer. Apparently it's due to that "bite" thing she has going on.
as Bernadette says....just keep moving on.....
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Karen
Registered User
Registered:
5/3/2002 | posted: 7/4/2006 at 12:55:32 PM ET
Bernadette has a very big head--and a massive jaw-bone. I think it was Walter Kerr, in an early theatre review, who described her jaw as "prognathous."
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 roselouise
Registered User
Registered:
7/21/2004
From:
pennsylvania | posted: 7/4/2006 at 1:20:54 PM ET
hey i havent posted in a while but i thought it was interesting you were talking about jaw bones. the underbite seems to be the new calling card for high belters--idina menzel, shoshana bean, and eden espinosa all have it. bernadette has a prominent jaw line but not quite an underbite as does sutton foster and patti lupone. i've always been envious of people with great jaw lines but i do have a big head so i guess i can't be greedy--lol
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Scottie
Registered User
Registered:
3/6/2006
From:
Edinburgh, Scotland | posted: 7/5/2006 at 9:48:00 AM ET
quote:
Bernadette has a very big head--and a massive jaw-bone. I think it was Walter Kerr, in an early theatre review, who described her jaw as "prognathous."
Karen, you make me laugh so much. You don't hold back, do you? I respect that and absolutely love your posts!
Mr Kerr's comment is interesting as surely the term "prognathous" is usually reserved for much lower primates than your average Broadway Diva ... not that Bernadette is at all "average" of course.
BTW, the big rumour over here is that Sunset Boulevard will return to the West End - possibly going in after Guys and Dolls finishes it's run at the Piccadilly Theatre in January. Wouldn't it be fascinating if Bernadette had a chance to tilt her turban at the role of Norma Desmond?
as Bernadette says....just keep moving on.....
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