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| Author | Topic: Saw it last night |
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aglazen
Registered User
Registered:
4/18/2003 | posted: 4/18/2003 at 7:21:55 AM ET
I'm a big BP fan and I am feeling slighted...because true to the role, but "why couldn't they update it?", Rose is dowdy every second she's on stage. I think they overdid it with BP. Her hair, her clothing---it's all over the edge of blandness. Truly, her clothes don't even fit well, so unflattering, I'm embarassed for her to have to look so bad! In my mind, this play would be 50% better if in "My Turn", they would have let Rose's fantasy come to life in a big new way: let her sing and LOOK like the "star" she always dreamed of being. They used a fabulous lighting technique early on to substitute adult actors for the child actors---I wish they had used a similar device to transform dowdy Rose in to "breathtaking Rose" near the end of the show. I wanted BP to have her total moment, and it was not all it could be.
That said, the show has many good points, including the performance of Louise. It moves fast! Must be quite a stage-hand challenge!! The pit orchestra is magnificent.
Honestly, I just feel like the show doesn't liveup to what BP can deliver; and in some ways, I don't think BP delivered all she could. She does not own the stage like Ethel Merman did. I truly believe it's because she is never given a chance for transformation.
Hope you all enjoy it, and my best wishes to this hardworking cast and crew.
|  Christine-NYC
Registered User
Registered:
3/23/2002
From:
New York City
Fav. BP Song: With So Little to be Sure Of
Fav. BP Show: Gypsy
Fav. BP Character: Marie (insert last name) lol There's a few
Fav. BP CD: Bernadette Peters Loves Rogers and Hammerstein
| posted: 4/18/2003 at 12:09:12 PM ET
I have to disagree somewhat. No, Bernadette does not completely own the stage (yet); but that could be a good thing. It just goes to show you how Bernadette does not have a "diva" attitude and she doesn't need to hog the spotlight.
I thought the costumes and makeup were a little drab at the first preview, but they did change them slightly since then.
I would never even compare Bernadette to Ethel Merman! Bernadette is a sweet, stage-sharing, beautiful, sweet-voiced woman. Ethel Merman couldn't sing.....she could yell and hold a note (that is not singing in my opinion). I'm sorry, but even before I was a huge fan of Bernadette Peters, Ethel Merman's voice irritated me.
<3CMH<3
| Karen
Registered User
Registered:
5/3/2002 | posted: 4/18/2003 at 12:27:34 PM ET
Obviously this is all just personal taste and preference, but I have to pipe up here and say that Boy, do I ever think that Ethel Merman could sing! Her voice was thrilling. Listen to Blow Gabriel Blow or I've Got Rythmn or Eadie was a Lady. Amazing instrument. I listen to her albums a lot with great enjoyment. I even bought the recent CD reissue of her disco album. I know, I know though that you're not the only person who doesn't like her. I have some friends who agree with me and some who think I'm just crazy. We all have our own likes and dislikes, but I just can't resist speaking out in defense of one of my all-time favorites.
| Christine-NYC
Registered User
Registered:
3/23/2002
From:
New York City
Fav. BP Song: With So Little to be Sure Of
Fav. BP Show: Gypsy
Fav. BP Character: Marie (insert last name) lol There's a few
Fav. BP CD: Bernadette Peters Loves Rogers and Hammerstein
| posted: 4/18/2003 at 12:33:22 PM ET
To each their own. LOL
<3CMH<3
|  Jenny_loves_
bernadette
Registered User
Registered:
6/6/2002
From:
London | posted: 4/18/2003 at 1:14:09 PM ET
I have to agree with Christine seeing as we're voicing our opinions. I find nothing appealing about "the great" ethel merman. She was apparently not a very nice woman to work with, she didn't ahve a very nice voice to listen to and, thouth I've never seen her perform in a show, she made it her own. An achievment but a selfish act to the other performers
they say bernadette's wonderful..........and she is
xx Jenny xx
| mikee
Registered User
Registered:
12/4/2002 | posted: 4/19/2003 at 11:32:44 AM ET
Thank god there's someone else in the world... I CAN'T STAND ETHEL MERMAN!!! Especially her voice! And I heard she was a hell of a load to deal with in real life too. Absolutely NOTHING appealing about her!
| Anonymous
Anonymous Poster
From Internet Network:
138.88.14.x | posted: 4/19/2003 at 9:50:05 PM ET
i think it's kind of hard to base things off of her performances this week. She has a cold right now and isn't exactly performing to her full potential. Things will probably be easier for her when the daily 5-hour reherals end after the show opens.
As for her costumes, i think they're fine! They are a little loose around the waist, but i think it works fine.
| Bwaybaby
Registered User
Registered:
3/10/2001 | posted: 4/20/2003 at 2:34:43 AM ET
I think she's had the cold all week. I could be wrong however,I know people who saw it a few days ago and talked to someone who saw it lastnight who all said she sounded fine. If she did have it then it wasn't as bad as it is now. I think the cold must have just set in though.Before the show someone from the cast had mentioned Bernadette was sick with a cold and then afterwards Bernadette even said she had a cold.Eventhough it was pretty apparent by then lol
I think you're right....I don't think anyone should be making an absolute judgement on her as Rose based on today's performances. I'm pretty positive the majority of the audience realized she was sick and couldn't sing to her true potential but I'm also pretty sure everyone realized how much she worked to give the show EVERYTHING she had tonight.
Eventhough she was sick,she was still amazing!! You could tell she was giving more of herself then usual! Probably more than any other time I've ever seen her perform! She played Rose sexier than I had seen previously and tried to make her funny lines even funnier then ever ( probably to make up for sounding so hoarse).
It was amazing when the curtain rose for Act 2...she got such incredible applause and cheering from the audience...like everyone was saying... thank you so much for being here and giving it your all even though your sick. How she ever got through Rose's Turn being so sick, I'll never know but she made the song more powerful(acting wise) than I'd ever seen her do it. She was actually even singing it pretty darn well too! Her speaking voice seemed to be more affected than her singing voice. During intermission there was a group of people sitting right next to me who were all complaining about her being there and saying they should have had an understudy go on for her. But I didn't hear any complaining from them afterwards...infact they stood up for the standing ovation Bernadette got at curtain call. She just deserves SO much credit for being there. From previous experiece I can definietly conclude that she did it for the audiences today, the cast and the show as a whole.I know I probably wouldn't have gone into work with a cold like that and I don't even sing for a living! Hopefully she'll get pleanty of rest tomorrow and be feeling better very soon 
I think it will be a little while until things fall into more of a routine and she's not working so many hours. With the show opening I'm sure she'll probably have a lot of press next month and even the month after. Especially if she is nominated for a TONY.
| Anonymous
Anonymous Poster
From Internet Network:
152.163.189.x | posted: 4/20/2003 at 12:57:41 PM ET
Here's a bit from an interview in David Craig's book "On Performing"(1987). It give more insight into Peters' take on her work than the standard interviews. Would highly recommend for all Peters fans.
"Well, this year I finally learned. I used to go on, no matter what. Do or die. I thought I just had to do it, that I owed it to the audience. But what really happens is that the audience starts to worry about you when you're up there, hoarse and you can't produce the sounds. And I learned that, well, you're a person too, and then I had to say: 'Look, it's humiliating for me. Why should I do it if it's humiliating? Let the undersudy go on.' By then she had learned it, and the audience could enjoy the show rather than worry about somebody up there dying and sounding terrible."
PTM
| Bwaybaby
Registered User
Registered:
3/10/2001 | posted: 4/20/2003 at 1:49:20 PM ET
Here is some more insight.....Bernadette is a very devoted performer! I think lastnight as well as her performances in SF( I think it was) about 2 years ago prove that. Just a thought...but if Bernadette had called out sick yesterday and they had Maureen go on...how much do you want to bet people would be complaing about how she's "really not sick" and probably just wanted the day off because its a holiday. I bet you that would be the topic of discussion on ATC right now....
Plus, if she is out that means people can return their tickets...which means the show looses money.
Did she expect to sound as hoarse as she did...I don't know..but probably not. I think she just wanted to go out there and give it her best. Which is exactly what she did!!! A certain performer in another current hit show comes to mind....she's out ALL the time. And you know what people are saying...that she "really can't be sick all that time". And I've heard many people say they've lost some respect for her for being out so often. Bernadette was out a lot during Into the Woods. And she got a bad rap for that amoung some in the Broadway community. And unfortunateloy its still stuck with her....even after only missing about 2 performances in (almost) a 2 year run of Annie Get Your Gun!! I'm assuming most of us here don't have a job where if we're sick and don't go to work one day it gets publicized. I'd think it'd give anyone a little more reason to show up...sick or not. Yeah, she's getting criticized for singing while sick but I give her a lot of credit! She somehow was able to hold it together and give a damn good performance!!! So in response to that article ( which is over 10 years old) I do not think she humiliated herself at all lastnight! Infact, I think many people respect her a lot more now.The applause and cheering she recieved when the curtain rose for Act 2 and the rousing standing ovation she got during curtain call I think says it all!
| Anonymous
Anonymous Poster
From Internet Network:
205.188.209.x | posted: 4/20/2003 at 3:13:09 PM ET
That blurb from that interview wasn't meant as criticism to say Peters humiliated herself or that she shouldn't have gone on when ill, just the opposite. Rather that she is dedicated and putting herself out there even though she's aware of how some in the audience will react.
Performing when sick is one of those dammed if you do, dammed if you don't things. I saw her twice in the Goodbye Girl. The first time she was in great voice the second I could tell she had the sniffles. She even had to wipe her nose when she was in the background of some scenes and I wondered how she would do with the "What A Guy" number, but she was totally committed throughout the show and delivered her final number beautifully. My admiration for her as a performer grew even more that night. And I know the management at the theatre when she performed in SF were concerned for her future vocal health but she went on, so no questioning her dedication or committment here. There were actually some people from NY the night or nights I went. Maybe that was some of you?
PTM
| Bwaybaby
Registered User
Registered:
3/10/2001 | posted: 4/20/2003 at 3:54:09 PM ET
I'm glad you clarified that....because the article you posted( with no explaination on how you felt about it) definitely led me to believe that you were saying she humilatied herself and shouldn't have performed...so I'm glad to see that's not how you feel
| Denise246
Registered User
Registered:
4/20/2003 | posted: 4/20/2003 at 4:31:48 PM ET
I saw the show last night and I thought she did a wonderful job. You could tell she was not feeling well and her voice was a little off but the fact that she gave it her all tells me she is a true star!
| Anonymous
Anonymous Poster
From Internet Network:
64.12.96.x | posted: 4/20/2003 at 4:54:14 PM ET
Definitely wouldn't say she ever humiliated herself, and unfortunately I haven't had the pleasure of seeing Gypsy yet. That'll be next week. BTW, do want to thank those of you who have seen the show and posted your positive reactions on other boards too. It's a nice counterbalance to some of those other post -- some by individuals I suspect are disappointed or bitter that their favorite wasn't selected for the revival and are going in looking for the negatives.
PTM
| Karen
Registered User
Registered:
5/3/2002 | posted: 4/20/2003 at 6:10:02 PM ET
Cindy, thanks so much for your detailed reporting on what's going on with the show. What a time for a cold....hope it clears up quickly. And PTM, I have to agree with your endorsement of the David Craig book; I treasure that one. Anyone who's interested in Bernadette Peters or just in musical theatre should try to buy a used copy or just find it in a library. Her interview was done when she was in rehearsals for Song and Dance, so obviously it's not at all current but it's extensive and fascinating just the same.
| Christine-NYC
Registered User
Registered:
3/23/2002
From:
New York City
Fav. BP Song: With So Little to be Sure Of
Fav. BP Show: Gypsy
Fav. BP Character: Marie (insert last name) lol There's a few
Fav. BP CD: Bernadette Peters Loves Rogers and Hammerstein
| posted: 4/21/2003 at 5:56:47 AM ET
I felt sooo bad for her on Saturday night, because you could kind of see it in the expressions of her face that she felt like maybe she was dissapointing the audience by being so hourse, but she just lit up when the curtain rose for act 2 and almost everyone was applauding as loud as if it were curtain call.
I went and got a ticket for Saturday night's performance, even after someone from the show had mentioned she was sick! I new that there was a possibility of Maureen going on instead (which I would have been fine with, b/c I would not want Bernadette perorming if she even thought she was too sick); but she walked up those stairs, and that just prooved what I already knew....that Bernadette is one of the most deidicated people in show business!
That night's show was an emotional rollercoaster. I actually felt so bad that she was performing while she was sick that I physically got this horrible feeling in my gut (like sympathy pain); and when she belted out "Rose's Turn" in a dramatic and flawless mannerism, my heart was beating so fast because I was so happy for her.
Even though there were a few people around me who were complaining duing intermission, when I saw the rest of the audience applauding throughout the show, I knew they felt the same as me....that Bernadette is an angel for performing under those conditions.
By the way, I think Tammy Blanchard's singing voice has improved greatly and she definitely has more confidence in herself now (on stage). She was already good before, but now she sounds amazing!
I didn't like a lot of the changes they made (set-wise). Like the office seen when the girls sing "If Mama Was Married." It looks more like a train station terminal now rather than an office....and the 2 ladies sit too much during the number now. I do love how Gypsy throws the chair down at the end when she's fighting with her mother....very real and dramatic!
<3CMH<3
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