Mama Rose in "Gypsy"

Based on the way she sings SOME PEOPLE, I think Liza Minnelli's performance would have been Rose-On-Speed. She sings the number much too fast, and infusing the character with Coke-like energy does not necessarily make for a winning performance. Perhaps a good director would have helped to shape a more realistic Liza as Rose.

OP, you are really asking for trouble. Have you not read any of the recent and multitudinous discussions of this in the Theater Gossip threads? Next thing you know, you'll be asking who was the best Sally in Follies. I fear you know not the depths of the particular can of worms you have opened here.

Has anyone on DL even seen Merman in the role??

Oh, forgot this is DL. Yeah there are many

I've come to appreciate The Merm.

I thought Liza's Some People was the definitive version of the song. The breakneck speed works for it because it infuses Rose's excitement at wanting something better in her life mixed with her steely grit in getting it. Minnelli lived that role, she knew it better than almost anyone.

And all jokes aside, I would have loved to have seen Bonnie Franklin do Gypsy. But if Arthur Laurents fought with Tyne and Angela, it would have been a bloodsport dealing with Bonnie Franklin.

SHUM people can get a thrill

Knittin shweatersh

Or shittin shtill!

Not on Broadway, and I know there are many detractors (apparently this did not play well on TV), but I tell you that Imelda Staunton was terrific, in London. I’ve seen Angela, Tyne, Patti, Audra and Imelda. Audra was my least favorite and the production was poor. Enjoyed the others.

Moms Mabley

R1, Liza sang that song in concerts. She’s quite famous for her … razzmatazz. She’d never have performed the song that way in a full production.

Cole Escola, Boy George, Sam Smith or Billy Porter.

I thought Audra was too loud.

Whatever.

Unfortunately, by the next time we get a revival, she'll probably be too old. Not to mention, it seems she's unlikely to do Broadway again after her experience in The Wild Party, but I bet Toni Collette would have been an incredible Rose.

As for OP's other question...

Ethel was the blueprint (reportedly)

Patti was the heir apparent to that blueprint

Bernadette was perhaps the most interesting, complex Rose

Toni Collette did do Broadway again after The Wild Party. It was a play though. I forget the name. Marisa Tomei was in it too. (It wasn't very good.)

She's totally capable of a star performance. She more than held her own with Mandy and Eartha.

Tyne was the one whose name most resembles the prong of a fork.

Yes, r16, that's true. She was.

Kay Medford

Now *that's* a "Momma's GOTTA let GOOO!!!!" for the ages.

Jinks Monsoon

Betty Buckley sang it best

Fuck you little sissies for leaving me off the list!

R21, I asked a young black reactor to react to Bette's 'Some People', and he really enjoyed it.

For me, Audra was the greatest Rose I’ve seen. She’s the first Rose the audience ever felt empathy for and cried along with

That's nonsense, R23. I saw Bernadette's Rose and the audience felt enormous empathy for her -- especially in her final post Rose's Turn scene. No need to invalidate every other actress' performance just to uplift Audra's.

I struggle to compare Audra and Bernadette, as both are in my pantheon of musical theater performers. Bernadette was the most real, authentic Rose I’ve seen but Audra was the most emotionally connected and sympathetic. I always wanted to see Bernadette again, but I can’t, so I’m just about to pay $400 to see Audra one more time.

I saw Patti a few rows behind Kelsey Grammer and Jon Voight. Honestly, I’d go back to the regional and community theater Roses before I’d endure her quacking, shouting, and seething again.

[Quote] I saw Bernadette's Rose and the audience felt enormous empathy for her -- especially in her final post Rose's Turn scene. No need to invalidate every other actress' performance just to uplift Audra's.

Granted, I saw Bernadette just after the show opened and detested her in it. After the dazzling overture, everything fell flat. Everyone says she got much better but for me, kewpie doll voices don’t make good Roses

I really enjoyed Patti. She totally surprised me —she was funny and warm. Laura Benanti was spectacular too.

Sitting near the front makes a huge difference. I sat close to both Audra and Patti. The experience can be overwhelming especially with these superlative actresses

Tyne Daly was exquisite. A complete departure from Mary Beth Lacey whom everyone knew.

On paper Audra was a brilliant idea, but that production defeated her at every turn. Maybe with a better director she could shine.

Patti was Patti. Good but nothing revelatory.

Bernadette was underrated..

I was thrilled that Audra was able to find motivations for Rose that I had not seen from any previous Rose—using the exact same script.

She slowed down some parts of the songs to emphasize particular phrases. The end effect was utterly shattering

Trying way too hard R30

R31. What does that even mean? Audra HAD to try hard, knowing the expectations and the naysayers.

She blew us all away

Betty Lynn was good. She’s not the maternal type so it worked. Tyne was wonderful. She’s always good.

Tyne was the best.

at clearing her plate.

What’s up with Tyne?? She did Gypsy and then Masterclass and then nothing else

Didn’t she have some sort of nervous breakdown before Doubt?

She did a lot of other stage work. Mothers and Sons (Tony nom), Call Me Madam, The Seagull, Rabbit Hole (Tony nom).