Barbra Streisand as Mama Rose? Why not Patti LuPone?
The rumor mill is swirling once again about a possible movie version of "Gypsy" starring Barbra Streisand. Reports in the New York media earlier this week said that the star is considering playing the monstrous stage matriarch, Mama Rose. On Wednesday, an L.A. representative for Streisand confirmed that "conversations have been had" about the project but did not offer more information.
Streisand -- whose most recent film roles have put her on Focker Isle -- hasn't performed in a movie musical since "Yentl" in 1983. While there is little doubt about whether Streisand can vocally pull off the role of Mama Rose, her possible casting brings up the question of whether an actress who has performed the role on stage might be a better choice.
Without being too blunt about it: Patti LuPone. The Broadway diva won a Tony in 2008 for her performance as Mama Rose. In his review, Times theater critic Charles McNulty wrote that "what distinguishes LuPone's accomplishment is the fiery fusion of music and drama that she pulls off with seemingly spontaneous expressiveness. Speech slides into song as naturally as water returns to air, and the ensuing rainbow of vocal color is like the proof of some rarely observed scientific law."
Of course, Streisand is a household name and LuPone isn't quite that. (Neither is Bernadette Peters or Tyne Daly, two other recent Broadway Mama Roses.) The need for a celebrity name that will sell movie tickets is nothing new in the Broadway-to-Hollywood adaptation game. Going back to the heydey of movie musicals, producers have been hiring screen stars to take over roles from seasoned stage performers. If Hollywood loves Broadway musicals, it doesn't necessarily love Broadway actors.
Click on the photo gallery to the left to see several famous Broadway musicals that had major casting changes after Hollywood came calling. Sometimes the changes are amicable, but more often than not, it's a simple question of celebrity economics.
In fact, it's happened to "Gypsy" before. The 1962 movie version starred Rosalind Russell in the role of Mama Rose, with Natalie Wood as her daughter. On Broadway, the roles were originated by Ethel Merman and Sandra Church. Merman was said to be extremely hurt that she lost the role to Russell, who was a bigger box-office draw at the time.
Related:
Can Barbra Streisand bring 'Gypsy' into a new era?
-- David Ng
Photo: Barbra Streisand. Credit: Jacquelyn Martin / Associated Press
Merman set the mark. I suspect that Streisand will rise to the occasion. When she does, the casting will be see as brilliant, and the role will be yet another triumphantly defining moment in her career.
Posted by: patroklos | January 06, 2011 at 08:30 PM
When Tyne Daly had her triumph on Broadway as Mama Rose in Gypsy, she had to stand by soon after, despite her celebrated and long standing TV accolades, to watch bigger name Bette Midler play the role in a TV movie.
Success on stage does not always translate to recognition in Tinsel Town.
Posted by: Dr. L | January 06, 2011 at 10:56 PM
I think Streisand is the perfect choice. After all she did start on Broadway. She reprised Funny girl on film. She won the academy award. That score was written by Jule Styne. So is Gypsy. Infact the lyricist of gypsy is Stephen Sondheim who Barbra has worked extensively with on The Broadway Album and various concerts. The writer of Gypsy, Arthur Laurents kick started Ms Streisands career with 'I can get it for you wholesale'. He then met her in the middle of her career with The Way We Were. Infact Streisand even knew Ethel Merman, the original Mumma Rose and sung with her on the Judy Garland show. I feel that all this history, not to mention her amazing voice and a great character to sink her teeth in, would be amazing
Posted by: Batty b | January 07, 2011 at 05:08 AM
Please. Mama Rose is "Hamlet" for a musical actress -- a legendary role that allows the greatest performers the greatest performance of their lives. Lupone got her shot. It's Streisand's turn. Similarly, Merman had hers. It wasn't Merman who was robbed by the foolish casting of Roz Russel -- it was Garland, who could have given the greatest performance in musical film history. Yes, Streisand should have done the role 20 years ago, but was blocked on it. It's now or never, and "never" would be a tragedy.
Posted by: Max94520 | January 07, 2011 at 09:35 AM
I think Streisand would be great; Lupone not so much. I am prejudiced but the best Mama Rose was my grandmother by marriage, Dolores Gray who replaced Angela Lansbury in London in the the 70's and got phenomenal reviews. She often did "Rose's Turn" on stage and in her nightclub act and it was extremely powerful (if not totally over the top!) I remember sitting with her to watch the Bette Midler version on TV in the 90's which Dolores thought was quite good. Some pundits have said that Jule Styne wrote the part with Dolores in mind because he certainly did not get along with Dolores' stage mother, Barbara.
Posted by: JonathanLA | January 07, 2011 at 11:19 AM
Oi-vey, don't do it, Barbra. Remember Mame with Lucille Ball?
Posted by: HCFE/LA CANADA | January 07, 2011 at 12:33 PM
I'm sorry...but "why" Patti Lupone and not Tyne Daly or Angela Lansbury, both of whom are far more "palatable" and each won Tonys for performing the role on Broadway, as well.
And why not Streisand?
Ah....the particular dilemma of the Broadway maven vs. the unwashed masses!!!
Posted by: Ron Pulliam | January 07, 2011 at 01:12 PM
I actually saw Patti LaPone in Gypsy and I can tell you that neither myself nor the audience that night had the same experience as the Times critic quoted above.
I also saw Angela Landsbury, Tyne Daily, Bernadette Peters and Bernadette's understudy - I believe her name is Maureen McGovern (not "The Morning After singer). The best of the lot was Maureen, the understudy. She went on when the show was panned by the critics. The box office was actually exchanging tickets if you didn't want to see the show that night. I stayed. What the audience saw that night was breathtaking. She blew everyone away. What an ovation. It just wouldn't stop. With the exception of the night I saw Jennifer Holiday in "Dream Girls" (while the musical was still in previews in NY before the critics got to it). I have never see an audience react like that to any performer on Broadway. I have seen the audience react to Barbra like that just for walking on stage as recently as her 2007 concert!
Patti LaPone was very good in Sweeney Todd recently. But Mama Rose was not a good part for her. Patti comes across much better on stage than on television. So I don't know that she would succeed on the big screen. What I do know is that she'll lament about it at her next concert. She has a tendancy to lead the applause and whine about how "hard done by" she's been treated by a long list of people in the business. It makes for great banter between the songs she sings. It also makes for a great show from a great Broadway singer who right or wrong is just not a movie star.
Posted by: Dennis Gallagher | January 07, 2011 at 02:36 PM
Barbra will be swell! She'll be great! She will have all of her fans on her plate!
Posted by: Vince | January 07, 2011 at 05:22 PM
The one thing that seems obvious to me has not been addressed --- the role is MAMA Rose. When the story begins, she is the mother of two small children (Louise and Baby June). Streisand will be 69 years old this year.
Hello????!
Posted by: Rick Cortlandt | January 07, 2011 at 08:41 PM
All of the aforementioned stage and screen actresses definitely have the chops to play Momma Rose, but do they fit the age of the character who starts out with two small children? Unfortunately, given the bottom line view of the film business, this material needs a Streisand to get it to open. While the other actresses who have played Momma Rose in all other venues are stellar, none have the star power of Streisand.
Most likely, the Oscar winner in this production will be the makeup artist who manages to take 30 years off Ms. Streisand's age.
Posted by: KJ | January 08, 2011 at 02:00 PM
A better question is - who plays the 3 old strippers??? They were younger than Mama but older than Gypsy. These strippers have to be played by Bernadette Peters (ballet), Patti LuPone (electric) Tyne Daly (trumpt). That would cover everyone.
Last by certainly not least who plays Gypsy? I'd suggest Jennifer Aniston. It cold give her a whole new career!
Posted by: Dennis Gallagher | January 09, 2011 at 07:38 AM
I love Barbra and anything she wants to do is ok with me. As far as having a voice, there isn't another like her's. You go girl and we'll watch.
Posted by: Arvilla Guynes | January 10, 2011 at 08:24 PM
Mr. Dennis Gallagher
I think Jennifer Aniston would be the perfect person for the role. She has been taking her clothes off and posing in several new directions. Why not Jennifer? She may tap into a whole new market for herself. She deserves it! (I think) If she puts her mind to it she could pull it off. We'd be cheering for her and hoping she would be inspired by a fine actress like Barbra.
Posted by: Arvilla Guynes | January 10, 2011 at 08:34 PM
Go Barbra! And who in the world would put Patti Lupone in a movie???
Posted by: Matt Olson | January 16, 2011 at 04:49 PM
why not patti lupone... cause she's awful! her voice is grating
and she has no star power
Posted by: marco | January 17, 2011 at 03:25 PM
Babs was too young to play Dolly Levi in the film version of "Hello Dolly." She's now too old for Mama Rose in"Gypsy." Didn't she learn her lesson?
Posted by: David B. | January 17, 2011 at 09:34 PM
I want to see Barbra do this film not to take anything away from anyone else but because whether it turns out well or not it would be sad not to see the biggest musical theatre star of the half a century or so not get a chance to interprut what is (arguably) the greatest musical theatre role of all time. I thought Bernadette was great, and I thought Tyne was just shattering--a performance that has long stayed with me. Patti LuPone has great talent but for me she excudes something more than confidence on stage; it's an almost smug self satisfaction that keeps me at a distance. I feel like no matter how much I admire her work, it couldn't possibly match her own self admiration. And don't get me started on her on stage reaction to recordings. Yes Patti, you stood up for yourself and protected your recorded image. That's certainly your right, but you also pulled the 1,500 or so paying customers who were behaving themselves right out of whatever magic you may have been creating. Hope it was worth it for YOU. But I digress. Barbra, do the movie. You'll be swell, you'll be great...you'll be like a plate of buttah!
Posted by: Jiminy Snap | January 18, 2011 at 03:16 PM
LuPone has no box office clout... zero. Streisand will pull in the adult audience.
But who for Herbie? Woody Allen? Larry David? Tom Wopat? James Naughton?
No Richard Gere, thank you!
Posted by: RedSea | February 25, 2011 at 11:01 AM