Rewatching this once again, what strikes me almost as powerfully as Buckley’s voice is Deborah Gibson’s enormously expressive physical acting. She looks pained, terrified, longing-she’s wanted this affection for so long, but whatever is happening is entirely alien to her. She knows that she’s dealing with someone who is losing her grip on reality. I’m particularly impressed with the moment at 1:46 where Buckley pulls her into a hug: Gibson completely stiffens. Louise is scared to death here. It makes Buckley’s performance all the more effective and frightening.
It’s a shame Betty didn’t get to do this for a proper Broadway run. There’s only so many years you can put between revivals, and with her peers Bernadette and Patti lining up to play the part, she just didn’t get her chance. It’s amazing how she’s established as one of the greatest stars in the history of Broadway, yet she only appeared in 8 Broadway shows over a period of less than 30 years and hasn’t been seen on Broadway for 22 years!
I somehow never listened to much Betty Buckley before today, and now I’m just falling in love. I love that clear tone and that quick vibrato! Fantastic!
Betty Buckley's intensity is thrilling. In the closing notes of the song I was feeling the chills. And how wonderful it is to hear such brilliant diction and such a on the note singing.
The thing about Rose is that shes the classic narcissist. She's beyond any kind of redemption really . Betty Buckley really understands exactly what's going on underneath the surface .it's a brilliant brilliant performance. The discard of someone who no longer suits her agenda, the inherent selfishness of the character snd latching onto the next person... . I think she probably portrays the most realistic version of Rose I've come across . The character is a monster and even in Roses Turn its all about her and how SHE has been wounded . No insight into the damage she's wreaked upon her children or how she's brought it all on herself. Betty Buckley really is phenomenal here . Its a master class in my opinion and she plays her truthfully without "Broadway frills" or trying to be liked . Absolutely fantastic.
I have seen so many Roses and while the quality of their performances has varied, I would say that all of them, except Bernadette Peters, captured your description. Buckley is so superior vocally to most but Delores Gray is still my favorite, a Sherman tank with a smile on her face as she ran over everybody. And then there was that voice.
Wow, Betty Buckley sounds amazing as Mama Rose. I heard this production of Gypsy which also starred Debbie Gibson as Gypsy was suppose to be heading to Broadway. I’ve seen so many Divas in the part: Angela Lansbury (won the Tony), Tyne Daly (won the Tony) Bernadette Peters, Patti LuPone (won the Tony), Imelda Staunton and of course Rosalind Russell (won a Golden Globe) in the 1962 film version and Bette Milder (won a Golden Globe) in the 1993 tv version. I would love to see 6-time Tony winner, Audrey McDonald in the Mama Rose role.
Very interesting to see this snippet of the amazing Betty Buckley. However, as much as I adore the power of both her singing and acting in other roles, I think she is miscast here. There is a refinement and elegance about her, including her wonderful voice, which I think is simply too beautiful for the role of Rose. By coincidence, I happened to watch a youtube clip just the other day of Christine Baranski as Mame. Again, while a huge admirer of Ms Baranski, I felt she was also miscast- paradoxically, in this instance, because Ms Baranski has made a career out of playing dry, witty, sophisticated, classy women, and you can understand how the casting directors must have thought she would be a cinch as Mame. But, to my ( and not just my) surprise, in the clip in which she is singing the opening ensemble number It's Today, she is working so hard- too hard- that she comes across as rather...well... NOT sophisticated. In fact- rather vulgar. Compare this clip to one of Angela Landsbury doing the same number, and the difference is palpable. It's very curious. Even great artists can be miscast.
I'd love to have seen this production. There's something realistic in this Rose... a kind of feminine elegance with razor-sharp narcissism sitting just beneath the surface. So refreshing after seeing so many obtuse, brash, variations-on-Merman portrayals of this character. There's diversity in toxic femininity.
I wonder why she didn't do this on Broadway. She would have been great after Tyne Daly. She has such a powerful voice. Great acting as well. She's a force!
I don’t buy her as mama rose but that voice, Buckley’s voice is insane but has vibrato so powerful that meteors that we’re going to hit earth were redirected due to her changing their path by waves from her belt
Amazing. But Rose should be singing words to encourage her daughter. Not portraying Medea to scare her. Betty became demonic. This is a great show tune ruined by histrionics. Rose should be bright, resourceful at end of Act 1. Far more clever to convince than to terrorize.
What show are you talking about? Hopefully you never direct a production. You clearly do not understand the character or situation in the slightest. If done properly, the audience should be absolutely HORRIFIED! Rose's narcissism is never more apparent. She has tossed Louise aside for the entire show up until this point, then does a 180 so quickly? Clearly this new found vigor has NOTHING do to with Louise and all to do with Rose's need for attention by living through her children. I have to say that I have never heard a theater comment which so throughly demonstrates that the speaker has no clue.
