I don't understand why everyone thinks that Patti LaPone was "miscast" in this. I actually think she's quite good. Her interpretation is just really different than the one from Donna Murphy. I'm neither a real LaPone nor a Murphy lover in general, so there is no "one and only Fosca" for me. I really enjoy both their interpretations in their own way. Murphy's Fosca is really creepy. She's slow in her movements and always quite calm, quiet while singing, except the few parts where she's screaming. And LaPone's much more hysterical. She is really agitated and nervous and so her voice sounds. I also think LaPone's Fosca seems much more afraid to say something wrong in front of Georgio sometimes, but can't hold back herself. She doesn't really know how to act around him, which is also very fitting for Fosca. Fosca also says at one point, that she never learned how to show her love to someone. While Murphy's Fosca seems evan more bitter to me. The aspect that she really has given up is even more clear. They both have wonderful aspects of this role really well worked out. Every actor is different. And so are these two. And so are their interpretations of this role.
LuPone's Fosca is vile and very aware of her "bitter self-concern"; Murphy's Fosca actually believes in her melancholy and bears it like a cross. These are two vastly disparate yet completely plausible readings of the Fosca one meets in the original novel.
Also I think whoever plays Fosca has to capture the inherent essence of who she is. The etymology of the word PASSION in Greek means 'to suffer.' I think that as grandiose, albeit camp, her performance is, she still captured the element of suffering wonderfully well.
Can we PLEASE stop comparing those two absolutely gorgeous actresses? Would Patti be better if she played Donna instead of playing Fosca? Patti and Donna interpretations are worlds apart, they captured two completely different aspects of this part and they both did it very, very well. Please, stop saying "Donna was better as she was more vulnerable". She was. And Patti was more hysterical, more affected. Please, stop offending Patti because you simply liked Donna's performance more.
I have always had issues with Donna Murphy and Patti LuPone in certain performances but when it comes to this role, Donna Murphy will forever be the definitive Fosca. I forget what critic it was (probably Frank Rich) that said Donna Murphy felt so real and awkward that it made it near painful to watch....which it is but it is simply stunning. I don't think Patti LuPone captured that feeling at all
My problem with Patti LaPone in this role is that I am constantly aware "That's Patti LaPone!" I don't see Fosca, just Patti LaPone playing Fosca. Donna Murphy WAS Fosca.
I agree to an extent but in defense of Patti, this is a concert version of the musical. Naturally she can't FULLY be enveloped in her character as her surroundings call for her to play more to the audience in a performance manner than if she were in the theatre working on inhabiting her character from start to finish.
Wow... I thought someone with so many vids of Patti would disagree with me! It's great that you see that. Patti is a performer, but when it comes to real and spontaneous acting, she falls short.
@AtLastOnTheGround I think since this style is in that of a century ago, it is required. At least in this production. All three of them are very elevated.
I LOVE her very much, but I agree that Patti is not Meryl Streep and I agree with "She's perfect for those larger than life characters in musicals"... but even though she is not the greatest actress, she has a very special charm which is simply "magnetizing".
@AtLastOnTheGround `Id est' 19th century drama: movie Passione d'Amore from Italy, Not as young/pretty as D. Murphy and showing more skin-color than P. LuPone was Vera Mann from Flanders. Perfection!
@@WillScarlet16 I do agree that she is tough and can seem a bit harsh at times but she also has a vulnerability to her too. She doesn't hide her tears in interviews and she hides behind objects or goes to the corner of the stage when she is scared to sing something during concerts. In my opinion she is also always proud of others and their performance and grateful for their support
I admire your open-mindedness. My opinion of Patti in GYPSY: She was a much improved version of Ethel. She was impulsive and spontaneous in her delivery, but there was always something that said "This is Patti being a ham... isn't it?" She gives performances that the audience won't be able to take their eyes away from, but with that, she sacrifices any chance of making a realistic Rose (which I feel Ros Russell did best).
OMG. Thank you! I thought I was the only person in the world who dislikes Patti! I also find the 'dreamAAA' thing annoying and I love her acting but her voice just doesn't appeal to me. I'm going to get thumbed down so much for this but this is just my opinion.
I gotta say, Michael Cerveris is not very good in this. Though maybe the role is a challenge not to make him unsympathetic. He wasn't reacting honestly to lupone when she went crazy. She WAS reacting.
Fosca is not so histerical at the first meeting … Murphy is curled up on itself, the pain is palpable and it is immediately clear that he is a very fragine creature who lives in a world of his own. luPone is the great histrion of all time but the character is less deep and multifaceted
Yes indeed. She is too severe, bitter almost and in no way sympathetic. Her voice does not draw the listener to her. She does not sing with conviction as though she does not believe the words or character. Ms LuPone is not suited to this role, though she was splendid as Mrs Lovatt in Sweeney Todd.
Ugh don't even get me started on Ethel. At least Patti can SOMEWHAT act realistically. Ethel was a low-comedian ... with a voice like a fire alarm. That's about the range of her talent. Did you know that Ros and Natalie Wood hated eachother? Ros was pissed that they were giving Natalie Wood all the attention for the promos because they wanted a hot young star to attract people to the movie. And yet, they had INCREDIBLE chemistry. Best I've ever seen for a Rose/Louise pair.
Merman was a enormous inspiration for a lot of composers. Porter always says she was the best ! It's a period without miscs.... her metalic voice is available to be listen in all the theatre, and not to loose in the sound of the orchestra. Merman is unique. you may like it or not (ok... the voice of Merman is too sharp), but Merman was one..... nothing that anyone says will change it. She changes the way of thinking about voice... Lupone is always "belting" for example.... I'm sorry but it's Merman's heritage.
I usually hate Patti Lupone (I did like her in Gypsy, actually) but here is an example of her being able to be subtle and it is EFFECTIVE when she does it. A BIG problem (and what i hate about her sometimes) is when she says "dreaMAA" WHY WHY WHY???? That is so goddamn annoying. But I do think she can act.
This sort of performance would have been wonderful in an Italian opera a century ago. But the acting just looks mechanical, preconceived, and insincere. Patti's a wonderfully trained singer, but she lacks the truthfulness that Donna brings to the character.
I don't understand why everyone thinks that Patti LaPone was "miscast" in this. I actually think she's quite good. Her interpretation is just really different than the one from Donna Murphy. I'm neither a real LaPone nor a Murphy lover in general, so there is no "one and only Fosca" for me. I really enjoy both their interpretations in their own way. Murphy's Fosca is really creepy. She's slow in her movements and always quite calm, quiet while singing, except the few parts where she's screaming. And LaPone's much more hysterical. She is really agitated and nervous and so her voice sounds. I also think LaPone's Fosca seems much more afraid to say something wrong in front of Georgio sometimes, but can't hold back herself. She doesn't really know how to act around him, which is also very fitting for Fosca. Fosca also says at one point, that she never learned how to show her love to someone. While Murphy's Fosca seems evan more bitter to me. The aspect that she really has given up is even more clear. They both have wonderful aspects of this role really well worked out. Every actor is different. And so are these two. And so are their interpretations of this role.
LuPone's Fosca is vile and very aware of her "bitter self-concern"; Murphy's Fosca actually believes in her melancholy and bears it like a cross. These are two vastly disparate yet completely plausible readings of the Fosca one meets in the original novel.
Rest in Power SONDHEIM, Thank You for the so many of the finest moments of musical Theatre, the Finest Songs x!
Also I think whoever plays Fosca has to capture the inherent essence of who she is. The etymology of the word PASSION in Greek means 'to suffer.' I think that as grandiose, albeit camp, her performance is, she still captured the element of suffering wonderfully well.
Can we PLEASE stop comparing those two absolutely gorgeous actresses?
Would Patti be better if she played Donna instead of playing Fosca? Patti and Donna interpretations are worlds apart, they captured two completely different aspects of this part and they both did it very, very well. Please, stop saying "Donna was better as she was more vulnerable". She was. And Patti was more hysterical, more affected.
Please, stop offending Patti because you simply liked Donna's performance more.
I have always had issues with Donna Murphy and Patti LuPone in certain performances but when it comes to this role, Donna Murphy will forever be the definitive Fosca. I forget what critic it was (probably Frank Rich) that said Donna Murphy felt so real and awkward that it made it near painful to watch....which it is but it is simply stunning. I don't think Patti LuPone captured that feeling at all
My problem with Patti LaPone in this role is that I am constantly aware "That's Patti LaPone!" I don't see Fosca, just Patti LaPone playing Fosca. Donna Murphy WAS Fosca.
got the whole show? I'm such a patti & Audra lover and this is just cake 4 me!!!
I agree to an extent but in defense of Patti, this is a concert version of the musical. Naturally she can't FULLY be enveloped in her character as her surroundings call for her to play more to the audience in a performance manner than if she were in the theatre working on inhabiting her character from start to finish.
When did Patti and Cerveris do Passion??? How did I miss this?
(I know I’m nine years late) But they did it before they did Sweeney Todd.
Does anyone know where I can watch the whole thing?
Wow... I thought someone with so many vids of Patti would disagree with me! It's great that you see that. Patti is a performer, but when it comes to real and spontaneous acting, she falls short.
@lucagrella
Me too! Where the hell was I in 2005 and under what rock???!!!
In what key is this?
@AtLastOnTheGround I think since this style is in that of a century ago, it is required. At least in this production. All three of them are very elevated.
I LOVE her very much, but I agree that Patti is not Meryl Streep and I agree with "She's perfect for those larger than life characters in musicals"... but even though she is not the greatest actress, she has a very special charm which is simply "magnetizing".
@AtLastOnTheGround `Id est' 19th century drama: movie Passione d'Amore from Italy, Not as young/pretty as D. Murphy and showing more skin-color than P. LuPone was Vera Mann from Flanders. Perfection!
@maxeggg It's her Julliard diction training... :P
I like Donna Murphy better in this part.
I find it hard to believe Patti Lupone has a vulnerable bone in her body.
Why do you think that?
@@Mel-mf9jk Because to me she always comes across as the tough, brash, bossy diva she generally acts like.
@@WillScarlet16 I do agree that she is tough and can seem a bit harsh at times but she also has a vulnerability to her too. She doesn't hide her tears in interviews and she hides behind objects or goes to the corner of the stage when she is scared to sing something during concerts. In my opinion she is also always proud of others and their performance and grateful for their support
I admire your open-mindedness.
My opinion of Patti in GYPSY: She was a much improved version of Ethel. She was impulsive and spontaneous in her delivery, but there was always something that said "This is Patti being a ham... isn't it?" She gives performances that the audience won't be able to take their eyes away from, but with that, she sacrifices any chance of making a realistic Rose (which I feel Ros Russell did best).
OMG. Thank you! I thought I was the only person in the world who dislikes Patti! I also find the 'dreamAAA' thing annoying and I love her acting but her voice just doesn't appeal to me. I'm going to get thumbed down so much for this but this is just my opinion.
Patti just can't compare to Donna Murphy's performance, and with Patti and Michael Cerveris together all I see is Mrs.Lovett and Sweeney Todd.
Is it just me, or is Patti LuPone attacking me?
I gotta say, Michael Cerveris is not very good in this. Though maybe the role is a challenge not to make him unsympathetic. He wasn't reacting honestly to lupone when she went crazy. She WAS reacting.
...Patti went to Julliard for Drama... uh oh Patti...
Fosca is not so histerical at the first meeting … Murphy is curled up on itself, the pain is palpable and it is immediately clear that he is a very fragine creature who lives in a world of his own.
luPone is the great histrion of all time but the character is less deep and multifaceted
I actually like Patti LuPone but... dear God, talk about miscasting...
I heard somewhere that Sondheim initially thought of Patti as Fosca. I do not know if that is true.
Yes indeed. She is too severe, bitter almost and in no way sympathetic. Her voice does not draw the listener to her. She does not sing with conviction as though she does not believe the words or character. Ms LuPone is not suited to this role, though she was splendid as Mrs Lovatt in Sweeney Todd.
I think she's brilliant. The pain in her voice--my god. Mind you I do like Donna Murphy very very much.
It's true she is no Donna Murphy cuz she can sing on pitch! AHAHA!
Ugh don't even get me started on Ethel. At least Patti can SOMEWHAT act realistically. Ethel was a low-comedian ... with a voice like a fire alarm. That's about the range of her talent.
Did you know that Ros and Natalie Wood hated eachother? Ros was pissed that they were giving Natalie Wood all the attention for the promos because they wanted a hot young star to attract people to the movie. And yet, they had INCREDIBLE chemistry. Best I've ever seen for a Rose/Louise pair.
Merman was a enormous inspiration for a lot of composers. Porter always says she was the best ! It's a period without miscs.... her metalic voice is available to be listen in all the theatre, and not to loose in the sound of the orchestra. Merman is unique. you may like it or not (ok... the voice of Merman is too sharp), but Merman was one..... nothing that anyone says will change it. She changes the way of thinking about voice... Lupone is always "belting" for example.... I'm sorry but it's Merman's heritage.
I usually hate Patti Lupone (I did like her in Gypsy, actually) but here is an example of her being able to be subtle and it is EFFECTIVE when she does it. A BIG problem (and what i hate about her sometimes) is when she says "dreaMAA" WHY WHY WHY???? That is so goddamn annoying. But I do think she can act.
This sort of performance would have been wonderful in an Italian opera a century ago.
But the acting just looks mechanical, preconceived, and insincere. Patti's a wonderfully trained singer, but she lacks the truthfulness that Donna brings to the character.
I used to like Patti but the more and more I watched her she is not good.
I couldnt agree with C Hendrix more. PL is a poor actress, a decent singer and a suberb self promoter.
Donna's Fosca is just as embarrassing as Patti's.
oyoyoy1010 todd lies!!!!!!