Let's all remember, there is an entire big-budget film of MAME with Lucille Ball who wasn't right for the role, was too old, and couldn't sing it. It's a huge, demanding role in a challenging musical. Any actress tackling this has to compete with Rosiland Russell's amazing performance as Mame in AUNTIE MAME as well as Angela Lansbury's legendary success in the original Broadway run.There's a reason the show hasn't been revived on Broadway (other than the 80's revival with Lansbury) - it's very, very difficult to find someone who has the right personality, vocal chops and dramatic skils to, as Jerry Herman wrote, "make the bubbles stay."
Vera Charles has the voice of a frog, true to character. Young Patrick’s voice is authentic. Hooch looks like so much fun. Love the choreography for It’s Today. First video I’ve seen that looks like a real wild 20s party. The costumes looked great. Always to easy to find critics but harder to find believers. In my opinion, don’t come after me unless you are bringing a full glass of bubbly. The production looked fun. Better than another night inside with the cats.
I love Ms. Ebersole as well but I find her to be more realistic if you will. Whereas Angela Lansbury was larger than life. Even Ms. Ebersole's Dorothy Brock in "42nd Street" was more mannered (in a great way) than most. I do think she was moving in the most serious song "If He Walked Into My Life" which is perfectly suited to her special charisma. I wish there was more of that.
The production was not well-received when it opened at PAPER MILL (The NY Times panned it). The truth is that MAME is not a great musical - it has its moments, but it was clearly the magnificent Angela Lansbury that elevated the show and made it SEEM so magical. It does not have the same rock-solid structure of HELLO, DOLLY!, Jerry Herman's huge hit that comes two years before this. The score has far too many mediocre/irritating songs, not to mention that it requires an enormous budget to make it look as fabulous as it should look. Additionally, the broad qualities of the piece are written into it, and it seems to me the production team, especially the director, decided to push it farther. This creates a cartoonish look and feel to the proceedings - a sense that they don't believe what's on the page can work, so they are standing aside and mocking it. If it's treated like it's just a big, silly, goofy romp, then the audience doesn't have the chance to get involved in the story and care about the characters.
The Man in the Moon sounds very different when sung by Bea Arthur, the young Patrick also can't keep in one key. Apparently the vocal coach for this show turned a deaf ear...
@@tristanbray2184 Good luck! I live in Georgia now, but I hope I will get to see it. I love the show. I lived in NY when Angela Lansbury was doing it at the Winter Garden but I was young then and never went. I could kick myself for that.
@@miamiracer Don’t worry, I’ll kick you myself. How could have missed her? That’ like missing Gertrude Lawrence in LADY IN THE DARK or THE KKNG AND I, Ethel Merman in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, GYPSY or the Porter shows, Gwen Verdon and Chita Rivera in anything or Mary Martin in SOUTH PACIFIC or I DO! I DO! Good luck with casting!
The duet between Christine and Paul S. Iacono (young Patrick) is heartbreaking. Christine does a fine job and I saw Angela do it. I hated Christine's hair and costumes. I loved Kelly Bishop although she was a little off key. I remember her from "Gilmore Girls" and "Bunheads" with Sutton Foster.
I can’t believe people are hating on Kelly bishop. Yes this isn’t her best role (and you can’t really beat Bea Arthur in this role ) but she’s really an amazing actress, don’t just judge her on this❤️❤️
No one is "hating" on Kelly Bishop - expressing criticism is not hating. Kelly is absolutely an amazing actress and I'm sure she will always be loved for her great successes and not "just judged on this." But this page has the video from when she played Vera in MAME and that is what the discussion is about. It's not hate, it's a conversation about theater.
Kelly's voice was the least of the problems here. This show rides almost entirely on the performance of who plays Mame. Christine is an undeniably great musical theatre actress but, for whatever reason, this wasn't a fit. The direction here also looks problematic - this is a show that has broad writing, broad songs, broad characters - the director seemed to be encouraging the cast to be even broader - and that begins to look cartoonish.
I just found this, by accident, while watching a video from another production of "Mame". This one looks surprisingly amateurish, even with Christine Ebersole in the title role...lots of off-pitch singing, poor casting, odd costuming & wigs. Isn't Paper Mill Playhouse a professional theatre? I have seen better productions by community groups. Agnes is pretty good, but seems to be "doing" Carol Burnett. Mame is to me one of the great roles for women & I love the show, but this is a disappointment.
Oh, Lord, Kelly Bishop should dance and not try to sing. And Christine Ebersole's soprano speaking and singing voice is not quite right for Mame. And why so many wigs and hair colors?
The Vera is a disgrace! This is New York there had to be better. Ebersole isn’t Happy it seems to me? It’s a very difficult part to pull off. Costumes and wigs don’t help, I don’t think they liked her?
Kelly Bishop is a QUEEN. Original Sheila anybody??
Started the run as Carole Bishop / Sheila in July 1975.
Yes if you enjoy off key singing!
This is the comment I was looking for! 🙌🏾
Let's all remember, there is an entire big-budget film of MAME with Lucille Ball who wasn't right for the role, was too old, and couldn't sing it. It's a huge, demanding role in a challenging musical. Any actress tackling this has to compete with Rosiland Russell's amazing performance as Mame in AUNTIE MAME as well as Angela Lansbury's legendary success in the original Broadway run.There's a reason the show hasn't been revived on Broadway (other than the 80's revival with Lansbury) - it's very, very difficult to find someone who has the right personality, vocal chops and dramatic skils to, as Jerry Herman wrote, "make the bubbles stay."
RIP. Sandy Rosenberg. You are truly missed!
fond memories of high school.... I played VERNON CHARLES (formerly Vera) -- It added such depth to the character to make it a man!!!!
Vera Charles has the voice of a frog, true to character. Young Patrick’s voice is authentic. Hooch looks like so much fun. Love the choreography for It’s Today. First video I’ve seen that looks like a real wild 20s party. The costumes looked great. Always to easy to find critics but harder to find believers. In my opinion, don’t come after me unless you are bringing a full glass of bubbly. The production looked fun. Better than another night inside with the cats.
Who the hell is Hooch? Get with it man, your stupidity is apparent.
I cannot believe it. I just saw this and realized I worked regionally with Sandy Rosenburg (GOOCH) when she played "EVITA"!!!!
Isn't it Leslie Kritcher?
@@bigred8432 No, it's Sandy Rosenberg, who sadly passed away last year.
I love Mame. I Iove Christine Ebersole. But, for some reason, I'm not wild about this. Can't quite put my finger on it. Still, it looks entertaining.
the show hasn't aged well.
Makes you appreciate the great Lansbury - who not only had a great, real (non-"Broadway Baby") voice, but acted like a human being.
I love Ms. Ebersole as well but I find her to be more realistic if you will. Whereas Angela Lansbury was larger than life. Even Ms. Ebersole's Dorothy Brock in "42nd Street" was more mannered (in a great way) than most. I do think she was moving in the most serious song "If He Walked Into My Life" which is perfectly suited to her special charisma. I wish there was more of that.
Ebresole is clearly talented, but the role of Mame should ideally be played by a notable STAR who is accustomed to commanding the stage.
The production was not well-received when it opened at PAPER MILL (The NY Times panned it). The truth is that MAME is not a great musical - it has its moments, but it was clearly the magnificent Angela Lansbury that elevated the show and made it SEEM so magical. It does not have the same rock-solid structure of HELLO, DOLLY!, Jerry Herman's huge hit that comes two years before this. The score has far too many mediocre/irritating songs, not to mention that it requires an enormous budget to make it look as fabulous as it should look. Additionally, the broad qualities of the piece are written into it, and it seems to me the production team, especially the director, decided to push it farther. This creates a cartoonish look and feel to the proceedings - a sense that they don't believe what's on the page can work, so they are standing aside and mocking it. If it's treated like it's just a big, silly, goofy romp, then the audience doesn't have the chance to get involved in the story and care about the characters.
What key is Vera singing in....man in the moon?
Off key?
Key of FLAT?
Several.
Kelly Bishop is a better dancer than singer.
She’d better be.
Please tell me you have the entire video? I saw this production when I was a kid and adored it.
So sorry, but that's all I have from Ebersole's "Mame." I too saw it at Paper Mill.
The Man in the Moon sounds very different when sung by Bea Arthur, the young Patrick also can't keep in one key. Apparently the vocal coach for this show turned a deaf ear...
Well, Luis, I plan on doing a production of "Mame" by the end of the decade, so stay tuned.
@@tristanbray2184 Good luck! I live in Georgia now, but I hope I will get to see it. I love the show. I lived in NY when Angela Lansbury was doing it at the Winter Garden but I was young then and never went. I could kick myself for that.
@@miamiracer In that case, I doubt it. My production will be in Canada.
@@miamiracer Don’t worry, I’ll kick you myself. How could have missed her? That’ like missing Gertrude Lawrence in LADY IN THE DARK or THE KKNG AND I, Ethel Merman in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, GYPSY or the Porter shows, Gwen Verdon and Chita Rivera in anything or Mary Martin in SOUTH PACIFIC or I DO! I DO! Good luck with casting!
@@tristanbray2184 MAME-EH?
The duet between Christine and Paul S. Iacono (young Patrick) is heartbreaking. Christine does a fine job and I saw Angela do it. I hated Christine's hair and costumes. I loved Kelly Bishop although she was a little off key. I remember her from "Gilmore Girls" and "Bunheads" with Sutton Foster.
I can’t believe people are hating on Kelly bishop. Yes this isn’t her best role (and you can’t really beat Bea Arthur in this role ) but she’s really an amazing actress, don’t just judge her on this❤️❤️
No one is "hating" on Kelly Bishop - expressing criticism is not hating. Kelly is absolutely an amazing actress and I'm sure she will always be loved for her great successes and not "just judged on this." But this page has the video from when she played Vera in MAME and that is what the discussion is about. It's not hate, it's a conversation about theater.
Did anyone else notice how in "It's Today," the cowboy's chaps fell off?
I wondered why this didn't go to broadway and then Kelly Bishop sang....
Kelly's voice was the least of the problems here. This show rides almost entirely on the performance of who plays Mame. Christine is an undeniably great musical theatre actress but, for whatever reason, this wasn't a fit. The direction here also looks problematic - this is a show that has broad writing, broad songs, broad characters - the director seemed to be encouraging the cast to be even broader - and that begins to look cartoonish.
I just found this, by accident, while watching a video from another production of "Mame". This one looks surprisingly amateurish, even with Christine Ebersole in the title role...lots of off-pitch singing, poor casting, odd costuming & wigs. Isn't Paper Mill Playhouse a professional theatre? I have seen better productions by community groups. Agnes is pretty good, but seems to be "doing" Carol Burnett. Mame is to me one of the great roles for women & I love the show, but this is a disappointment.
It should have been wonderful but it wasn't . Poor direction, 3rd rate choreography, tacky scenery. Knew Papermill Playhouse was sinking fast.
It was indeed a disappointment. Wish she could have tried "Mame" again at Encores! instead of "Applause."
WHERE ARE YOU STEVE?? Call me. Same # Same Addy!!
Ouch! The horrible and off key singing of this supporting cast ruins the production!
Kelly Bishop should have been Mame. But what do I know.
I love Kelly, but she doesn't have the vocal chops to play Mame.
Oh God no, she could never sing Mame if she couldn't sing Vera. Love her, but that is a definite no.
Pitiful. I saw it. It got worse. 3:50
Oh, Lord, Kelly Bishop should dance and not try to sing. And Christine Ebersole's soprano speaking and singing voice is not quite right for Mame. And why so many wigs and hair colors?
Blablabla
The Vera is a disgrace! This is New York there had to be better. Ebersole isn’t Happy it seems to me? It’s a very difficult part to pull off. Costumes and wigs don’t help, I don’t think they liked her?
see my comment on johtlew 's comment above
UM. THAT is Kelly Bishop A legend, and you are? Also. This is NOT NYC. This is Paper Mill in NJ. Check the facts!