By Andrew Gans
I can think of nothing on a Broadway stage during the past year that was more riveting than Bernadette Peters' "Rose's Turn" in the current revival of Gypsy at the Shubert Theatre. Peters took a song that had been delivered incredibly by others on The Great White Way and brought it to an even higher level. But it was not just her "Rose's Turn" that was thrilling; it was her entire performance, which was at times touching, funny and incredibly intense. From her first scene at Uncle Jocko's Kiddie Show auditions through her final, gut-wrenching "Turn," Peters perfectly captured — among other qualities — Rose's driving desperation. Peters also offered the sexiest Rose to ever hit the stage. She's one of the few to have played the part who makes the audience believe she could have actually been a successful performer had she been given the chance. This makes her ultimate breakdown even more pathetic, the talent that was never nurtured, the life that never was — and never will be. She and John Dossett's Herbie also had a palpable chemistry, igniting in a beautifully delivered "Small World" and dissolving in the harrowing second act dressing-room scene when Rose shockingly pushes daughter Louise to strip. I recently returned to the Shubert, and I'm happy to report that Peters' interpretation has grown more intense, and she has found even more humor in the Mr. Goldstone/hotel room sequence. It was and is a performance not to be missed.
In terms of sheer beauty, there are very few voices around that can compare with Anne Runolfsson's. Not only blessed with a powerful and remarkably rangy high belt, Runolfsson also possesses a ravishing, pure soprano. That voice was on display this season in the recent, much-too short-lived Off-Broadway revue, Listen to My Heart: The Songs of David Friedman. Runolfsson lent her beautiful sound to such Friedman gems as "What I Was Dreamin' Of," "Nothing in Common" and "We Can Be Kind." Thankfully her performance and that of her stellar co-star, Alix Korey, were preserved on CD.
HONORABLE MENTION: Julia Murney belted her heart out in two of the season's most memorable one-nighters: concert versions of Chess and Children of Eden. Let's get this gal to Broadway soon!
UP AND COMERS: There were two new voices — one guy and one gal — that thoroughly impressed me during the past year. Taboo's John McDaniel introduced EDEN ESPINOSA during his cabaret gig at Joe's Pub; Espinosa brought down the house with a sensational version of Get Here. Her singing must have also impressed composer Stephen Schwartz, who was in the audience that night — Espinosa is currently standing by for Idina Menzel in Wicked. . . Flower Drum Song chorus member and Ta-understudy TELLY LEUNG also made his cabaret debut this season and demonstrated the power, range and beauty of his magnificent tenor. Leung will be part of the upcoming reading of But I'm a Cheerleader, and we also hear that the gifted young actor will be back on Broadway next season.
REMINDERS
Liz Callaway in Concert:
Jan. 17, 2004 in Asheville, NC
Patti LuPone in Concert:
Jan. 23, 2004 at the Eissey Campus Theatre in Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Louise Pitre in Concert:
Jan. 31, 2004-Feb. 8 in Sweeney Todd with the Calgary Opera Company at the Jubilee Auditorium in Canada
Well, that's all for now. Happy diva-watching!
02 Jan 2004
Jan. 31 in Sibling Revelry in Boston, MA
Feb. 7 in Sibling Revelry in Riverfront, IL
Feb. 13 with Jason Graae in Salt Lake City, UT
Feb. 14 with Jason Graae in Palm Springs, CA
Feb. 26-28 with Jason Graae in West Palm Beach, FL
Feb. 29 with Stephen Schwartz and Friends in Wilton, CT
April 23 with Jason Graae in Sutter Creek, CA
April 24-25 with Jason Graae in San Rafael, CA
May 1 in Sibling Revelry in Orono, ME
May 8 in Sibling Revelry in Purchase, NY
Jan. 24, 2004 at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, FL
Feb. 27-29, 2004 at the Myerhoff Hall in Baltimore, MD
March 12, 2004 at the New Jersey PAC in Newark, NJ
March 13 at the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, NJ
Feb. 13 at the Capitol Theatre in Windsor, Ontario
Feb. 28 at the Sanderson Performing Arts Centre in Brantford, Ontario
Feb. 29 at the Silverthorn C.I. Auditorium in Toronto, Ontario
DIVA TALK: The Best of 2003
