Mama Rose in "Gypsy"

Based on the way she sings SOME PEOPLE, I think Liza Minnelli's performance would have been Rose-On-Speed. She sings the number much too fast, and infusing the character with Coke-like energy does not necessarily make for a winning performance. Perhaps a good director would have helped to shape a more realistic Liza as Rose.

OP, you are really asking for trouble. Have you not read any of the recent and multitudinous discussions of this in the Theater Gossip threads? Next thing you know, you'll be asking who was the best Sally in Follies. I fear you know not the depths of the particular can of worms you have opened here.

Has anyone on DL even seen Merman in the role??

Oh, forgot this is DL. Yeah there are many

I've come to appreciate The Merm.

I thought Liza's Some People was the definitive version of the song. The breakneck speed works for it because it infuses Rose's excitement at wanting something better in her life mixed with her steely grit in getting it. Minnelli lived that role, she knew it better than almost anyone.

And all jokes aside, I would have loved to have seen Bonnie Franklin do Gypsy. But if Arthur Laurents fought with Tyne and Angela, it would have been a bloodsport dealing with Bonnie Franklin.

SHUM people can get a thrill

Knittin shweatersh

Or shittin shtill!

Not on Broadway, and I know there are many detractors (apparently this did not play well on TV), but I tell you that Imelda Staunton was terrific, in London. I’ve seen Angela, Tyne, Patti, Audra and Imelda. Audra was my least favorite and the production was poor. Enjoyed the others.

Moms Mabley

R1, Liza sang that song in concerts. She’s quite famous for her … razzmatazz. She’d never have performed the song that way in a full production.

Cole Escola, Boy George, Sam Smith or Billy Porter.

I thought Audra was too loud.

Whatever.

Unfortunately, by the next time we get a revival, she'll probably be too old. Not to mention, it seems she's unlikely to do Broadway again after her experience in The Wild Party, but I bet Toni Collette would have been an incredible Rose.

As for OP's other question...

Ethel was the blueprint (reportedly)

Patti was the heir apparent to that blueprint

Bernadette was perhaps the most interesting, complex Rose

Toni Collette did do Broadway again after The Wild Party. It was a play though. I forget the name. Marisa Tomei was in it too. (It wasn't very good.)

She's totally capable of a star performance. She more than held her own with Mandy and Eartha.

Tyne was the one whose name most resembles the prong of a fork.

Yes, r16, that's true. She was.

Kay Medford

Now *that's* a "Momma's GOTTA let GOOO!!!!" for the ages.

Jinks Monsoon

Betty Buckley sang it best

Fuck you little sissies for leaving me off the list!

R21, I asked a young black reactor to react to Bette's 'Some People', and he really enjoyed it.