The Sheila Variations

Wow. Bit by bit society melts away from us until all that's left will be a shallow rigidity that won't allow us to say anything bad about anything for fear of offending someone.

But, since we're not there yet -- these folks are crazy.

I mean, the photo alone ... just strikes me as WRONG.

Rosie: we know you love Broadway. We love that you love Broadway, and we love love LOVE that you push Broadway stars and Broadway shows on your show. You're awesome for that. It's like you're the Merv Griffin of today, who would constantly have Broadway stars on his show, to sing, to promote their cabarets, whatever. I loved that about Merv, and I love that about you.

But being a fan doesn't mean that you can also DO.

You look like a warmed-over leftover of a community theatre actress in that photo.

I don't know. This sounds like a horrible idea to me. It's gonna be all schtick.

Can Harvey Fierstein sing?? Sounds to me like they already were making the show "all schtick"

On the bright side, Rosie has been playing the role of Golde (at least in attitude) for the last five years. Still, she'll probably "over-act" her own personality.

Voice or no: Harvey Fierstein has starred in Broadway musicals, and is pretty HUGE, in terms of his success. He has (obviously) a distinctive voice - but he is not a novice.

I think he is terribly miscast - but the dude is a big enough star that it's understandable they would take that risk. It happens all the time. I mean: John C. Reilly is playing Stanley Kowalski on Broadway right now, for God's sake - which is like: WHAT? How on earth did THAT happen? Nuh-uh. John. Sorry. No WAY are you Stanley. Mitch, maybe ... but Stanley? Can't think of anything more WRONG than that. But he's a star, so whatever - leeway is given cause he'll bring in the audience.

Fierstein is a star. He's got major Broadway chops.

Rosie has no chops. She probably just loves the show. Well, who doesn't? I love Anything Goes - doesn't mean I can pull off "You're the Top" in front of a Broadway audience.

I also haven't forgiven Rosie for her atrocious and offensive acting in Riding on the Bus with my Sister which I (being a masochist) watched and live-blogged.

I feel about Rosie the way you do about Renee Cupie Doll. E-fucking-NUFF!!!!!!!! She reminds me of all those mean girls from jr.high that make you tremble in your shoes and almost poop your pants cause you are SURE they're gonna beat you up, then they clap your back with a hearty laugh, shouting, "Just kiddin! Just kiddin!" She scares me. And just cause she came out doesn't give her the right to cut her hair like the guy from Flock of Seagulls.

"Riding on the Bus with my Sister" is what I based my "overacting" opinion.

Hmmm, so have you ever sung "You're The Top" from your apartment with the windows open?

BTW, I didn't mean to bad mouth Mr. Fierstein... I just can't envision him singing all those "Fiddler" tunes.

Oh good Lord - I completely agree that Fierstein is an insanely bad choice for that role. His voice is like scraping a rake through a gravel pit.

It's just he's a ginormous Broadway star. So things like, oh, him being COMPLETLEY WRONG FOR THE PART, are overlooked.

Rosie, though? All I can say to her in that part is: ewwwwww.

Could be worse.

Could be Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd...

How I long for the days when the actors on and off-Broadway were real, working actors, not overblown celebrities brought in to boost the box... sigh...

Non-traditional casting has a place in theatre, but omigod, not this! This is just, well, creepy.

Red, be careful...if Fierstein has to take some time off for whatever reason, maybe they could get fellow-theater-lover Kevin Spacey to fill in...brrrrr...

GOOD. LORD. Gives a whole new meaning to the song "Tra-ditioonnn!" Ugh. I just can't abide her. Get me a bucket.

Oy, again with the typo already! I'm Sorry, I'm Sorry, I'm Sorry!

Ugh! Sheila, I think you already know how I feel about Rosie, but I must weigh in just the same.

What really bothers me is that she mistakes the obvious stunt casting as legitimate acceptance in the theater community. When she had a daily show, they pretty much used her for the publicity. Sure, they may have liked her as a funny cheerleader for their shows but never did they didn't respect her as a performer.

And you're so right, Sheila! If being a fan was the sole requirement in the casting process, I'd be belting Sondheim to packed houses. In my dreams maybe, but I'm quite comfortable with the reality that my fondness for musicals and my screechy off-key rendtion of "Another Hundred People" will never give me cred.

Rosie is SUCH an ass munch. I wish she didn't irritate me this much but dammit, I can't help it.

I've never gone from loving to loathing as fast with ANYONE as I did with Rosie. I adored her from waaaay back, back when she was the host of Stand Up Stand Up on the then-fledgling VH1. A League of Their Own? Sleepless in Seattle? Loved them. Her show? Loved it. I was all about the Rosie.

Then she "came out," not as a lesbian (Because really, who DIDN'T know? Or cared?) but as an ASSHOLE. I swear, I went from 0 to Fucking Hate Her in 60 seconds.

She came out as an asshole.

hahahahahaha

Re: Harvey Fierstein, I'm imagining "If I Were a Rich Man" as sung by Anne Ramsey....

"An Asshole Outing" Just from the sound of it...I'm not sure that's a good idea...better let some things stay an "innie."

Could be worse - - could be Paris Hilton.

The horror! The horror! My eyes!

Maybe this is what that tourist quoted on the Overheard in NY post you linked to earlier was so pissed about.

Ms. O'Donnell has "a certain peasanty quality." Er, what? I doubt I've seen that side of her, or that I would want to. Just, no, this is not right. It's a musical for godsakes! And kind of a sacred one, at that. She cannot sing! I'm glad I'm not a theater actor, because I would be offended at this choice.

Ya know, let me just say this:

Rosie is trying really, really hard. She's one of those girls that wants so badly to be liked, she ends up with absoluely no friends what so ever. She is NOT an actress, she's proven that over, and over, and over. I think even the most ardent of Rosie fans knows she can't act. It's kinda like the Madonna defense. Her "inexperience" in acting was an excuse that only worked for so long. Now we all know: The Girl Can't Act.

When are we going to come to the same conclusion about O'Donnell?

Ah fame. Gay is in, baby.

alex: check your email!

I saw Fiddler this July, with Harvey Fierstein and Andrea Martin.

He was actually quite good; his singing voice was somewhat like the way Wolfman Jack talks--not a great voice, but you could understand him and he got the character right.

He was also pretty funny. Sure, he did a lot of mugging, but that's pretty much in character.

I enjoyed the show. I'm glad I saw it pre-Rosie O'Donnell, though.