Annie Get Your Gun 1999 revival

[bwayphreak234]

I recently downloaded the cast recording from the 1999 revival of Annie Get Your Gun with Bernadette Peters and WOW... I can't believe it has taken me so long to get around to this recording! Based on the clips on youtube, the whole concept of a Show within a show looked like it worked brilliantly (especially that opening number!) For those who saw the production, what did you think, and how did Reba compare to Bernadette Peters?

[JoeKv99]

I saw Bernadette well into the run and thought she walked through the show with zero enthusiasm. I have never seen a performer look so bored in a role. The show left me cold.

[yankeefan7]

bwayphreak234 - My wife and I had front row tickets (only 2nd time in our lives) and had a great time. Bernadette was fantastic and was pleasantly surprised at that time how good Tom Wopat was in his role. I was thrilled that night at one point in the show it appeared to me that Bernadette looked straight at me and smiled, made my night. (my wife loves Bernadette also).

[AC126748]

The role really wasn't a perfect fit for Peters, but she performed it with enthusiasm when I saw it (also well into the run) and was compelling. Tom Wopat was wonderful. I also saw Reba, who was every bit as amazing as everybody says.

[MrMidwest]

Clip of Reba and Brent Barrett

[redmustang]

I too saw AGYG with Miss Peters well into the run and thought she was wonderful. I was visiting NY and Bernadette was in a musical and I had never seen her live. Had read some luke warm reviews about the new production comparing it to the original. Went to the box office at the Marquis, needed 2 seats, they only had rear orch on the left, rear orch on the right, decisions, decisions...then the guy said he had 2 tickets 7th row center that a cast member was trying to sell, needed to pay in cash. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. I had never seen a production of Annie Get Your Gun before, and I thought it was marvelous. And Bernadette was the jewel at the center. The audience was enthralled. Loved hearing those Irving Berlin songs. (Tom Wopat wasn't bad either!)

[morosco]

Reba was wonderful!
Reba - I got lost in his arms

[Brian07663NJ]

I went on Superbowl Sunday at the last minute to the box office and must have purchased house seats because they were center orchestra very close (best I can remember at the moment - actually have the ticket stub at home). Probably had to be Superbowl Sunday 2000 because it only started previews Feb 2, 1999 and Superbowl was January 1999. Didn't know anything about the show. I previously had seen Bernadette in several other shows and loved her so I am probably biased. I loved her and loved the show very much. I did not get the impression that she was walking through the role nor was she bored. I still listen to the cast album frequently. I did not see Reba in the role.

[Gothampc]

As AC said, Peters wasn't a good fit.

Reba fit the role very well. A few of her acting choices were strange, but overall she gave a wonderful performance.

I didn't get to see Susan Lucci do it.

[madbrian]

Hearing Reba sing those songs make everyone else pale by comparison.

[morosco]

Reba really connected with the audience. She had them eating out of the palm of her hands. As wonderful as Peters is I don't think she was able to do that in this show.

[AC126748]

I believe Lucci only played the role very briefly (maybe two weeks?), as a vacation replacement for Peters. Anybody see her? Or, for that matter, Cheryl Ladd?

[madbrian]

Believe it or not, I saw BOTH Lucci and Ladd. While neither were great, Ladd found every laugh and was a competent singer, and though not a southerner, she could pull of the country girl thing. Lucci was just in waaaaay over her head. She was obviously trying too hard, but just couldn't pull it off...not even close.

[MrMidwest]

Here's Crystal Bernard doing Doin' What Comes Naturally. I remember Cheryl Ladd performed the song on the Rosie O'Donnell Show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXkugE9lXWU

[AC126748]

Thanks for that insight, Madbrian.

I completely forgot Crystal Bernard was also an Annie. I think she closed Broadway and did the tour, IIRC.

[Gothampc]

Barbara Cook creamed her culottes over Reba's performance. I think she even put in an application to try and adopt Reba.

[Gothampc]

Patti LuPone thought she would be the heir to the Merman songbook and gave Bernadette the stinkeye when they made that 9/11 Broadway commercial.

[DottieD'Luscia]

I saw this production with a friend of mine during previews and we both thought it was dreadful. It looked cheap and sounded cheap (synthesizers). We were actually shocked when it seemed to get good reviews. That being said, I almost returned to see it when Reba joined the cast.

[AnthVoice2010]

Reba took this dog of a revival, threw it over her shoulder and carried it to victory.

On top of all that, she did a tireless amount of benefits and publicity.

There's no question had she originated the role, she would have gotten the TONY.

The thing I remember most was her lead into "You can't catch a man". She sorta slammed the gun down, put her hand on her hip, took a breath and launched into "Oh my Mother, was frightened by a shotgun...". with such intent....such understanding of how to play this role ....

I was stunned..and remain so....

[MrMidwest]

Bernadette doing Can't Get a Man with a Gun:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xReJ6vkSv-8
Tom and Bernadette - Anything You Can Do
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KCyvkbrQ4I

[justafan2]

When I saw it the first time in 2nd or 3rd row--- with Bernadette and Tom Wopat---the lighting mechanism stalled during the lead number and they had to bring down the curtain and restart the show after about 10 minutes. Tom Wopat came out singing "There's No Business Like Show Business"---looked right at us and said "Ain't it the truth!"
Loved it! :)

[Gaveston2]

I notice Crystal Bernard tones down her natural, Texas drawl as soon as she starts to sing and I have heard nothing but raves about Reba McEntire in the part.

But am I the only one bothered by Bernadette Peters' "accent" on the recording? Irving Berlin was writing for Merman and knew full well she would sing as she always did, verisimilitude be damned.

To my ear, drawling the vowels does something very destructive to Berlin's music. Sticking a "tch" in "natch-er-ly" works fine, but "You caaaa-yunt get a maaaa-yun with a gun" has more syllables than the melody supports.

[MrMidwest]

More Reba:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgtml0Lw430

Reba on the Rosie O'Donnell show
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGB1paRbTxw

[Kalimba]

This was the production that made me hate the Weissler's.

[adamgreer]

I thought Bernadette was awful, and was, well, playing Bernadette with something vaguely resembling a western accent.

Tom Wopat, on the other hand, was outstanding.

[BroadwayFan12]

I love Bernadette in almost everything she does, but I couldn't get past her "accent" in this one. I think Reba was a better fit for the role.