Village Voice
Columnist Defends Streisand In Gypsy
By Michael Musto Fri., Mar. 16 2012
As you know, Barbra Streisand is going ahead with her plan to play Mama Rose in another movie of Gypsy, the musical about the tomboy who becomes a star largely thanks to the stage mother she ends up wanting to go away.
Well, there’s been a lot of cynicism about Babs, who’s turning 70, playing this role, especially in closeup.
But Liz Smith says 70 “is just a number” and it’ll be interesting to see what the great star comes up with.
I agree. But on the allthatchat board, they’re still not convinced.
Says one poster:
“Think of the song ‘Some People’. There is a certain feistiness and a certain immaturity. This just can not be believable in a 70-year old woman. It just doesn’t work.
“Patti LuPone herself admitted that at 58 she was nearly too old to play Rose. I’m sorry, I just can’t see Barbra at this point stealing that gold plaque from her father for 88 bucks. And how old is that father going to be? 100? Come on, people.”
To which I say:
100 is just a number!
